Patience isn't always a virtue -- I wasted about 20 minutes trying to open the master link on my chain before giving in and using my chainbreaker. When I went to the LBS to get a replacement, I learned what every other modern-day mountain biker already knows -- master links for 10 speed SRAM chains can't be opened and closed like they can on 8 and 9 speed chains. That's what I get for being so resistant to new technology.

Edit: And look at what I just found . . . .

_________________
A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

Master link pliers work best for this.

http://www.parktool.com/product/master- ... rs-mlp-1-2

I've had no issues reusing sram's 10 or 11 speed master links a few times.

When I bought the replacement link, I asked whether they had the Park Tool pliers. The answer was "Yeah, our mechanic does."

_________________
A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway