Making chain repairs easy

 Fixing a chain on the road must rank on par with having to change a car wheel whilst wearing a bridal gown or nurse’s outfit. You just know you’re going to end up going back home before setting out for your destination once more.
 It needn’t be that catastrophic if you break a chain whilst out on a ride. You can always wipe your hands on your shorts (you do only buy black shorts, don’t you?) and, you can easily fashion a tool that will make the job so much easier.
What makes this tool so handy is that it effectively gives you another pair of hands without the extra space a helpful person takes up while you are working on your chain. It makes chain repair in the field a one-person job.

 What do I need?
 A large paper clip and a pair of needle-nose pliers or Leatherman.

 How do I make it?
 Cut a 150mm piece of wire or open the monster paper clip completely.
Bend a hooks on either end, with the radius approximating that of a chain’s rollers. Bend it into a boat shape and keep it in your saddle bag. Make another one for your toolkit back home.

Fashion a tool like this from a giant paper clip or piece of wire.

 How do I use it?
 Hook each end of the hook onto the chain, four or five links from the break. This should now keep the chain tight against the rear jockey spring, but still give you two loose ends to work with, without having to ask someone to hold the chain for you while working with the chain breaker tool.

Hook the tool onto the chain so that it gives
you a slack area to work on.

 Do I need anything else?
 You did bring your chain breaker tool along didn’t you…?