Bicycle Mechanics - Creaking bike...but bike is in good condition

I have a Oryx Equipe 100 with Alivio front derailleur, Deore rear derailleur, aluminum frame, etc.
The problem is that it makes noise, especially when I pedal hard, like on a hill, but eventually the creaking occurs all the time. I brought it in to get it fix...they didn't even try to figure out what was wrong, did a tune up, and charged me for a tune up...that fixed it for about 10minutes!!!

I've tried lubing everything, I've looked for cracks in the frame, I've made sure everything was tight...so did the bike shop. But no matter how many times I get them to tighten stuff on my bike the sound always comes back soon after.

They told me it was likely my bottom bracket, but they tell me its in good shape. Pedals are tight. Brakes don't rub. Chain looks good, is lubed and doesn't rub. It just bugs me to have a noisy $800 bike that has been making noise since less than a year after I bought it.

What noise does it make you ask? Well, it is a creaking noise that feels like it happens about once or twice every revolution of the pedal...but that corresponds to when I am putting peak force on the pedals.
Its really annoying, I'm going to look into adjusting the derailleurs myself, since the bike shop people at the London, ON, Canada Cycle Path seem to be a little incompetent! Sorry.

If anyone has any ideas, or can help me locate the source of the sound it would be great...unfortunately I have to be riding the bike to hear it...and that means I can't see what is going on.


Thanks.

Creaking can be a lot of things. In addition, the sound often travels deceptively to other areas of the bike, making diagnosis even more difficult.

If you can, try to eliminate certain areas as possibilities as you ride. For example, pedal off the seat to eliminate the seat/post. If you have a small saddle bag, take it off. Pedal with the left foot only, then the right, take a shoe out of a cleat, etc.

Some areas to check include the seat post, rattling STI shifters, loose spokes, etc.

Also, you may want to take the rear cassette off and re-lube the spline. That was the source of a creak on my bike not too long ago.

I'm sure some of the wrenches on this board can give you even better ideas.

Good luck

If it goes away when you are standing, try lubing the seatpost.

Thanks Sloth -- I had the same problem on a brand new bike and
couldn't figure it out. You saved me a trip back to the lbs.

I have a Oryx Equipe 100 with Alivio front derailleur, Deore rear derailleur, aluminum frame, etc.
The problem is that it makes noise, especially when I pedal hard, like on a hill, but eventually the creaking occurs all the time. I brought it in to get it fix...they didn't even try to figure out what was wrong, did a tune up, and charged me for a tune up...that fixed it for about 10minutes!!!

I've tried lubing everything, I've looked for cracks in the frame, I've made sure everything was tight...so did the bike shop. But no matter how many times I get them to tighten stuff on my bike the sound always comes back soon after.

They told me it was likely my bottom bracket, but they tell me its in good shape. Pedals are tight. Brakes don't rub. Chain looks good, is lubed and doesn't rub. It just bugs me to have a noisy $800 bike that has been making noise since less than a year after I bought it.
You say the noise occurs once or twice per pedal revolution, this is an indication that it comes from either the pedals, the cranks, or the bottom bracket (otherwise it would have a frequency matched to something else).

I've had this problem several times, and it's usually the bottom bracket. Tightening them helps, but doesn't last by itself. A very good idea is to remove the bottom bracket, clean it, and grease it first. This will allow you to thread the BB in by hand until it gets very tight, and will reduce the risk of it seizing up in the frame.

If it's not the BB, then try tightenings up the crank arm bolts and the chainring bolts. I really doubt it's the pedals, they tend to make more of a "squeaking" than a "creaking" noise. I've clearly spent waaay too much time listening to bikes :)

Be aware that some saddles creak too.

My serfas is one of those....but again it was prolly made for some 160lb racerboy, and not me.

I have a creak elsewher as well, it's just noise from the rubber dustcap on the top of my headset rubbing. A little grease will fix that up real good.