Bicycle Mechanics - Creaking bike

Fellow BF members, I need your help.

I recently took a bike maintenance class and learned about all sorts of wonderful things I could do to fix up my ancient road bike. I overhauled the wheels, cleaned the chain, adjusted the gears, etc. However, the bike continues to make an annoying creaky sound. This only happens when I am on the bike, whether I am pedalling or not.

I thought it was the rear wheel, and I did discover that there was no grease in the hub when I bought the tool to let me in. However, I greased it up and it continues to creak. I would love to figure out why it is creaking, since I don't know if I am doing more serious injury to the bike as I am still riding on it anyway.

If anyone has an idea of where a creak could come from, I would be very grateful.

Oh, and in my mis-guided first attempts to get into the rear hub, I managed to get into the actual cassette, which apparently was not something I was supposed to do. The LBS was shocked that I was able to do this, and recommended replacing it even though it went back together well enough. Am I risking injury by stubbornly (cheaply) riding on this bike? Or could it be a new source of creaking?

Thanks!

Teresa

Hi, Teresa.
Assuming that the creaking sound is in cadence with your pedal revolutions, I'd bet that your BOTTOM BRACKET probably needs to be pulled out, cleaned up and reinstalled. (My Cannondale bikes have been notorious for creaking - they say the aluminum "amplifies" the sound. Every 1000 miles or so, I've traditionally had to pull the bottom bracket, clean it up good with solvent - it's a sealed-cartridge BB, so no maintenance or disassembly - grease up the threads with some good-quality grease, and reinstall. And I'm good for another 1000 miles or so.)
Unless you have the tool(s), it might be better to have a reputable bike shop do it. Since it's about a 15 or 20 minute operation, it shouldn't be real spendy.
Hope that helps. Ride safe.

Sorry, Teresa.
I just read your post again... that it creaks whether you're pedaling or not.
In that case, I'd almost certainly bet that it's the wheels/hubs. Could be numerous things... bearings are dry, dirty, or damaged, wheels aren't true and are rubbing against the brake pads, cassette is whacked. You might try spinning the wheels while you're off the bike, one at a time. See if you can more positively identify the source of the creaking.
If you have a good-quality older bike, your components are probably as good as anything available now. (Sometimes it gets frustrating to try to find replacement parts for some of the older components.) If it's an el-cheapo department store bike, you'd probably be better off to put those repair dollars into a bike-replacement fund, instead.

The bike is a late 80s model Schwinn, so I assume it's in good shape (at least it started out that way 15+ years ago). I know the hubs have grease in them. The rear wheel probably does need to be trued, but I don't think that is the problem.

I was wondering if maybe it could be the seatpost somehow, since there is no noise without weight on the bike. Otherwise, I thought it was the wheels until I overhauled them.

Teresa

Teresa,

My bet is the seatpost.
Remove it (gently) and apply a small
amount of grease, reinsert and tighten it up.
Viola you have a silent bike. . .

Marty

If all else fails you could try going to and autoparts store and getting a mechanics stethoscope, These are real good at listening to bearings, and tell if you might have any about to go out, as well as to trace any other noise you might have on the bike. You might have to flex the frame and other components to imitate actual ride conditions.
:beer: :crash: :D

It might be the saddle where the rails go into the saddle mold, it may also be the seat post clamp against the rails.

Originally posted by Teresa
The bike is a late 80s model Schwinn, so I assume it's in good shape (at least it started out that way 15+ years ago). I know the hubs have grease in them. The rear wheel probably does need to be trued, but I don't think that is the problem.

I was wondering if maybe it could be the seatpost somehow, since there is no noise without weight on the bike. Otherwise, I thought it was the wheels until I overhauled them.

Teresa
when I lube the wheel hubs, I see to it that I have extra bearing with me the front and the rear have different size of bearing, see, you have to look at this small bearing if they have chip on them or the roundness is no longer true, if this is the case you have to replace the bearing, you also have to take a closer look at the cones, if they are no longer smoth you have to replace them, as for the squeaking sound, have somebody ride alongside with you and try to really determine where its coming from, this way when you post at B.F.C. will be able to intelegently help you and not guess

Try and reproduce the sound off the bike if you can. It is often difficult to trace the exact source of the sound but it helps if you can nail down the general area and then go by trial and error from there.

I would first grease the seatpost where it enters the frame and grease the junction where the seatpost clamps the seat rails (as well as the hardware in the seatpost clamp). Make sure the seat itself isn't the culprit, though!

It is always amusing to see the variety of guesses when somebody says there is a noise that can't be identified.

'80's Schwinn. What is it a World Sport? Not a bad machine - certainly rideable. Made in Taiwan I believe.

Frankly, it would be unusual for a hub to make a creaking sound even if there was no lubrication.

Seatpost? Maybe. It is worth greasing and checking as a couple of people have suggested.

Another typical culprit would be the handlebar stem. Check both the neck that goes into the fork steering tube and where the stem meets the handlebars.

Grease the stem part that goes into the steering tub and tighten it good. Do NOT grease the stem where it meets the handlebars, but make sure the bolt is tight.

Mike,

I figured that given the age the stem is frozen into
the headtube and couldn't creak.

Marty

I knew you guys would come up with something.... :)

I have a Schwinn Traveler, if that means anything to anyone. Though it's hard to tell where the creak comes from while commuting (I'm paying more attention to the cars), I did pay special attention to the seat this morning. The bike creaks when I'm not sitting on it, so though I will try lubing it, I don't think it is the problem.

I will check the handlebars. That never occured to me, and I'll see if I can check them on the way home.

I could swear the sound is coming from my rear wheel, though, but I don't know where it could be located there.

Thanks!!

Teresa

If you have access to anouther compatible road bike start replacing the components, rear wheel, bottom bracket, etc.. until you eliminate the creak. Sometimes the creaks come from the frame and there is nothing you can do about it. If you don't have access to other componets to sub-in, then try spraying the heck out of every single mm of the bike, you can use WD-40 for a cheaper version of the more costly "Bicycle" lubricants.

Oh no! Somebody mentioned WD40. Cue the screams... :rolleyes:

Ellie

Originally posted by VooDude
If you have access to anouther compatible road bike start replacing the components, rear wheel, bottom bracket, etc.. until you eliminate the creak. Sometimes the creaks come from the frame and there is nothing you can do about it. If you don't have access to other componets to sub-in, then try spraying the heck out of every single mm of the bike, you can use WD-40 for a cheaper version of the more costly "Bicycle" lubricants.

I think all the Schwinn Travelers were made in the USA. The frames were welded in with a special "electroforge" process. Thus, no lugs. I can't imagine that the frame itself would creak considering the manufacturing method of the old Schwinn frames.

Teresa, if it isn't your seatpost, and it isn't your handlebars, and you are convinced it is coming from the rear wheel (don't be easily fooled, though), then try tightening the nuts on the rear axle that hold the wheel to the frame.

Well, after fixing everything I could think of, I took the bike to a bike shop to have it "diagnosed". I'm very new at this, so I overlooked the fact that my spokes were loose on my rear tire. It turns out that once they were retightened and trued, the sound went away.

It was a learning experience for me.... I discovered that I love my new LBS and when I buy a new bike, I'll do it there. The manager was patient with me, let me watch him fix my wheel (as I was planning to get a truing stand and try it myself otherwise), then fixed the rear brake that I had screwed up the other day. I did hear him laughing at me in the back about the girl who tries to fix her own bike (I'm really very new at this, okay? :) ). But he didn't charge me for any of the labor. I thought that was very cool, but I had mentioned I would be buying a new bike soon, so maybe he didn't charge me because he hoped I would go there for my bike. It worked.

Thanks for all your advice! Now my old bike is working much better now.

Teresa