My FG hub/cog is making an odd noise and I can't figure it out. Every 1 to 1-1/2 ratios of my cranks my rear hub/cog has started to make a shick-shick-shick sound. It almost sounds like a rubbing tire on a brake pad, but my back rim is nearly dead center true and I don't have a drag brake. I just checked my front brake alignment this morning and there is no rub there. The rims, hubs, and cog are only a couple of months old and have a little over 1,000 miles on them.

The sound doesn't happen every revolution either, sometimes it stops for a couple of spins. I haven't noticed any drag in the wheel or vibration. Also, it initially only happened when I was under a heavy load, like going up hill. Now it also makes the noise on level ground. I still don't hear the noise if I'm going down hill or if I'm counter-spinning to slow down. And, it doesn't make the sound at all if I'm not riding the bike, so trouble shooting on a maintenance stand is useless.


Could stiff links and chain wear being causing the noise when the chain disengages from the cog or wrap around the cog? I'd rather think that than my rear hub bearings are gone after just 1,000 miles. My rear Surly hub on my last set of rims had bad bearings, but Surly hubs have become known for having cheap bearings.


I will say this.... My chain is FILTHY from 4 season commuting on roads which are sanded in the winter and never cleaned afterwards. I do occasionally clean my chain, but I think it's so grimy and worn at this point it's probably headed for the trash. I have two brand new chains a SRAM and a KMC, so I could change it no biggie..