Bicycle Mechanics - Where is this creaking sound coming from?!

Hey all. I noticed this creaking sound coming from my bike like 2 days ago. I don't know much about bikes, but it seems that every time I pedal, something makes a creaking noise. I think its coming from either the pedals, the gears, or something connected with that. Anyone have any tips on how I can figure out what's wrong? If I pedal slower, the creaking is just lower volume. I tried pedaling stationary, pedaling backwards, and I don't hear it. I also tried pedaling forward using my hands, with the rear wheel lifted, and I don't hear it either. It seems to only occur when I apply weight to the pedals. What could it be? Oil?

Take the pedals apart and grease them.

I forgot to mention that I was sitting on the bike with weight applied when I pedaled backwards. It didn't make a noise then. You think it might be the pedals though?

Try tightening your cranks first; easiest fix and most common cause.

Forgive me, but, what are cranks?

One guy I ride with had a creak from his saddle.
Something was broken on it.
Get some one to listen, while you make creak.

You might take a look at Sheldon "We miss you" Brown's Creaks, Clicks & Clunks (http://sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html) page.

Forgive me, but, what are cranks?

Just hang around here a few minutes, and soon you will see postings from them.

I had the very same issue and it turned out to be my Brooks saddle. Lp

Finding the cause of "creaks" or "ticks" in a bike is almost a black-art. Most of my experiences regarding this topic are related to full suspension mountain bikes, and they can be terribly frustrating to locate... and often the cause would be coming from the last place you'd expect.

Trial and error, process of elimination, one item at a time. If you think it's something, take it off. It the creak is still there, then move on to the next. I had one bike that gotten down to the bare frame and the tick was still there!!!

Turned out to be one of four identical sealed-bearings that had seized solid from internal corrosion. It looked fine because the rubber seals looked new but obviously water had gotten in. The tick noise was caused by the pressed bearing rotating against it's alloy boss when the rear swingarm moved. Sometimes the sound would occur at the beginning of the movement, sometimes at the end. The sound was also projected and seemed to originate from the head tube where everyone suspected a crack in the welds. We suspected the crank arms early on because the sound occurred when I pushed down on them.

Drove me and all the highly experienced mechanics at my LBS nuts, until we found it. :(

If or when you find the creak on your bike, please post back and let us know. :)

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I had the very same issue and it turned out to my Brooks saddle. Lp

Creaks that have driven me crazy:
- Bottom bracket cups not tight enough.
- Pedal bearing bad, and on one occasion, pedal body had enlarged to allow cartridge bearing to move around.
- Brooks saddle creaking.

I have a creak similar to the one you describe that I think is caused by a worn-out bottom bracket.

Just hang around here a few minutes, and soon you will see postings from them.

:lol: :thumb:

Hi...

1 take the pedals out and put new grease to the threads, put them back
2 tight the BB cups or the BB cartridge, or whatever your bike uses.
3 If the bike is made of carbon fiber there is a big chance that the quick releases are old. Get steel made ones, old stuff from the 80s, those are good.
4 Seat tube problems, re grease the seat tube. If the frame it is carbon get that special compound to create friction.
5 Lose weight! :p

I've had an irratating creak and it turned out to be the seat post clamp! Just needed lubed.

I had an annoying rattle yesterday that sounded like it was coming from someplace on the right side of my fork. Turned out to be the battery in my light, which is on the right side of by handlebars, in line between my ears and my fork. Wrapping a piece of paper around the battery solved the problem.

Annoying "tick" sound when turning the handlebar but not all ways?!??

Turned out to be the derailleur cables micro-slapping against the down-tube near the head-tube... but only when tension was present on the inner cables depending on which gear I'm on.

.

GOOD NEWS! Turns out its actually coming from my shock! The one under my seat, that absorbs the impact from the rear wheel. Now, I am not sure which part of the shock its coming from, but I have a feeling its the actual piston. Is there a chance that it is the coil? Does anyone know how I'm gonna fix this?

^ see if you can borrow and install a replacement or substitute shock first, just to be sure.

First place I would check for creaks in a shock are the mounting bushings.