Bicycle Mechanics - Interesting new click while pedaling....

Hello everyone,

Just got a swift folder is the past three weeks and I have been riding it hard in NYC streets (15 - 20 miles a day). I guess the bike is finally breaking in and a new interesting noise has started. At first I though the audible click was coming from the front tire but when I stop pedaling the click disappears. It also is not coming from the frame because once again the click disappears when I stop pedaling. Today I decided to bike in a real quiet residential area so I can hear the click better. It seems that it only happens during the downstroke of the right pedal noise does not happen toward the left. It also seems to get louder when under heavier load and when I am in a higher gear, although the noise continues in all gears. It almost sounds like its coming from the hub where the crank arms are connected to but I heard it can be any number of things.

Anyone have any idea what it could be?

Gotta tell us more about the bike - make, gears in front, gears in back, shifting system, etc. If it only happens in the big ring in front, check to make sure your right crank isn't hitting your front deraileur cage. Sometimes they get bent. The cage should line up exactly with your front rings.

Here's what I got from the website. (Xootr Swift)

rame. 6061-T6 custom-profiled aluminum tubing, TIG welded. Patent-pending TrusFold system for maximum frame rigidity. Horizontal dropouts with replaceable derailleur hanger. CroMoly straight taper fork.

Dropout dimensions. The rear dropout has horizontal slots so it can accommodate a single-speed or internal-gear hub as well as a hub with a cassette/derailleur. It is spaced at 132.5mm so it can be compressed slightly for 130mm hubs or spread slightly for 135mm hubs. This means is fits pretty much any standard road, mountain or hybrid hub in common use.

"Braze ons". The rear dropout has 2 tapped holes for M5 fasteners, which are for racks, fenders, etc. We insert two fasteners in there for aesthetic reasons, shown at left. The front dropouts also have M5 holes for fender mounting.


Drivetrain. SRAM SX 5 grip shifter; SRAM SX 4 derailleur; SRAM PG-850 11-28T cassette; Jagwire derailleur cable; KMC Z72 chain; 52T single-chainwheel aluminum alloy crankset (170mm) with chainguard. Sealed-cartridge bottom bracket.

Gear Inches Meters/
Rev Speed at 60rpm pedal cadence Speed at 100rpm pedal cadence
Gear 1:
52 x 28 36 2.9 6 mph (10 kph) 11 mph (19 kph)
Gear 8:
52 x 11 92 7.4 16 mph (26 kph) 27 mph (45 kph)

don't know much about a folding bike but i would guess there will be more piviot points on it compared to a road bike. any one of them could flex and make a noise under stress. could be why you do not hear anything when not pedaling.

WOnder if the front quick release is messing around. Have seen that before.

It might be a couple of things, loose pedal or crank arm, etc.
If you want I can take a look at it in the afternoons. I work in
midtown Manhattan. Send me a private mail if you want to
meet up.