Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - B17 Squeaking and Bouncing like a Sprung Saddle

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RichardGlover
07-20-11, 10:07 AM
Last couple of weeks, I've been chasing down noisemakers on my bike.

This morning, I isolated an intermittent squeaking noise to my saddle. Once I noticed it, i realized how bad it was. Hit a rough patch on the road while seated, and it squeaks two or three times as I bounce up and down on it. Bounce up and down on it intentionally, and it really complains.

Now that I'm at work, I just isolated it further. It's coming from the leather rubbing on the front corners of the rear frame - just forward of the side-rear rivets.

Time to finally tighten the bolt? Or should I add proofhide between the moving parts to quieten them?

tcmers
07-20-11, 11:46 AM
Last couple of weeks, I've been chasing down noisemakers on my bike.

This morning, I isolated an intermittent squeaking noise to my saddle. Once I noticed it, i realized how bad it was. Hit a rough patch on the road while seated, and it squeaks two or three times as I bounce up and down on it. Bounce up and down on it intentionally, and it really complains.

Now that I'm at work, I just isolated it further. It's coming from the leather rubbing on the front corners of the rear frame - just forward of the side-rear rivets.

Time to finally tighten the bolt? Or should I add proofhide between the moving parts to quieten them?

I had a similar situation, that gradually got worse. The fix was a liberal dose of proofhide on leather to metal contact points and a slight (if I remember correctly, about half a turn) tensioning of the saddle. It has been whisper quiet since.

Edited to add: My saddle had around 5000 miles on it when the squeek developed, and had been ridden in rainy conditions on tour several times.
Bacciagalupe
07-20-11, 03:25 PM
Just put a little lubricant at the tension bolt. That did it for me.

Six jours
07-20-11, 08:07 PM
I've had the same trouble and solved it the same way Tcmers did.

But I kind of like Bacciagalupe's suggestion too, though I'd take it a bit further: after you're done lubing the bolt, you should re-tension your front brake cable, check the attachment points on your roof rack, and then add a small bit of bacon fat to every third carpet tack in the guest bedroom. If that doesn't fix a squeak between the saddle top and its support, I don't know what will. :p
IbisTouche
07-20-11, 09:23 PM
All above+ saddlepin-saddle contact point have to be greased.