Originally Posted by
e_guevara
Yes, the usual suspects. I am meticulous with my bike maintenance and those are the first things I check. Sorry, but it is definitely the bearing/shell interface that creaks.
FWIW, i had clicking/creaking on my Synapse alloy (almost the same bike) that didn't go away even after bearing replacement by a Cannondale authorized shop. Turned out it was the crankset itself that was making noise. The shop RMA'd the crankset, installed a new one off a bike on the sales floor, and no noise at all since then (it's been more than a year).