How a stripped crank bolt forced me to change my tightening habit
I used to just hand-tighten bolts on bikes, thinking my feel was good enough. That bit me hard when I stripped the threads on a customer's crank bolt during a basic tune-up. Ended up needing a new crank arm, which was pricey and kinda embarrassing. Now, I always break out the torque wrench, even for small stuff like bottle cage bolts. I got a cheap model and make sure to calibrate it every few months. Since doing this, zero stripped bolts and everything stays put way better. Customers have said their rides feel more secure, and I'm way less stressed about my work. Tbh, it's a simple switch that's saved me a ton of headache.