Fifty Plus (50+) - It Creaked and Squeeked, Had Me Freaked, but Now It's Fixed, Without a Tweak

Okay, you might remember that my shifter wasn't shifting, and there was a creaking noise from somewhere near the saddle that the LBS couldn't fix. They did replace the cassette under warranty, but claimed they "couldn't hear" the squeek.

It happened on every revolution of the pedals. It only happened when I was in the saddle; if I stood up, it went away. I tried tightening down the cranks and the saddle but it didn't help. I got lots of advice hear about how to grease things up, and so...

I resorted to my favorite approaach to problems -- I procrastinated. I did nothing. I rode, I whined to myself, but I didn't try to fix the problem.

And then, a couple of days ago, I realized -- I was running as silent as an atomic submarine! No more squeeks, no more creaks, no sound at all except rubber on road. And it's stayed that way so far.

So basically, the gods of Procrastination and Cycling seem to have gotten together and rewarded me, their humble and least deserving servant, by eliminating the annoying sound. Which leaves me with two questions:

Is there a more scientific explanation to this event, and...

Are the gods simply setting me up for something far more sinister???

Benign neglect, D.G......no doubt your ride healed itself. "If its not broke, I can fix that."

Then again, I've heard rumors of the bike wrench fairy. At night, while we're asleep and dreamily winning the seniors' TdF and making time with podium girls, she flitters in and saves our unmechanical butts. But only if you are faithful about keeping up your mileage. Did you ride today, Gary?

LOL, bike wrench fairy... I wish I had one of those. Or at least a chain cleaning fairy.

You've already got it narrowed down to the saddle. Maybe the saddle just needed breaking in. Or maybe the bike shop fixed it without knowing they did. Hey, it could happen! ;) My suggestion would have been to take the seatpost out of the frame and wipe down the part of it that goes inside the frame with a *very* light coating of grease, then reinsert and retighten. Prevents squeaks and also prevents galvanic action from welding your seatpost into the frame after a few years.

Gee,

Crazy creaks can drive one to a little alliteration.


LastPlace

Bike squeeks that creak and cause you to freak that don't resolve themselves without a tweak can usually be fixed in a week by a bike geek, faster if you eek!



or something like that!

Don't know if any of you are weight weanies, with the ultra light and strong Titanium bits bolted to the bike? Only problem with titanium is that unless it is a very good fit, and correctly tightened- it creaks. Any squeaking out on the trail is now put down to Titanium Creak. Sounds better than "Where the hell is that noise coming from."

But, Stapfam, my joints aren't made of titanium (yet), and they creak every morning getting out of bed. Hard plastic shoe soles have been a great source of creaking for me-- whether they were slotted cleats or clipless. Where the plastic meets the metal is good for a creak from time to time. Usually, a shot of spray lube on contacting surfaces helps-- as well as tightening screws.

Bike squeeks that creak and cause you to freak that don't resolve themselves without a tweak can usually be fixed in a week by a bike geek, faster if you eek!



or something like that!

:beer: