It may be a squeak or a creak or something in between; it may come from the front end or the rear end; from the frameset or the groupset, from your bike or (hopefully) from your buddy´s. Maybe it comes for a quick visit, maybe it likes your bike and settles. It may be here, there, or, in worst cases, seemingly everywhere around the bike. It may come from inside or outside (the bike and the biker);
Regardless, it’s almost impossible to keep one’s sanity while pedaling once one of these pesky noises turns itself on.
And while a few of us may be more tolerant and just keep on riding along, in hopes that at any moment they’ll simply disappear (and, truth be told, usually they don’t), the average cyclist will do everything within his / her power to get rid of them once and for all. But in general (#s 8 and 10 below notwithstanding) to do that, first we have to at least have a clue as to what might be causing them.
The list below (more or less randomly organized in order of peskiness) includes some potential sources of bike-related audio misery that have crossed my path. Hope it helps those seeking for a clue as to where their own noise-related problems originate, and inspires others to add their own contributions.
# 1) Headsest (poor lubrication, overtightening, loose screws);
# 2) Bottom Bracket (poor lubrication, broken spacers, overtightening, Press Fititis….);
# 3) Brakes (poor adjustment, bad pads, bad rims, bad pads + bad rims – in which case “noise” should be the least of one’s concerns);
# 4) Spokes (rubbing together due to improper build or lack of proper tension);
# 5) Accessories (from poorly installed cage holders or aerodrink systems to co2 cartridges banging on inflators inside saddle bag, with many, many options in between);
# 6) Seat Post (flex, poor frame fit);
# 7) Saddle (bad rails, bad overall quality);
# 8) Cycling Buddy (the kind who goes on forever bragging about his incredible results, his new bike, his cool apparel, his off-the-chart FTP, yadda yadda yadda);
# 9) One’s own mind replaying, with echo, one’s spouse’s last words before the ride (“ I thought you were going to help me with the kids…ids…ids…ids” ….or…… “Hold it right there, is that another new bike….ike…ike…ike....????” ).
# 10) Cycling Buddy (the kind who has burritos, GU and a protein shake before the morning ride and doesn’t care about / can’t prevent from sharing the aftermath of the ensuing intestinal apocalypse with the rest of the peloton.
Regardless, it’s almost impossible to keep one’s sanity while pedaling once one of these pesky noises turns itself on.
And while a few of us may be more tolerant and just keep on riding along, in hopes that at any moment they’ll simply disappear (and, truth be told, usually they don’t), the average cyclist will do everything within his / her power to get rid of them once and for all. But in general (#s 8 and 10 below notwithstanding) to do that, first we have to at least have a clue as to what might be causing them.
The list below (more or less randomly organized in order of peskiness) includes some potential sources of bike-related audio misery that have crossed my path. Hope it helps those seeking for a clue as to where their own noise-related problems originate, and inspires others to add their own contributions.
# 1) Headsest (poor lubrication, overtightening, loose screws);
# 2) Bottom Bracket (poor lubrication, broken spacers, overtightening, Press Fititis….);
# 3) Brakes (poor adjustment, bad pads, bad rims, bad pads + bad rims – in which case “noise” should be the least of one’s concerns);
# 4) Spokes (rubbing together due to improper build or lack of proper tension);
# 5) Accessories (from poorly installed cage holders or aerodrink systems to co2 cartridges banging on inflators inside saddle bag, with many, many options in between);
# 6) Seat Post (flex, poor frame fit);
# 7) Saddle (bad rails, bad overall quality);
# 8) Cycling Buddy (the kind who goes on forever bragging about his incredible results, his new bike, his cool apparel, his off-the-chart FTP, yadda yadda yadda);
# 9) One’s own mind replaying, with echo, one’s spouse’s last words before the ride (“ I thought you were going to help me with the kids…ids…ids…ids” ….or…… “Hold it right there, is that another new bike….ike…ike…ike....????” ).
# 10) Cycling Buddy (the kind who has burritos, GU and a protein shake before the morning ride and doesn’t care about / can’t prevent from sharing the aftermath of the ensuing intestinal apocalypse with the rest of the peloton.