The CycleChat 'find the creak' challenge thread.

[Red Light]

Needs a bit more description of the creak such as when does it happen. Your "extreme pressure up a hill" indicates that it goes in time with the pedalling. You can try a number of things to help narrow it down if that is the case. Stand off the saddle? Creak gone, try greasing the seatpost and making sure the saddle is correctly bolted down. If its a Brooks saddle do the tension up a bit. Take your weight off your hands if you can? Creak gone? Look at the bars mounting and the headset. If neither and having checked what you've checked, make sure the bottom bracket is properly done up, that the pedal spindles are greased where they screw into the cranks and if they are spds that its not the rubber on the soles of your shoes creaking against the pedals. If you've eliminated all those look further afield like the rear wheel axle/mounting and also inspect the frame and forks very carefully for cracks. If all that fails, buy some earplugs.

 

[raindog]

I had a creak on one of my bikes a couple years ago. Took me weeks to track it down. First I thought it was from the BB area, then the headset etc etc - I checked, and sometimes changed, every component on the bike before I found it was a dry seat pillar. A small touch of grease and the noise was gone.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I feel a bit bad now, I took the bike out last night and the creak has diminished considerably. There is still some 'unease' in the drivetrain, I shall Mickle the chain and report back.

Thanks for everyone's input, you all fill me with great confidence!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I had a creak on one of my bikes a couple years ago. Took me weeks to track it down. First I thought it was from the BB area, then the headset etc etc - I checked, and sometimes changed, every component on the bike before I found it was a dry seat pillar. A small touch of grease and the noise was gone.

I'm considering greasing the seat post - when I loosened it to make a minor adjustment it dropped into the tube, I've never had that happen before!

 

[4F]

I would hate for my bike to have a creak just before doing 100 miles on it enjoy tomorrow

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I would hate for my bike to have a creak just before doing 100 miles on it enjoy tomorrow

It's not bothering me too much, but Matt might feel inspired to help me diagnose it

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I have grease the seat use and give everything on the bike a drop of lube, so we'll see how I get on.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Still got the creak, although it's less audible now and I can only feel it through my feet.

On goes the search!

 

[2Loose]

Another one not mentioned is to put a smear of grease on the seat rails. That one took almost as long to find as the creak I had from bar clamp interface. It's all good fun and games.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Another one not mentioned is to put a smear of grease on the seat rails. That one took almost as long to find as the creak I had from bar clamp interface. It's all good fun and games.

I greased the seatpost. The weird thing is that I swear I can feel this creak through my feet!

 

[Sillyoldman]

Cleats?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Cleats?

Nah, I've changed from SPDs to Looks and it made no difference

 

[Manguish]

I'd say cleats.

Irrespective of changing them, make sure they are tight on your shoes. Mine creak if even slightly loose.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I'd say cleats.

Irrespective of changing them, make sure they are tight on your shoes. Mine creak if even slightly loose.

I'll check

 

[Tim Hall]

Bottom bracket thread? I had that once. Removed the bottom bracket, put a couple of turns of Plumbers' Tape For Everything on the cups, re-fitted it. Silence.