Somethings gotta go wrong...and it did.

[Deleted member 1258]

Many years ago on the first fixed I had I managed to break the chain, the B***** frightened me half to death when it went. I had just left the house in the morning and had barely made double figures, then the chain snapped, the right foot shot down, suddenly no resistance, the bike veered right, then the chain whipped back and locked the back up, at that point I was just getting it back under control and suddenly I was going up the road sideways like a speedway rider. I managed to stay on stop it and run back to the house to change bikes. That chain snapped because it was knackered. I have managed to break several other chains over the years. All have been coming to the end of their life and about to be replaced.

 

[hackbike 666]

Chain broke last September at Southwark Bridge and I came off,Nice.

September 11th and unfortunately a cyclist got killed on that corner by a lorry 5 days later.R.I.P.

 

[John the Monkey]

I didn't think Shimano made powerlinks. Best check with someone like Mickle though to be sure of either of these two things.

Shimano make powerlink type connectors - they come in with the new Dura-Ace 7900 group, although 10 speed only as far as I know;

Introduced alongside the chain is the SM-CN79 'quicklink'. Allowing the chain to be split and joined without using any tools, it is compatible with other Shimano 10-speed chains as well...

( http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/3259 )

 

[John the Monkey]

...but now I can open the magic link - though I have read that they should not be re-used.

KMC say not to, for sure - it's because they wear along with the rest of the chain, so putting a worn powerlink on a new chain isn't a good idea. KMC recommend keeping the powerlink originally used to fit the chain with the chain if it's ever removed, as I remember. (I'm currently rotating 3 chains to try and prolong cassette life on my bike...)