I’ve had my Cannondale for 2 years now and I still have yet to figure out why it makes this creaking noise when I peddle. It sounds like it’s down by the crank. I’ve had 3 different bike shops look at it, lube here oil there, adjust this adjust that…none of them have yet to figure out the noise. When I had my spinergy rev-x’s on it didn’t make this noise, I just changed back to my regular spoked wheels and low and behold, loud creaky noise. It’s not a loose spoke, it sounds more down around the crank…grrrrrrrrr HELP!!!
Check to see that your cassette is tight - if it’s loose it could be moving around a little. I would have first said “check your pedals & cleats” except you say it goes away when you change your wheels.
My bike shop calls them creakondales. They replace several frames a year for weak, creaky welds and small cracks.
No one in town has Cannondale experience, I think that is the number one problem. I live close to Detroit, any bike shops in Michigan that could help???
I had a C’dale F1000 for 5 years and it was exactly as you described. Wheel change didn’t change a thing. Creakondales they are. I also used to wrench in a C’dale shop back in the day and we got lots of otherwise C’dale owners coming in, complaining about this noise.
JB
have the shop remove, grease, teflon tape, and re-install the bottom bracket. i’d be willing to bet that’s it. check the tightness of the chainring bolts as well, sometimes they give the same squeak as a BB
hope this helps,
tommy
Well, it sounds as though you answered your own question. One set of wheels = creak; another set of wheels = no creak. Was there a signifcant time gap between when the creak started and when you switched wheels? Do you still have the Spinergy’s? I’d look there first, if you don’t have the Spinergy’s, borrow another set of wheels and see if you still have the creak. If not, there’s your answer. I had a Ksyrium that drove me crazy because I couldn’t figure out where the creak was coming from - sounded like the BB area, but obviously it wasn’t.
Otherwise, check all the usual places - also check the stem and handlebar connection, and if you have a clamp-on front derailleur, it could come from there. Lot’s of places creaks find there way into bikes. Maddening sometimes.
I have the same problem with my Specialized Allez Comp. The shop couldn’t figure it out… it only creaks when I climb. They lubed everything and it’s creaking less, but still annoying.
The only other suggestion I would make is to do the work yourself if you have the know-how. Check & grease one thing at a time starting with the bottom bracket so you know what the culprit is/was once you’ve fixed it. Use good grease, too. I love phil wood stuff - it always seems to make the creaks go away (wish I could inject some into my knees).
Question to ask yourself: Is the creak only present when you’re standing and pedaling(typical)? If so, you can rule out anything to do with the seat/seatpost combo.
Every time I’ve had creaks like that on an aluminum bike, it’s turned out to be the rear skewer. Get a solid set of skewers and crank those suckers down tight.
I think this is your problem since someone mentioned one set of wheels creaks, while the other set doesn’t. Try swapping out the skewers and making sure they are put on tight. See if the noise follows the skewers or the wheels, or goes away completely…
Cheers.
Do you have Look pedals? If you do, I'll bet its the pedals and cleats. You can start by getting new cleats. This may solve the problem. If not, get new pedals. I switched to the Look carbon fiber pedals and have not had the problem since (knock on wood).
I agree about checking the pedals… I had an annoying creak on one of my cannondales and it turned out to be the Look pedal that needed greasing.
-dave