Bicycle Mechanics - Wheel noise

I have a new Canondale R500, since the weather has started to improve here I have put some miles on it, (its only done 180 miles total now). However on a ride last night I noticed what can be best described as a dull clicking or pinging noise approximately on every pedal downstroke or every other downstroke sometimes. It seemed to be coming from the back end, and only happened when I got out of the seat and really forced up a hill.
Any ideas ? There is no broken spoke apparent, but could it be one working loose when settling in ?

Thanks in advance

it would be, probably, a loose spoke..

check for loose spokes.. If you find something, bring it to your LBS and have your wheel aligned..

BTW, what wheels do you have?

it would be, probably, a loose spoke..

check for loose spokes.. If you find something, bring it to your LBS and have your wheel aligned..

BTW, what wheels do you have?

They are the european entry spec wheel. The rims are MACH 1 (french) on DT swiss spokes and a cannondale hub.

I already give the spokes a basic check for tightness, and felt nothing out of the ordinary. How loose would a spoke need to be to cause a problem would it be noticible by hand ? Is it possible that its something else like the bottom bracket, loose crank or even loose pedal ?

When you have a noise in time with your pedal strokes, the back wheel is pretty much the only part that you can rule out. It's spinning at a function of your gear ratio while everything else is being stressed in time with your pedal cadence.

Prime suspects are crank and pedal parts, your seat, and the handlebars/headset in that order. Few people are very good at determining exactly where a noise is coming from while they are riding. Usually everything sounds like it's coming from the cranks.

I agree with Retro. It is very hard to tell where something is coming from. The best guide is the pattern. If it is every pedal stroke, I would check the cranks. With around 200 miles on the bike I would go through and check everything on the bike for tightness. Start with the cranks.

When you have a noise in time with your pedal strokes, the back wheel is pretty much the only part that you can rule out. It's spinning at a function of your gear ratio while everything else is being stressed in time with your pedal cadence.

Prime suspects are crank and pedal parts, your seat, and the handlebars/headset in that order. Few people are very good at determining exactly where a noise is coming from while they are riding. Usually everything sounds like it's coming from the cranks.

I see now, of course it makes common sense about the wheelspeed crankspeed ratio.
I have checked cranks (tight), Bottom braket both sides (tight), pedals (tight) and done a hand check on the spokes, some obviously feel tighter than others, but none feel "loose".

Could it still be the spokes, as one may be creaking with each forceful downpush, regardless of the wheel speed. It may be timed with the pedal stroke as it only happens when I am stood up on the steepest part of the hill and each hard downpush creates flex or movement through the wheel ?

I seem to remember an old thread where someone had this problem. S/He checked everything twice, only to realise after some time that it was a zipper handle in riding gear that clicked against the frame when pedalling standing up.

If possible, have someone ride beside you when you hear the noise. The source can probably be located better from a different angle.

--J

May seem too basic, but did you check cadence and/or cyclometer sensors? Are they hitting each other?

I had the same thing happen to me that Juha described only the pull tab was hitting my rear LED. The only other time I had this happen I swore it was the cranks. Ended up being the saddle was shifting slightly.
Like Juha said have someone ride alongside you. It will be easier to localize the sound.