Originally Posted by
Campag4life
So why is that? Are you an engineer? If not, the short answer is, the torque derivation of the specification typically has a safety factor that vastly exceeds the calibration error of most what you call garbage wrenches. That may go over your head if don't have a technical background. Proof? All the bikes that come out of the shops I know where their mechanics use torque wrenches don't crack and they function beautifully. You see, people are adaptive and learn from trial and error. If they break something they learn to not break it in the future. I have never broken a bicycle part using what you call a garbage torque wrench..
My degree is in Applied Mathematics. I play the part of an engineer at work, only I don't use Mathcad as often. I spent 22 years operating and maintaining the power plant on nuclear submarines. I have experience both as a turner and calculator.
What you are using to defend your point or is called a false equivalency. A bike mechanic that does it over and over is going to know when that cheap torque wrench is giving a bad reading. They aren't your average backyard wrench monkey.
Second, if the allowed error on torque values is as wide as you claim ( I really don't know) then the torque wrench is unnecessary just because of that. That experienced bike mechanic can get close enough by feel.
i wasn't for or against using a torque wrench in the driveway. I was pointing out the argument on both sides have merit, but a torque wrench won't save the idiot.
i was here for the power meter discussion, I just chose to let it go. I was an early adopter of training with power, but just like torque wrenchs, you have to understand what you are using and have some knowledge about what to do with the data.