I work in customer service so I should know better than to ask a vague question and expect an accurate diagnosis over the net, but what the hell… Work is grinding to a Xmas halt and I’m just killing time here.
WHY IS MY BIKE CREAKING?? I just got it serviced a few weeks back and I’m sure they said they rebuilt the thingy whatsit, replaced the whachamacallit and lubed those other bits.
It’s most noticeable when I’m out of the saddle and I think it’s getting worse, to the point of noisily embarrassing. It’s also making it much harder to creep up silently behind some guy then chick him on the crest. That won’t do at all.
Specialized Ruby, about 5 years old.
Verdict please? It’s coming from somewhere below me if that helps…
You said it comes more when climbing. That almost immediately points me to a bottom bracket issue. Take it to your shop, tell them the problem, and it should be a simple fix!
Unfortunately anything that sounds like it could be coming from the bottom bracket could be anything else.
I would try the bottom bracket first though. I once had a frame that was creaking, loosened the bottom bracket and put some grease between the bracket and where it screwed into the frame. Turns out the metal-metal contact was creaking.
Also had a creak that developed after riding in the rain. I swore it was coming from the bottom bracket and only creaked when I was out of the saddle. Turns out the front quick release was making the noise, just tightened it up and noise was gone.
My brother had a creak that only happened when he was put of the saddle. Turns out it was his cleats that needed a bit of tightening and some lube (speedplays).
I would put some lube on the cleats first before taking it back to the shop. Might just be that they cleaned your bike and the cleats are now creaking. I would be surprised if they removed the wheels or bottom bracket that would lead to the creaking.
after changing a bottom bracket, replacing the headset, swapping pedals around and messing the skewers…
I greased my seat post. That actually worked (but not likely for you)- the rest of the stuff - well, the BB was sticky/rough on one side, and the headset bearings were worn out so it wasn’t money wasted, but it was pretty frustrating to get back on the bike and discover that I still had the mouse riding with me.
I thought my bottom bracket on mine for a long time, but it was the rear wheel skewer and bearings. Just my experience. About 3/4 of the time now when I get a creak, it’s hte rear skewer. But before that I have a issue with my Sram S30 rear wheel bearing constantly loosening up. I liitle bit of a eye opener to grab your wheel after a race and realize there was a good 1/8" of freeplay… when you were going 53mph downhill in the race. Of course zipps always have a fair amount of freeplay.
Clearly this is a flux capacitator issue. Go into your LBS and tell them you need a bottle of frequency grease for it. That should solve the problem. If that doesn’t work, try ear plugs. You are welcome.
Clearly this is a flux capacitator issue. Go into your LBS and tell them you need a bottle of frequency grease for it. That should solve the problem. If that doesn’t work, try ear plugs. You are welcome.
But be careful: “before use, the system should be calibrated with a gyro-controled Sine-Wave Director, the output of which should be of the cathode follower type. Note: If only cosine-wave Directors are available, their output must be first fed into a Phase Inverter with parameteric negative-time compensators.” Furthermore: “Only Phase Inverters with an output inductance of 17.8 millimhos should be employed to match the characteristic of the quasistatic regeneration oscillator.”
But be careful: “before use, the system should be calibrated with a gyro-controled Sine-Wave Director, the output of which should be of the cathode follower type. Note: If only cosine-wave Directors are available, their output must be first fed into a Phase Inverter with parameteric negative-time compensators.” Furthermore: “Only Phase Inverters with an output inductance of 17.8 millimhos should be employed to match the characteristic of the quasistatic regeneration oscillator.”
Could be anything. Sometimes these things are so hard to track down. My Lapierre carbon road bike has one I have never been able to find. Creaks when I stand up and crank the pedals. I have taken it completely apart and still cannot find it.
Back when I spun a wrench we had trouble with some of the first Giant slanted top tube frames making noises. After messing with one on and off for a while, I found that turning the seat tube insert and clamp 180 degrees got rid of it. We have had some we swore were bottom brackets end up being stems. Sound carries in a bike frame. SOmetimes you just have to start experimenting.
Thanks all - sounds like to trip to the LBS is in order, although I think I’ll get out the spray gun & try lubing everything in sight first. Well at least the bits that I know about and hope the quasistatic regeneration oscillator catches a bit of the spray.
Luckily I’ve got another bike to go out and play on in the meantime:-)
I had a creaking that I thought was the bottom bracket. Turned out to be the headset. tightened her up and the problem went away. Then it came back a couple weeks later. Tried the same fix but it persisted. Turned out to be the bolts that connect the drive side crank arm to the chainring. Hasn’t been back since.
I have had creaking issues with both my bottom bracket and my headset bearings. The sound is extremely similar, but the easiest way to figure it out, or at least eliminate the headset and/or bb is to take your bike apart and inspect the bearings. Usually it’s pretty obvious when one bearing or both is shot just by spinning them through your fingers.
I have had creaking issues with both my bottom bracket and my headset bearings. The sound is extremely similar, but the easiest way to figure it out, or at least eliminate the headset and/or bb is to** take your bike apart **and inspect the bearings. Usually it’s pretty obvious when one bearing or both is shot just by spinning them through your fingers.
