Originally Posted by
lhorn
What happens if he's still far from his intended torque spec and he and his friends hear a distinct "crack?" What do you do? Ride it knowing that it might not be tight enough (unsafe) or that it might be cracked (unsafe)? Bar looks ok visually...does that mean it didn't crack? Maybe not. It's not as though he kept torquing beyond manufacturer's spec.
if you hear cracking while tightening:
-visually inspect
-contact lbs or manufacturer for a better idea of what to do
also, sometimes torque wrenches need to be recalibrated.
if i was not confident in my handlebars, i would use a different pair.