Skreech

Maybe this is really nothing at all but this is the situation I have at the moment. I went out for an easy ride through the trails down the street from my work on my lunch break(70% paved, 30%ish mud/rock/dirt) and I keep hearing this occasional "click click..click..click click" but it sounds like it is coming from the front wheel or fork. It sounds pretty much like the click from the shifter but I was never shifting at the time of the noise and I could hear it in any gear I was in.

I tried over the course of the 6 miles or so to pinpoint the source of the noise but didn't really get it pinned down. It isn't a constant click or even in a particular pattern but it just randomly clicks. Typically I would first look at the FD but since I'm running 1X that is off the table. I did notice however if I looked down at my chain ring (Race Face N/W 32T) while pedaling (yea not smart, I know) it looked as though the chain ring was going slightly side to side. I was wondering if perhaps it just appears this way because of the design (narrow / wide) and the tooth pattern was giving the illusion of a wobble as I have never noticed it before but I have never really looked at it while pedaling either. I figure if it is indeed bent then it is probably the chain I am hearing doing the clicking as it slightly slips the tooth (as if between gears on a 2/3x).

I cant think of any reason why my chain ring would be bent really. I have been riding pretty hard on some pretty rough (in my mind) areas lately. I have done quite a few trips to Carvin's Cove (Roanoke,Va) lately but I haven't done anything I can think of that would have damaged the CR and the bash guard I have on there is perfectly fine.

The only thing I can think of that would even have any effect what so ever is the last time I went to Carvin's (actually when I went to Preddy Creek last week too) I somehow managed to pick up some very (VERY!) tough little vines in my RD while blasting down the trails. Both times they got hung up in the cassette and jockey wheels of the RD which led to the chain dropping off the cassette and I had to literally cut them out with a knife (I couldn't break these damn things) but both times I immediately got back on the bike and kept going without the slightest issue (Zee RD is a tough sum-beech) and I never noticed any of this clicking or anything in the 50+ miles I rode between those two rides.

I'm sure it is hard to diagnose anything without hearing / seeing it (something I tell people daily on the phone at my job - Auto worker) so I'm not expecting a definite answer but more than anything I was just curious about the way my chain ring appeared to be swaying slightly side to side.

I don't know what type of vines those were but trying to break them was like trying to break 50lb fishing line with your hands. You would hurt yourself before they broke. That being said.......

Ride hard and stay safe.

osco53

check your head set,
check your pedals and bottom bracket,
check your seat post and seat mount,

My Race Face NW does not wobble..

My money is on a loose pedal or seat....

Skreech

When I get home in a couple hours I will take a look. Thanks for the suggestions. Since you mentioned it I do seem to remember someone saying something about their pedals (Shimano Saint - same as mine) making a clicking noise after a little use. Not sure what the deal was with theirs but it does give me an idea what to look for.

Thanks for the suggestion Osco53. I'll report back with my findings in case anyone cares or may run into a similar situation.

OldGoose52

Clicking is usually bottom bracket in my experience. It's not always terminal. My lbs pulled mine cleaned the dirt and grime out lubed it and it works great. Could be a number of things though. Put you bike on the stand and go from one end to the other.

Skreech

Well it turns out that all it was is that the chain ring bolts had worked themselves loose. I re-torqued them and rode up the driveway and did not hear the click but I won't have a chance to do a good ride until tomorrow. Everything seems to be in order again though. I think maybe some mild lock-tite may be in order for the bolts.

Thanks guys

osco53

A dab of blue Loctite can keep that kinda trouble at bay longer,,,just sayin ~

Skreech

Well it turns out that it was not the chain ring being loose that caused the noise after all. Reckon I'll be pulling out the BB to clean and re-grease it and take it from there. Seat/post and pedals are all GTG.

CannedPakes

I had this same issue on one of my road bikes. It was so annoying I had to stop riding it until I was able to fix it.

Kindaslow

Does it make a skreeching noise?

Skreech

No not really. More of a clicking. Sounds just like the shifter click when you change gears. But it is intermittent. It is very noticeable when riding in the rougher parts of the trail. Aside from saying it sounds like the click of the trigger shifter I guess you could say it sounds a little like metal creaking from stress.

I have checked the pedals, seat post, handlebars....pretty much everything that can be loosened/removed and everything is torqued to spec. I haven't noticed anything performance wise but the sound just annoys the hell out of me. Going down the trail hearing click click click creak click click creak.

Kindaslow

So, my attempt at humor fell flat!

On a serious note, BB and seatpost are strong contenders!

Skreech

I kind of figured that is what you were going for. Never the less it is what it is. **shrug**