For the love of Jesus... STOP CREAKING!

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
OP
OP
lejogger

lejogger

Guru
Location
Wirral
If you knew my knees, you'd definitely think it was this! It's a wonder I can hear the creaking of the bike over the clicking of my knees!
 
OP
OP
lejogger

lejogger

Guru
Location
Wirral
How can you strip down a BB as nearly all are sealed cartridges or bearing shells these days?

As said cleats or the bindings could be the culprits.
Read 'strip down BB' as 'unscrewed, thoroughly cleaned, regreased and retightened'... also BB replaced in first instance.
 

compo

Veteran
Location
Harlow
Possibly handlebar end of the stem but not steerer end as I redid those when dropping the forks out. Do they need greasing or just tightening?

I recently had a mysterious creak that turned out to be the stem/handlebar interface which is what bought it to mind. I put some grease in the joint and retightened.

These creaks can be a pain as you see from all the suggestions here. All you can do is start at one end and work through all the likely areas. If nothing else your bike gets a good clean and grease up!
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Cleats.

If SPD SL or Look, then the rain can make the plastic cleat pick up alloy deposits. If there is any blackening on the cleat contact points, this is often the cause. A light run with sand paper will remove this polishing. Certainly happens every so often with Look pedals.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Mouse
 

Acesand8s

Regular
Location
Colorado Springs
As you fatigue you actually start putting more lateral stress on the frame, causing things to creak. So chill out and ride the bit slower to lessen this stress, as the frame itself will always do so.
 
Location
Pontefract
This must the only thing that's not been suggested: is the front wheel QR skewer tight enough?
I know to ask this because... :headshake:
Had this the other week, re-greased headset following day a creak appears, you assume headset as thats what you have disturbed, it was the front QR, turns out it wouldn't tighten properly, only found this as a result of a bump test of the front, the other one I get often is the BB crank bolt, and the other bars to stem clamp.
 

mrandmrspoves

Middle aged bald git.
Location
Narfuk
SPD cleats can creak if they're not fully tightened onto the shoe. Often overlooked because people look at the bike as the cause. New pedals, new bottom brackets etc. won't sort this - but removing the cleats from the shoes, applying Coppa slip and then tightening the cleats up fully may work. If in doubt try riding unclipped and see if the noise is still present.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom