I have made adjustments to front derailer, rear derailer, tightened pedals and just put a new chain on too…still having creaking issues.
The creaking comes and goes…once rpms are around 90-95 it gets noticeable again.
Any help would be greatly appreciated…
Starting to think I am losing my mind in the basement
Which trainer - wheel-on or wheel-off?
If you are not hearing it outside, then it is highly likely the creak is coming from the interface between trainer & bike. If not that, it could be from some other incidental contact on the bike due to frame flex (such as a draft box or bottle cage).
This sounds a little counter-intuitive, but try *loosening *the trainer attachment to see if that changes the creak. If so, then you can probably find the source and work on remediation from there.
Yeah, I’ve had that as well.
What always cured it for me was tightening the rear skewer. It wasn’t quite as tight as it could have been and apparently it was sliding just slightly…
Could it be the trainer and not the bike?
this sounds ridiculous, BUT it does work…
if you’re using Look cleats and Look pedals, try applying a very thin (yes, very thin as in a skimmed on finger swipe, of grease to the bottom of the cleat, and the surface contact points of the pedal.
I have found that Look cleats on Look pedals can tend to squeak when they are bone dry surfaces (common when on a trainer for long periods and not ever in outside humidity or rain or damp conditions). The interface between cleat surface, and pedal top plate get dry and will squeak and click/tap when on trainers.
And no, not saying to slather heavy grease on your cleats or pedal surfaces… just a very slight layer on each surface will break the surface tension between surfaces and I have found eliminate creaks and squeaks.
I can not speak for Speedplays or EggBeaters. But Look and Look style cleats with big plastic surfaces that sit on top of hard plastic/carbon pedal bodies, can and do squeak.
Does it creak when you’re standing, sitting, or both?
Sitting, could be seatpost/seat clamp area.
Standing, could be headset, front skewer, bb, rear skewer, etc.
Both could be bb, crankset, trainer…
I’ve even had crankset bolts cause creak and rear derailleur hanger bolts cause creaks. Essentially any part that could potentially move has caused a creak at some point on my bike.
Pressfit BB or threaded?
Creak roulette is my least favorite game. If it doesn’t happen outside, it is likely something on the trainer - or something that is so quiet that you can’t hear it in the wind outside. My first thought is along the lines of other posters - probably the rear skewer/trainer interface. I have also had a creak develop in a saddle believe it or not. Not very loud, but annoying. It wouldn’t make noise if I had all my weight on it, or if it was unweighted. But if I applied just the right amount of N force, it would absolutely sing. Good luck!
Right here. Press fit BB will creak.
Loose rear skewer…It had somehow loosen quite a bit once I took the rear wheel off the trainer.
Now it is smooth, but I am listening for other small noises…paranoid now, but much much better
Thanks for all your help and input Slowtwitch World.