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granite rock'n'roll torque wrench tool kit

it is not entirely unreasonable to posit that the torque settings, in newton-metres (nm) frequently to be seen on contemporary bicycle components, are an insurance policy created by the manufacturers of said components. this is particularly evident where carbon is concerned. for instance, though a tad indistinct following several years of use, the seatbolt collar on my specialized crux would appear to suggest that 15 newton metres of force is required to ensure it remains in place during the riding process.

the seatpost in question is, however, fashioned from less than fragile aluminium alloy, so any dangers to be experienced from a smidgeon of overtightening (based on the anecdotal knowledge that few cyclists are in possession of an appropriately calibrated torque wrench), are likely to be minimal at best. not unlike the riders tangentially referred to above, i'm mostly in the habit of tightening the seatpost bolt until it won't tighten any more. i should perhaps point out, however, that this is accomplished using a small 4mm allen key, one that is unlikely to exert enough force to damage either component.

but swap that alloy seatpost for a carbon one, and matters may be a little more complex, given the fragility of carbon fibre when pressured in a direction in which it was not designed to withstand pressure. seatposts are remarkably strong in a vertical direction, yet potentially less so when squished laterally. i've used the example of a seatpost because, if you're anything like eddy merckx, you may be prone to faffing, in an attempt to find the ideal height.

by the very definition of the latter, attempts to set a perfect height are more than likely to take place while out riding, many kilometres from home. tightening stem faceplate bolts, disc caliper bolts and even the very bolts that hold the brake levers to the handlebars are likely to be the subject of installation and tensioning while the bicycle is still within shouting distance of the bike shed. in which case, the more conscientious amongst you may have recourse to a designated workshop torque wrench, the very item highly unlikely to fit in a jersey pocket.

as you may have surmised by now, torque settings are no respecters of geography, entailing the possibility that any necessary adjustments required on key componentry en- route to anywhere in particular, might otherwise be found wanting. which is exactly where granite's rock'n'roll, compact and bijou torque wrench steps into the fray.

contained within a tough polyester fabric tool roll (which can be attached to a belt if need be) is a sturdy, well-designed torque wrench, accompanied by ten bits of varying sizes which fit seamlessly into the socket head incorporated into the wrench. allen keys from 2 to 8mm are augmented with t20 and t25 torx bits and a no. 2 philips screwdriver head. the wrench itself features an ingenious torque gauge allowing bolts to be tightened from 2nm to 10nm. a tiny lever below the socket insert allows the wrench to be used to tighten or loosen your bolts of choice.

there's also an extender to aid access to recessed bolts.

in operation, having fitted the appropriate bit, the wrench handle can be used to install a compatible bolt up to the point where it begins to require noticeable leverage. at this point, twisting motion is transferred to a round torque lever at the base of the wrench. as this meets resistance, a white indicator line appears in a window slot in the body of the wrench, allowing visual measurement against a marked torque scale. when the white indicator line matches the bolt's recommended torque setting, the job is complete. it's possible to tighten bolts requiring more than 10nm by holding the wrench handle alone as opposed to using the torque module. however, anything above 10nm is outwith the measuring scope of this particular device.

given that the tool pouch fits easily into a jersey or jacket rear pocket, it is simplicity itself to conveniently carry the tool anywhere you and your bicycle wish to go.

and it really works; the stem faceplate bolts on the specialized require 5nm apiece, and on checking, i learned that i had insufficiently tightened three of those bolts. fortunately, my guesstimation of the torque applicable to the torx bolted disc calipers was barely out by 1nm.

the more carbon fibre components you have festooned about your bicycle's person, the more desirable it is to own such a device. should one of those components fail in use, referring back to my contention that torque measurements are the manufacturer's insurance policy, any warranty claim is likely to involve demonstration that the fitting bolts were tightened to the correct torque setting. if carried out by a qualified bicycle store mechanic, there's unlikely to be any prevarication, but if you've carried out the installation yourself, or had cause to indulge in faffing while out in the wild, you may find the manufacturer's response to be a tad more inquisitive. otherwise personal replacement of a damaged component could conceivably cost more than the very reasonable £54.99 price tag on the rock'n'roll.

i will never leave home without it. it's good to torque.

the granite rock'n'roll portable torque toolset is distributed in the uk by windwave

friday 2 march 2024