Originally Posted by spdrcr5
no matter what gear anyone here has on their bike they are never going to be able to generate the same amount of torque against that axle as a Pro rider can and they don't slip their QR so nobody here should be able to slip theirs.
Actually, that's not correct.
First of all, there's no "torque" against the axle other than the little that comes from bearing friction.
It's not the torque that's an issue, it's the linear pull on the chain.
The magnitude of this pull is directly proportional to how hard you push on the pedal, and the length of the crank. It is inversely proportional to the chainring size.
"Pro riders" don't need to push as hard on the pedals as clydesdales do, and in fact they can't do so, because their weight limits how much force they can apply to the pedals. (Lighter riders don't NEED to push as hard on the pedals, it's about power/weight ratio.) "Pro riders" can push hard for a longer period of time without getting all tuckered out, but the maximum chain pull they create is quite a bit less than an overweight tourist or mountain biker.
"Pro riders" rarely use a chainring smaller than 39 teeth, or occasionally 34 teeth if they run compact. Track riders rarely use a chainring smaller than the upper 40s.
Touring cyclists commonly have 24/26 tooth granny rings, which apply proportionally more pull to the chain for the same amount of push on the pedal.
For example, comparing a 24 tooth chainring with a 39 tooth, the 24 tooth ring will pull the chain 60% harder for the same amount of pedal force.
Sheldon "It's About Tension, Not Torque" Brown