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Hot take: Skipping the torque wrench on stem bolts is asking for trouble
Just had a customer come in with a snapped steerer tube from over-tightening. Aluminum fatigues fast when you crank past spec, and it's not always obvious until it fails. Check the manufacturer's torque settings every time, even if it feels tight enough by hand. A stripped thread or crack can turn a simple fix into a write-off.
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shah.vera6mo ago
Didn't realize the risk until reading about snapped steerer tubes?
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hannaho526mo ago
Just saw a picture of one that snapped clean off, and it's honestly terrifying. Makes you second-guess every little creak your bike makes now. I used to think aluminum was basically indestructible until I started reading those failure stories. It's the kind of thing you don't worry about until you see it, and then you can't stop worrying. Definitely checking my own gear way more often now.
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