Three weeks before IMC and today i found out that i might have a cracked frame :(…
For the last 4 weeks we have been trying to get the bottom of an increasing “ticking noise” from my bottom bracket on my 08 QR Caliente. It all started during hill repeats a few weeks ago… but now it’s turned into a full on “creak creak” with every pedal stroke… or “crack crack” is more like it. The guys at the bike shop have been great (seriously WONDERFUL) but each time I got the bike back it continued to “creak”. Today after a long ride i rode in and they decided to swap out the bottom bracket… didn’t help. Then they went as far as removing everything and then swapping out the crank. No change. We have now replaced everything (and removed the seat post, tried a different rear wheel, etc, etc) and the general consensus is “I have a cracked frame” And that’s exactly what it sounds like when you ride or put any force on the cranks.) We can’t see a crack… everything looks fine… but you can sure hear it (anyone who rides near me can hear it as well.)
I have no idea what i am going to do. I guess i can just ride it(not the smartest idea) and hope that it’s just a REALLY annoying sound for 112 miles at IMC without much loss in performance and hope that it doesn’t get worse/come apart on Richter pass… yikes. They said QR will likely replace the frame under warrenty but the process takes longer than 3 weeks… so unless I can talk someone at QR into speeding things along i am out of luck for the race:(. So sad… I baby my QR and she is only 18 months old:(. If they don’t replace the frame then i guess i am out however much it cost for a new frame and swaping my parts over (hmmm… bike shopping… how fun!) Thankfully I am on an amazing tri team and my teamates have already offered up the use of their bikes for IMC… so if i can’t figure something out i will go that route, but i would really prefer to be on the frame i did all my trainng on.
anyway… a little depressed this afternoon… not sure what to do. Firgure i would ask all of you a few questions in hopes that someone can help.
Does anyone have any experiance working with QR’s customer service department? Know anyone over there that might be able to help me out to speed along the process?)
Any ideas on something we might have overlooked that could be causing the “cracking noise” that might not be a “crack” (again, we can’t see it… but everyone who hears it cringes and says “ouch… sounds like your frame is cracked”… and we have removed and replaced everything.
Anyone know of a great deal on a QR Caliente/Lucaro (size M) frame?.. maybe i just bite the bullet… buy a new frame today and swap everything over then if QR repaces my original frame just sell it. Obviously out some money… but at this point what’s a little more cash thrown at an IM.
ho hmmm… so is life with expensive carbon toys :-/
If they are going to warranty it, push push push! My litespeed frame cracked last year, I contacted them directly and let then know about race plans etc. Everyone said “oh it takes them weeks to do a warranty replacement.”
LS got my bike Aug 25. LBS got the replacement frame Sept 5, so little over ten days.
Have told my story a few times now - but destroyed an 06 Seduza in a wreck on a Saturday evening. Happened to have a good idea of what I wanted and had gone looking to QR directly starting Monday or Tuesday. Had one weekend without a bike. Frame was received the following Monday, took it to a different shop to have it built up and had the bike by the weekend.
Had a great experience with QR and the speed of their replacement - took the chance to upgrade - now on an 08 Lucero Lite loving it. That said, there wasn’t much question about the warranty status when my downtube was wide open.
Sounds elementary, but have you checked your pedals and cleats? I get a really wonky creak when a cleat is starting to work loose.
“Sounds elementary, but have you checked your pedals and cleats? I get a really wonky creak when a cleat is starting to work loose.” Thanks… good to hear there is some hope. I will talk with QR tomorrow and see where this leads. Good idea on the shoes/cleats… but you don’t even need to be on teh bike to hear the cracking noise… just push down on the crank with your hand and you can hear it. We have pretty much ripped the bike apare hoping we would find something.
Never happened with QR but did happen to me with a Trek, hey were able to send a replacement the same week as they had a frame in stock that was my size, i am sure QR would do the same, good luck
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I have an 08’ Caliente also with similar clicking issues. I brought it to the LBS about 3 times before they found the seat post was the source of the clicking noise. They removed the seat post and re-assembled. My first ride after the repair the seat post cracked. So once again it went back to the bike shop. They ended up installing a new seat post last Friday. I haven’t had a chance to ride it since because of a marathon over the weekend. I hope the clicking noise went away, but the mechanics at the shop seem to think there is something wrong with the frame itself. We’ll see???
And that’s exactly what it sounds like when you ride or put any force on the cranks.) We can’t see a crack… everything looks fine… but you can sure hear it (anyone who rides near me can hear it as well.)