I learned a new trick this morning for putting my chain back on without stopping.

Frank and I had negotiated a 3 hour time slot with our wives (family guys like us have to do that kind of stuff for just about every ride), and I had to be back by 9:30... so we suited up with rain gear, flipped on our tail lights, and hit the road at 6:30 a.m. in the rain.

About 35 miles into the ride, and two and a half hours later, we were just cresting a roller hill and I shifted into my big ring for some speed down the back side. My chain popped over the top of my sprocket and landed down by my pedal.

Normally I'd holler out to Frank to hold up while I pulled over and put the chain back on, but this time I gently shifted back down to my little ring up front and kept pedaling slowly - hoping to catch the chain and line it back up with at least the big ring.

Sure enough, the shifter movement to the left was enough to bring the chain up over the sprocket and it clicked in place. I waited a few turns to make sure it was properly aligned, and then got back on track with trying to catch Frank.

I lost a few yards on him, but at least we didn't have to stop.

To be fair though, this trick doesn't work at all if your chain falls off on the other side (towards your bike). If that happens, here are some good instructions for putting your chain back on the traditional way: http://www.ehow.com/how_117855_fix-bike-chain.html