I love my new R2.5 Chorus, but it is making this creaking sound that is driving me insane, not that that’s hard to do. I get this horrible creaking type noise when I am pedaling. Sometimes. Other times it’s not there at all, which makes it maddeningly difficult to pinpoint. If its creaking, and I stop pedaling, it goes away for a second, then it starts coming back again. It seems like it’s worse when I’m pedaling under pressure, such as going up a hill. It also seems worse when I am in the bigger cogs in the back. It happens whether or not I am in the saddle, although it does seem worse when I’m in the saddle than when out. I’ve checked all the spokes on the back wheel…they all seem tight. I looked over the frame in the bottom bracket area and the chainstays…no worries there. The brakes aren’t rubbing. I just cleaned the chain and the derailleur pulleys…everything is nice and clean, and the bike itself probably only has about 300 miles on it. Any ideas before I go permanently nuts listening to this noise?? Could it be a couple of spokes rubbing in the back? Should I spray some Tri-flow or something on the back spokes? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated–
No idea but give us a call, there are people smarter than I here in customer service who may be able to figure it out for you. and it’s free, 1-866-cervelo.
First two things I’d check are the Hset and BB. If the fixed cup on the bb isn’t tight, the creak will echo though the frame with each pedal stroke. I’ve seen a similar issue when a fork crown race had cracked. Hset perfectly adjusted and felt nice, but while riding made a horrible sound when standing. We only found it when replacing the hset. New crown race fixed the problem and was much cheaper than a new hset.
I’ve had the same thing happen to me several times over the years, and my training buddy finally solved the mystery: Just put a dab of grease between the skewer and the fork (where the aluminum-on-aluminum is causing the creaking noise) and make sure it’s tight.
The noise went away immediately and hasn’t been back since.
Had a similar creaking sound in my F65 Felt. Thought it was the spokes on the rear wheel. Had them all replaced. Sound was still there. Finally figured out that it was my seat post. Cleaned the seat post and put some grease on it and the sound went away. Good luck. Nothing worse than a funny sound when you’re out for a long ride.
As the official Unofficial Cervelo creaky noise identifier, please send me the bike and I’ll put it through my intensive, 12-month troubleshooting program and get back to you with my findings.
Not sure if you thought of this but when I had look pedals I would often get a creaking sound from the cleats… not sure of what else it could be besides the headset
I have this happen with my Tilium SS front wheel. It only happens with that one wheel, and only when I am standing up and cranking. Tightening the quick release has helped some, but it hasn’t gone away.
I’ll try a little lube on there and see if that helps.
My wifes bike had a similar creaking for the first few months she had it. It turned out to be the little plastic grommets that guide the cables inside of the frame. I put a little grease on them and problem solved.
I have the same bike, and the same problem. Haven’t been able to pinpoint it yet. I know that it isn’t coming from the front end or seatpost. I would swear the noise is coming from the rear wheel and so would my training partners, but It may have been loose chainring bolts. I was getting ready for a race Sunday when it was pointed out to me that I only had 4 chainring bolts, thankfully the race mechanics were able to take care of me before I started the race. I can’t say I remember hearing the noise much in the race, but I can’t say that I remember much about the race at all. Let me know if you figure it out.
Depends on the seatpost material. One doesn’t grease a carbon post, you’re right. But fail to grease an aluminum or cro-moly post and it will eventually perma-bond to the frame.
Grease in seat tubes is for metal corrosion and prevention of seizure. When movement occurs, it can act as a polishing agent, but chances are you have other problems if your seat post is creaking.
I would be VERY surprised if Cervelo adovocate grease on the R2.5 and/or on their alum bikes with carbon post. Where’s Gerard when you need him?
The degradation of carbon epoxy is a myth, but you are increasing the torque needed to secure the post if you use grease on carbon…same as if you twist the post into the frame rather than push.
I’ve greased the seatposts on lots of carbon framed bikes (mostly oclv’s) with no problems at all. Usually the posts were aluminum, occassionally ti.
I think that most of the time, whenever parts come together, it’s not a bad idea to have a thin layer of grease between them. The exception would be a tapered bottom bracket spindle.