Cyclologist

I've got an annoying ticking coming from my front end, only when out of the saddle sprinting and applying weight to the handlebars. Tick-tic-tick, tic-tic-tick, with each pedal downstroke stroke, so it seems its not just isolated to one side of the handlebar. I've pulled the fork and taken the integrated headset out twice now to fully lather in grease and reassemble, and have done full visual inspections of the fork, headset, spacers, stem and headtube. All bolt threads and heads are fully lathered in grease. The only part I haven't inspected are the shifter clamps and handlebars beneath the handlebar tape. And supposedly the front wheel may be the culprit but I highly doubt it. The sound appears to be coming from the headtube/stem/handlebar area.

I'm positive it is coming from the front end as I can reproduce the sound by simply appying forces to the handlebars when off the bike.

gcl8a

Borrow someone's front wheel. Eliminate that before you spend any money.

Could be the quick release skewer, too.

Not much, but it's all I got.

Donegal

Check the Stem. Especially if either carbon bars or steerer. Take the stem loose on both ends, re-align and re tighten. I have built several bikes and had clicking when applying pressure on the bars. The screws to hold the bars on the stem are fairly small for the load we put on them. Might need a stouter stem. I have had the best luck w/ITM.

Todd Richards

I had the same thinbg and it ended up being the quick release... try all kinds of stuff and you'll discover it....

Cyclologist

It was the stem. I swapped stems with another bike and found the sound dissappeared. Before that I tried moving the stem down, moving all the spacers that were beneath it up to see if it might have been the spacers or part of the steerer. That made no difference. Interestingly, the stem that made the creaking/ticking on the one bike now doesn't do it on the other bike with difference handlebars. Oh well. I'll be looking at getting another stem since the swapped stem is too short.

thanks

Cyclologist

2.5 weeks later, I stand corrected!

It cannot be the stem. Even though after I swapped the 120mm stem that was on there for a 90mm one I had laying around, and that seemed to take the noise away, after a ride or two, it was back. The creaking has remained even after purchasing a different (Thomson X2) 120mm stem and putting it on there, so it is definately not the stem.

Also, since it was mentioned here and in other threads I've read, I went ahead and thoroughly greased the Mavic quick release skewers. Although that seemed to help initially as well, that is not the source of the problem either. I'm left with only two, possibly three, other possibilities: 1.) integrated headset, 2.) fork, 3.) ovalized headtube.

I find it hard to believe that it is the integrated headset since I've pulled it out and generously regreased so many times. Each time it goes in, all the individual parts go in rotated differently, so you would think the creaking would go away if it was just rubbing the wrong way in a certain orientation. Alternatively, perhaps there is an aluminum/carbon interface within the fork that is causing the creaking.

Again, the creaking really only becomes pronounced when I sprint out of the saddle, or apply any pressure to the handlebars after the bike has been sitting a while.

Any other recommendations.

Cyclologist

Crown on carbon fork, perhaps? The fork is a Cannondale Slice carbon (alloy steerer). The bike has 2000 miles, never crashed, only several horrid bumps and an incident on a pair of rollers where the handlebars became horridly wedged beneath some railing. I took the wheel out this morning and gently squeezed the blades of the fork together to see if that could reproduce the sound. It did not.

What about the star-nut? Has anyone ever heard of a creaking star nut? I did grease the interface between the top of the stem and top cap, and also between each of the headset spacers, which are alloy not carbon.

knobster

Did you swap your front wheel with another one like someone suggested above? I've got the same type of ticking coming from my rear wheel. Only happens when I mash.

Cyclologist

I think I tested for the front wheel by simply taking it out, resting the dropouts on the floor, and putting pressure on the handlebars. If my memory serves correct, it still made the noise to my dismay. The front wheel is a Mavic Ksyrium Elite. The spokes do not come into contact with each other as they are radially laced.

Cyclologist

It was pretty bad on yesterday's ride.

noodly alloy steerer (Cannondale Slice Carbon fork)?
perfectly good FSA integrated headset is somehow bad and should be replaced?
noodly handlebars?
Ovalized head tube, take it up with Cannondale?

David McLeod

Once had a similar problem. Turned out to be the presta valve stem (which was longer than necessary)clicking against the aero rim during rotation at certain speeds.

oilman_15106

A bomb?

OldGeezer

I've got the same problem on my 2004 Klein Aura X. The noise comes and goes but is more severe when I'm higher on the bars (on the hoods) but almost always goes away when I'm in the drops. I can pull up on the bars and the noise goes away. I'm beginning to think the headset needs adjustment.

operator

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html

We should just sticky this URL. For gods sake.

Bob Dopolina 

Have you looked at the handlebars? Is it a tick or a creak? A creaking could be your bars way of telling you time is up. Give them a good visual inspection for tiny cracks or discolouration.

Sometimes the clamp that holds the levers on can also make noise. Try greasing those threads and inspecting the bar around the clamp area for damage. That'll cost ya a roll of tape, though (unless you can salvage the one you have on there now).

arrasmithf

holy cow, this has been bugging me for months!!!!!! I am riding 2005 Giant FCR, and i think i tried everything Cyclo tried(and i read the "creaks" article). I just aqcuired another wheel am i am going to try that myself after i get it fixed up. I think its a cross between a tick and a creak if you can believe that, and happens when I ride normally, and goes away when i either put more weight on(standing) , or take it completely off(no hands). any more help would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure why it bugs the <BLEEP> out of me, especially since my Brooks sprung saddle creaks like mad all the time, it just must be that particular sound.

Cyclologist

I haven't taken the tape off the handlebars to give it a full visual inspection, but they give me the impression that they're fine despite not being the stiffest handlebars around.

It is mostly short ticks, although I might get a lot at one point which makes it seem like a creak. The number of ticks and their intensity vary. It comes and goes, but invariably is caused by the initial application of pressure on the handlebars when hammering it out of the saddle.

I undid one shifter clamp, but nothing seems to indicate that the shifter clamps are causing the problem. The more and more I experience it, the more it seems it is coming from the headset, which is consistent with what Chris King says will happen to integrated headsets over time. Consistent with what they say, the problem is dampened when I initially regrease/redo the stem, but invariable returns after a short a while. Damn you integrated headset, I think.

I might after all swap integrated headsets between bikes to see if that helps, although the other integrated headset I have is not as smooth or as good of quality, but if it stops the noise, it is better. I might also test the handlebar theory by scooting another bike close to the offending one and clamping handlebars/shifter to the offending bike while still being attached through cables to the other one. That might not show the problem if the ticking only occurs after a ride or so.

mrsalty

as ridiculous as it sounds, try mounting the fork and stem/bar in a vice/sturdy stand.
you isolate the the stem/bar from the headset.
at this point, you have nothing to lose..............except your sanity.
I feel your pain; I have a tick in my front rim (salsa Delgado disc, pinned) that requires a healthy dose of volume to remedy.


keep us posted.

blinky

tell me the make of your BB and I may have a possible solution to the ticking .

Cyclologist

Shimano 105 Hollowtech II --> get a new one?

I did once have a noise down there too but has since been resolved by removing the BB, regreasing, and retorquing.

It simply cannot be the BB from the mere fact that it makes the sound when I'm not on the bike and am simply applying pressure to the handlebars.

blinky

Ok , it's probably not the BB - if you said it was high end Campy then I'd have a fix - I'd say maybe the headset then - if the bearings aren't seated correctly in the cups (internal) or frame (integrated) you can get wear grooves and some noise as the King website points out ! Good Luck !!

Trekbikedude

make sure all of your screws are torqued equally, like the same amount of turns like you turn one, then turn the next. And grease the stem where it attaches to the steerer tube and where the handlebars clamp on. Make sure the headset is tight too. And, If you have lock on grips make sure they are on there correctly and tightened down enough.

meb

And since it only does it when he pedals, the timer mechanism is linked to the cranks.

meb

That's a serious enough safety concern, I'd consider swapping handlebars between you bikes and see if the problem continues with the same bike or transfers with the handlebars.

Same issue with the pedals or cranks or headsets, although the safety issue is milder than with the handlebars.

Cyclologist

Indeed, all the screws are torqued evenly. I've become more proficient in doing this from taking apart and reassembling so many times. And since the ticking began a long while back, I've had a tendency to preload the headset very tight; the headset spins smoothly no matter how tight I preload it, so I make sure it is good n' tight these days, so it shouldn't move around in there.