Hello all,

I have an unidentified creak and can't find where it's coming from. I'm 99% sure it's coming from the front of the bike, below is some info to help eliminate some possibilities -

Bike - Specialized Sirrus hybrid, carbon front forks, v-brakes. Square taper BB, threadless headset.

- It creaks when pedalling or not, so I don’t think it’s the chain/crank movement.
- It's worse on rough roads surfaces.
- It seems to be greatly reduced when I take weight off the handle bars.
- It isn't always there, on a smooth road rolling down a slope the bike is mostly silent.
- It doesn't seem to be as bad during the first few minutes of riding.
- It sounds more like a 'flexing/rubbing' creak than a clicking/grinding noise.
- The wheels rotate freely when spun by hand with the bike lifted, no noise.
- I released the front V brakes and rode along smooth road and noise was still there - so I don't think it's related to the brakes.
- I've checked the wheel spokes by hand and they seem ok, I don't have tools to measure/adjust tension.
- While stationary if I hold down the front brake and rock the bike back/forward everything seems solid and no noises.
- I’ve loosened and removed and re-tightened the seat post/saddle.
- The noise started off quite intermittent but is now very obvious (and annoying).

I'm thinking maybe the headset or bottom bracket? Is there an easy way of determining if they are the culprit?

Thanks!