Suggestion for saving money and reusing discarded bicylce chain to make yopur own chain-whip tool
Fixing your own bike isn’t difficult, by and large, but the initial outlay on specialist tools can be a deterrent. Well, here’s at least one way to save a few pounds/Euros/dollars - and score a few points for recycling into the bargain.
Next time you need to replace a chain (and let’s face it, they wear out faster than most things on a bike, except brake blocks) - don’t throw away the old one. Instead use it to make a chain-whip.
A chain-whip is essential if you need to remove/replace sprockets or get at the freewheel body on the rear hub drive side. But it’s not a tool you’ll use every day, unless you run a bike shop. I’ve just checked and found them retailing at £5.99 - call it US$ 12 at current rates. Not hugely expensive but it can all add up. And you’ll also need a lockring remover, which costs a similar amount. (I haven’t yet figured out how to bodge one of those.)
And after all a chain whip is just a length of chain riveted to a metal handle. And mine’s even simpler; I just nailed some chain to a handy piece of wood - also scrap, but solid. After all, all you need is something to give you a grip.
It ain’t rocket science but it got the job done and gave me some satisfaction too. Of course you need to be completely sure that the chain is 100% securely fastened to the handle as you could be using quite a bit of force with one of these.
If anyone has any other money-saving tips, or ways to recycle old bike bits (maybe even for non-cycling purposes), please share them here.
