Ritchey Carbon Torque Specifications

Ritchey has been a producer of high-end bikes and bicycle components since the 1970s. The company's design philosophy focuses on function over fashion. Ritchey began producing carbon fiber components in the early 2000s due to the material's light weight, durability and ride characteristics. Carbon fiber must be treated differently than metal during the installation process due to the weave of the fibers. With a little precaution, installing Ritchey Logic carbon bars can be a simple and rewarding upgrade for your bike.

  1. Torque Specifications

    • The bolts on the stem clamp that holds your Ritchey carbon fiber handlebars should be tightened to a level of no more than 5 Nm. The same level of torque should be applied to any accessories that you add on to your handlebars, such as bar ends or aero bars.

    Liquid Torque

    • Ritchey makes a product called Liquid Torque that can be applied to any surfaces before tightening the bolts for installation. This product allows you to use less torque to attain the desired force to hold the handlebar in place. It is important to stay clear of certain lubricants when installing carbon fiber handlebars or any carbon-based product, as some products can degrade the carbon composition thereby weakening the component.

    Ritchey Torqkey

    • When installing carbon fiber accessories it is highly recommended that you use a torque wrench so you can achieve the desired amount of torque, in this case 5 Nm. Ritchey makes a tool called the Torqkey -- a 4mm hex key -- which is the tool required to tighten the bolts on the company's handlebars. This tool comes preset to a 5 Nm level which makes installation of their bars safe and easy.

    Carbon Fiber Limitations

    • Carbon fiber offers a strong and lightweight material for bicycle components. Additionally, the material is preferred by a lot of road cyclists due to its ability to absorb small repetitive bumps, which decreases rider fatigue. However, these handlebars have a maximum rider weight limitation of 242 pounds. You should also examine any carbon fiber parts after a crash to make sure that the material has not been compromised by foreign objects. If there are any holes or deep scratches in the carbon fiber component, you need to have it replaced as the material can not be mended to a level where it is safe to use again.