whatisit

I've been experiencing this problem for awhile... It's a pop/click noise coming from my chain, or cranks, or pedals.. I'm not totally sure. I can definitely feel it on my feet as well, and it's typically only on one side at a time. This only happens when it's wet and/or raining out, and the intensity/frequency seem to be directly affected by how wet the roads are. The noise isn't constant - it seems to happen at random intervals.

It sounds/feels like my chain might be popping off and back on super quickly, but I've never had my chain actually come off when this happens. I recently replaced my bottom bracket, which didn't solve the problem, so I know it's not that. I keep my chain at a good tension and nice and straight, and I recently replaced that as well, so I'm pretty sure it's not that. The only other thing I could think of is shot bearings in my pedals? I just wanted to ask here before I spend $35 on new pedals that I may not need.

I ride a fixed gear road bike, if that helps. Thanks -

FBinNY 

A common cause of that kind of clicking is the pedal thread. Remove both pedals, clean threads on both pedal and crank arm, especially cleaning the mating flat faces of each, grease and install pedals tightening to full torque. Sometimes the pedals themselves are the issue, but that can be eliminated by swapping to another pair.

Another possibility is that rain is compromising the chain lube, and you're hearing the chain click through the shift gate, where it doesn't mesh as smoothly as elsewhere. This is a good bet if it clicks when using the outer (gated) chainring, but not on the inner (non-gated) ring.

Also, if you have an external bearing BB with a slip in spindle system (most common modern system). Rain water may be wicking between the spindle and bearing race, allowing some movement under load.

dsbrantjr

"I keep my chain at a good tension..."

A "good" tension is no tension at all but rather you should be able to move the chain a half inch or so in the middle at the tightest point of the crank rotation. Any tighter than this will be of no benefit but can cause excessive chain wear.

whatisit

Thank you for the completely unhelpful response.

Airburst

Not necessarily, having a chain under significant tension might be what's providing the force making something creak. I've seen overtight chains on freestyle bikes causing creaks at the crankset.

Kimmo 

That's not dsbrantjr being unhelpful, it's you being rude and/or obtuse.

He's trying to tell you there shouldn't be any tension on the chain, in case you're one of the many SS riders who seem to think it's a good idea to have it tight as a guitar string.

How do we know you know that's none?

whatisit

Thanks. This was helpful. I wasn't trying to be rude to "dsbrantjr", but all he/she mentioned was chain wear, which has nothing to do with my problem, and made me feel like he/she didn't even read my original post.

thanks for all the other responses though, it definitely gives me a starting point.

wphamilton

I don't know if this is applicable to your situation but I had the same problem last week. New crankset, and I'd been riding in wet conditions. My clue was that the noise occurred at the same point in the pedal stroke regardless of what gear I was in, front or back. Therefore, warped chainrings, problem with the pedals, or something with the seat clamps or post, since other things won't line up with the pedal stroke as well. Barring something weird like cracks in the frame, around the bottom bracket and so on. But anyway I oiled my pedals and the noise vanished.