Weirdo Tubular clicky click?
04-06-09, 12:28 PM
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Weirdo Tubular clicky click?
Alright squad,
I just scored a set of Reynolds Stratus tubulars the other month. The wheels are great blah blah blah.
I was riding them on their maiden voyage glued "properly" with Mastik, and using a Vittoria Corsa 23c tub. For the entirety of this ride, there was an odd clicking sound that was consistent with RPM. I thought it may have been my computer... then a rear spoke broke.
Had the spoke replaced, the entire rear wheel detensioned and retensioned with a tension gauge. RE-glued the wheel and rolled out.
Get out to the race this weekend, and I notice a very similar clicking noise, not quite as loud though. I took my front wheel off as it sounded like the culprit but the clicking persisted. I haven't tried it to see if its on the front wheel as well but its definitely at least on the rear wheel.
This only happens while im on the bike, not when spinning it.
My thoughts initially are that its the valve stem perhaps not properly seated, or maybe hitting the side of the rim? I can't fathom its another spoke since the entire wheel was detensed and retensed, I figured it would've been caught.
Anyways... thoughts... creative ideas... anything???
I just scored a set of Reynolds Stratus tubulars the other month. The wheels are great blah blah blah.
I was riding them on their maiden voyage glued "properly" with Mastik, and using a Vittoria Corsa 23c tub. For the entirety of this ride, there was an odd clicking sound that was consistent with RPM. I thought it may have been my computer... then a rear spoke broke.
Had the spoke replaced, the entire rear wheel detensioned and retensioned with a tension gauge. RE-glued the wheel and rolled out.
Get out to the race this weekend, and I notice a very similar clicking noise, not quite as loud though. I took my front wheel off as it sounded like the culprit but the clicking persisted. I haven't tried it to see if its on the front wheel as well but its definitely at least on the rear wheel.
This only happens while im on the bike, not when spinning it.
My thoughts initially are that its the valve stem perhaps not properly seated, or maybe hitting the side of the rim? I can't fathom its another spoke since the entire wheel was detensed and retensed, I figured it would've been caught.
Anyways... thoughts... creative ideas... anything???
04-06-09, 12:31 PM
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A little spot on the rim where the glue isn't completely sticking...you ride over the spot and stick the tire down, and then as it comes off of the ground it pops away with a little tick.
Not saying that that is your problem, but I have had that problem before.
Not saying that that is your problem, but I have had that problem before.
04-06-09, 12:33 PM
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put some tape on the valve stem to hold it to the side to see if it stops the clicking
04-06-09, 12:42 PM
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04-06-09, 12:45 PM
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I'd say valve stem or another spoke. I have experienced a similar "tick" and broken a couple right after re-tensioning a wheel; they were apparently fatigued and the stress/twisting of the tensioning process finished them off. The good news is that if they don't break within those first couple of rides, they're usually good to go. 
04-06-09, 12:47 PM
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+1 on the spoke. It sometimes takes them a bit to seat in. did they stress the wheel when they retensioned it?
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04-06-09, 01:02 PM
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I was planning on trying to put a piece of tape opposite the valve stem so that I could visually see if the click is associated with the valve, but I'll just tape the stem and see if that does it.
I assume they stressed it... but who knows with this shop.
I've heard that these spokes Sapims 1.8mm are pretty prone to stressing so I wouldn't be surprised if it was a spoke, I switched out wheels cuz the race in KS included 50mph+ descents. Didn't want to wad up on those. Now that I'm back in pancake flat ND, I'll do more experimenting.
If there's more ideas, I'm all ears.
Glue not seating.
Valve tapping.
Broken spoke.
I'll look into those first.
I assume they stressed it... but who knows with this shop.
I've heard that these spokes Sapims 1.8mm are pretty prone to stressing so I wouldn't be surprised if it was a spoke, I switched out wheels cuz the race in KS included 50mph+ descents. Didn't want to wad up on those. Now that I'm back in pancake flat ND, I'll do more experimenting.
If there's more ideas, I'm all ears.
Glue not seating.
Valve tapping.
Broken spoke.
I'll look into those first.
04-06-09, 02:09 PM
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I would guess valve extender ticking. Mine are doing it right now too.
04-06-09, 08:15 PM
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That was what I was thinking too. Or, some one clipped on a base ball card...
04-06-09, 10:22 PM
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I have some 50mm carbon sewups and started having the same problem. It took a few rides to figure it out, but it was the valve extensions.
I bought nice ones that had the little thingy to push to let the air out. This was rattling.
I replaced them with a cheaper type of extension that was basically a piece of tubing that threaded onto the valve but with no deflation feature. Noise went away
I bought nice ones that had the little thingy to push to let the air out. This was rattling.
I replaced them with a cheaper type of extension that was basically a piece of tubing that threaded onto the valve but with no deflation feature. Noise went away
04-07-09, 12:03 AM
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Clicking sound with carbon rims is almost always the valve stems. A little bit of electrical tape does the trick. It's what the pro mechanics use.
04-07-09, 11:08 PM
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That electrical tape idea was boss. And it was the valve stems.
Chalk another new carbon tubular experience for me.
Thanks fellas.
Chalk another new carbon tubular experience for me.
Thanks fellas.
04-10-09, 02:55 PM
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Go along the tire and squeeze the tire against the rim with your hand. When you release your hand, it will make a small clicking noise.
This isn't necessarily a problem and you're at little to no risk of rolling the tire, it just lets the world know very loudly you didn't do a perfect gluing job.
