Bicycle Mechanics - Clicking/ticking sound from new handlebars?

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ginsoakedboy
11-12-07, 05:57 PM
I just got some new bars - Ritchey Biomax - to replace the Salsa Pro Road bars I had. Now there is a constant clicking/ticking sound that seems to be coming from the bars in the vicinity of the stem clamp. I had no such noise when I had the Salsa bar on there. The stem is a Thomson Elite with a 31.8 clamp. Is the noise coming from the bars themselves, or is it created by the bars shifting in the clamp? Will a little grease shut it up? Is it ok to use grease at the clamp or will it allow the bars to shift?

dobber
11-12-07, 06:02 PM
When you replaced the bars did you grease the bolts during reassembly?
ginsoakedboy
11-13-07, 08:25 AM
When you replaced the bars did you grease the bolts during reassembly?

Yes. I did grease the bolts for the clamp, but not the faces of the clamp where it meets the bars.

I_bRAD
11-13-07, 08:28 AM
Did you try tightening it a bit more?
ginsoakedboy
11-13-07, 07:13 PM
Did you try tightening it a bit more?

Um, . . . yes. Do you suppose I would have posted a thread before bothering to try to tighten the clamp?

Now, can anyone explain to me what causes the noise, and how to stop it? Are the Ritchey bars weak in comparison to the Salsa, so that maybe what I'm hearing is the aluminum itself creaking?

Any (helpful) suggestions would be very much appreciated.
kenhill3
11-13-07, 07:25 PM
Do you suppose I would have posted a thread before bothering to try to tighten the clamp?

Many people do, esp. those who haven't a clue. Obviously you DO have a clue, which most here will appreciate. But what many here DO NOT APPRECIATE are posters with attitude. Be careful, and welcome.
prschaa
11-13-07, 07:30 PM
Similar situation, turned out to be the cable adjusters clicking against each-other. Tightened, tweaked and moved bars, stem, headset. Drove me crazy. Fixed with small piece of electrical tape. Not that it could be your problem, just relating a week long annoyance.