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TECH NEWS

Rehook aims to make refitting a dropped chain easy

Never get your hands mucky again with this simple tool for refitting a dropped chain

Are you fed up with getting oily hands when the chain drops off your bike? There’s now a gadget for that, the Rehook, a simple tool that is designed solely to refit your chain when it drops off the crankset. 

In an ideal world, of course, the chain would never derail but it does happen from time to time, it even happens to the world’s best professional cyclists. 

Rehook, launched at the end of last year and originally 3D printed the tool, but it is now made in greater quantities by injection moulding in the UK, is aimed at making it super easy to get the chain back on the crankset, all while keeping your hands and fingers clean. Perfect.

You could make do with an Allen tool or tyre lever to get the chain back on, but Rehook is designed to make it much easier and simpler. The lever has a hook on the end to pull the chain into place, and the handle keeps your hand away from the oily chain. 

A silicone strap attaches the Rehook to your bicycle frame so it’s always there when you need it, and it only weighs 20g. 

The company is hoping there’s a market for the Rehook, and is in the process of launching into bicycle shops around the UK. You can also buy it online through the company’s website. It costs £12.99. Check it out at www.rehook.bike

What do you think? 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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36 comments

Avatar
dooderooni | 4 years ago
0 likes

I've no issue with someone making a business out of this item, but I'd never need one with having a chain catcher and an old-skool waxed chain.

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Griff500 replied to dooderooni | 4 years ago
0 likes

dooderooni wrote:

I've no issue with someone making a business out of this item,

I do. Its just one more bit of plastic the World doesn't need. Can't remember the last time I had a dropped chain - maybe those who see the need for this should just learn how to adjust their gears properly - and I usually have an allen key or tyre lever to hand which can multi purpose. Not surprised the dragons fell for it though. Touka even invested in the motor cycle chain tensioner on the basis that it could be adapted for use on bikes, totally ignorant of the fact 90% of bikes don't have sliding dropouts.

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Raisen | 4 years ago
0 likes

I really can't believe that people would even consider buying this tool. All you need do is carry ONE PAIR of disposable gloves, and that allows you to resolve a LARGE host of problems without getting your hands dirty, including putting your chain back on, changing a puncture, and so forth. Even without the tool and without a pair of gloves it really isn't that messy a job...you can use a stick, tissue, or just about anything free laying around to do the same job. Honestly, save the planet and do not be fooled into buying this entirely limited, useless tool that I guarntee no proper cyclist would ever ever be seen dead with.   I really do wonder about Road CC when this article actually says : "Never get your hands mucky again with this simple tool for refitting a dropped chain".  And that is used on Amazon!  Embarrasing!  You should be ashamed Road CC for supporting this tool.

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MartyMcCann | 6 years ago
1 like

Funnily enough these popped up on Sport Pursuit this morning for £8.99 which seems a bit strange if they are only recently lauched and being sold for their full price elsewhere. They were actually labelled as "chain tools" on SP and it took me a few seconds to realise they weren't actually for breaking and repairing chains.

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Rich_cb | 6 years ago
6 likes

These comments are making me chuckle.

I actually own one of these!

It was my birthday recently and my, non-cyclist, wife apparently ventured in to the LBS and bought the first 5 things she saw.

I ended up with 2 gels, sugar free electrolyte tabs, a Vittoria branded ass saver and this.

Next year I'll have to ask them if they can move the Superleggera closer to the door...

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SteveTheFish | 6 years ago
2 likes

Arr, I be buying me one of these to go with me wooden leg.

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srchar | 6 years ago
1 like

A Deda Dog Fang costs a fiver.

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Pub bike | 6 years ago
0 likes

Eh?   You can just get rolling* and gently press the front derailleur** against the big ring whilst gently pedalling***.   You don't need to use your hands.

 

* You were probably rolling when your chain came off.  In which case just keep rolling.

** Does not work on 1x systems or single speed.  If this happened to you on a fixie then there are probably more serious issues to deal with than refitting the chain

*** If you're really fussed about scratches on the pick-up ramps on the inside of the big ring then you could use one of the alternative suggestions above.

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fenix | 6 years ago
7 likes

This is why shorts should always be black.

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ridein | 6 years ago
1 like

They might have a market for this product, but only if price is dropped 90%. 

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Mungecrundle replied to ridein | 6 years ago
5 likes

ridein wrote:

They might have a market for this product, but only if price is dropped 90%. 

 

Oh dear, oh dear, that is not how marketing to cyclists works.

They might have a market for this if:

  • They make it out of carbon fibre with a sprinkling of graphene.
  • Cut the weight by 2g.
  • Quote a 3w power saving advantage due to the weight reduction.
  • Laser etch the the right brand name into it.
  • Sell it for 5 times the price.

 

Personally I'll risk grubby fingers, and after all, if you need to wipe them clean on something, isn't that what riding buddies are for?

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The _Kaner | 6 years ago
1 like

Topeak Power 21 multitool from the 90s...chain tool/ link tensioner....just ad effective...oh wait...I'd have to take it out my pocket then it's neoprene pouch...or I could just use my hands....imagine getting dirty hands....dear me such an inconvenience....

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hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
0 likes

They could have made it double ended so that you can use it to fit quick-links more easily.

My recommendation is to always carry a paperclip - even lighter and you can use it to press reset buttons on tech stuff as well (or iPhone SIM trays). Also, they're quite cheap.

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. . | 6 years ago
2 likes

Plastic gloves are free at your local filling station

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Paul_C | 6 years ago
1 like

bent piece of coat-hanger wire will do the job for nowt...

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DaveE128 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Having watched the video, it does seem a clever tool, but there's no way I'd spend anything near £13. Keeping hands clean is probably more important for utility cycling, but then you may well have a chain guard for that...

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leqin | 6 years ago
3 likes

Been using one of the free disposable ones you find littered round the countryside and in towns as well if you are prepared to do a little hunting - they can usually be found near to trees lying in the road and once used they biodegrade... whats not to like yes

504
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Simmo72 | 6 years ago
2 likes

Never really thought of a bit of grease on my hands as problem

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dottigirl replied to Simmo72 | 6 years ago
0 likes
Simmo72 wrote:

Never really thought of a bit of grease on my hands as problem

I thought that, until I realised the rubber on one of my hoods was disintegrating...

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nniff | 6 years ago
0 likes

Really?  £8 for 100 for disposable gloves.  There's a pair held onto my tyre lever with an elastic band and a box of them in the garage.  They also have more than one use......

Talking of which, that wheelie bin is stinking  :o(

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
0 likes

Snapped a chain in France recently, wrestling getting it back together with my chain tool completely forgetting a had some latex gloves in another pocket of the pannier. Couple of wipes on the dry grass though got rid of most of the gubbins and then use a wet wipe which i always carry (the ones individually wrapped), It was at that point reaching for the wipe that I realised I'd forgotten the gloves which were next to the wet wipe, doh!surprise

As above, park tools tyre lever does the job of the tool being sold for a silly amount and you can buy a shed load for the price of one.

it's a crap idea trying to dupe people into buying over-priced single function item, in the bike industry it'll never work ...

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hsiaolc | 6 years ago
0 likes

Crazy. 

I won't be buying one.  

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huntswheelers | 6 years ago
3 likes

are they sure they have the price correct?   they would sell far more at £2.99 than £12.99....   

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HarryTrauts | 6 years ago
1 like

I always mean to pack some disposable gloves in my saddlebag but never quite get round to it.  A dock leaf or some grass is enough to prevent my hands getting messy, though.

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ibike | 6 years ago
3 likes

Far easier to just use your fingers and then clean then on a paper tissue, wet grass or whatever’s to hand…

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schlepcycling | 6 years ago
3 likes

Or buy 3 Park Tools tyre levers for £3.49 which have a hook on the end for this very reason (or so I've always thought) http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Park-Tool-TL1-2-Tyre-Lever-Set-Of-3-Carded_83360...

Also do people not wear wrist watches any more???

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wycombewheeler replied to schlepcycling | 6 years ago
10 likes

schlepcycling wrote:

Or buy 3 Park Tools tyre levers for £3.49 which have a hook on the end for this very reason (or so I've always thought) http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Park-Tool-TL1-2-Tyre-Lever-Set-Of-3-Carded_83360...

Also do people not wear wrist watches any more???

Surely the hooks on the reverse end of tyre levers are for hooking one lever on the spokes while you wrestle with the other 2. However, they would definitley be up to the job of getting a chain back in line. Thanks for the tip.

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brooksby replied to wycombewheeler | 6 years ago
0 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

schlepcycling wrote:

Or buy 3 Park Tools tyre levers for £3.49 which have a hook on the end for this very reason (or so I've always thought) http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Park-Tool-TL1-2-Tyre-Lever-Set-Of-3-Carded_83360...

Also do people not wear wrist watches any more???

Surely the hooks on the reverse end of tyre levers are for hooking one lever on the spokes while you wrestle with the other 2. However, they would definitley be up to the job of getting a chain back in line. Thanks for the tip.

I've got a pair of those orange tyre levers from Continental and they don't have hooks on the end.  Seem to do the job just fine, mind...

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antigee | 6 years ago
0 likes

no oil on that chain and why is the guy wearing a wrist watch? is this an april fool from the 70's?

 

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davel replied to antigee | 6 years ago
8 likes

antigee wrote:

no oil on that chain and why is the guy wearing a wrist watch? is this an april fool from the 70's?

 

These days it's 'lube' and 'wearable tech'. Catch up, gramps.

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