a little water

The huge think followed by ineffective pedals only turned out to be the chain snapping, not the more common chain-taking-out-both-derailleur-and-wheel. After attempting to re-run the flapping bits I eventually found the spare clippy-link thing I vaguely remembered sticking in my tool bag months ago; unfortunately the pair of latex glubs I'd put in there a few weeks ago were used up when I eventually got round to cleaning the chain a week ago and the baby wipes I'd had in my bag at the weekend for child-related cleansing had been taken out on Sunday night, so I had to sacrifice a hanky then cycle gingerly home trying to remember to not wipe my face whenever an insect landed on it.