dlax1532 asked:

im goin bikin early tomorrow and dont have time to go to the shop. how can i do this myself without any extremely specialized tools?

well i got the bike used and i can tell its been through alot. im pretty sure the chain is loose because it keeps skipping on the gears when i go up a hill and put tension on the chain. if this sounds like something else let me know

matt_10710 asked:

Last month, I got a new chain with a quick (master) link installed on my mtn bike at a local bike store. After a few rides, I wanted to remove the chain to clean it, and thought it should be easy. However, I was unable to open the quick link by pressing both sides inwards with my hands and wound up having to use a chain tool to open another, regular link and clean the chain. I usually go by what I read in the Zinn & the Art of Mtn Bike Maint book, but didn’t find any help on this there. It did say that quick links can be stuck sometimes from the tension riding puts on the chain. Is there some trick to opening the quick link, or a tool that makes it easier? Thanks!