yet another "Help Me Diagnose This Noise" thread
 

This noise just started 2 or 3 rides ago. It's a clicking/creaking sound whenever the drive-side crankarm is in the forward position, say between 2:00-4:00. Happens on every single pedal revolution, regardless of whether the chain is on the big or small chainring. It sounds to my ear almost like a stiff link, though the fact that it happens with every single turn of the cranks would seem to rule that out. Definitely sounds like it's emanating from the crank/bottom bracket area.

Bike is relatively new, has fewer than 2500 miles on it. Chain has not yet been replaced, but has been lubed regularly though infrequently as per the NFS instructions, and gets wiped down religiously after every ride. Drive train is all Campy Record 11-speed.

I lubed my pedals and pulled/lubed/reseated the small chainring bolts. No change, still makes the same noise.
I have not yet pulled/lubed/reseated the large chainring bolts nor pulled the crankset, though I'm thinking those should be my next steps.

Actually I'm wondering if just buying a new chain should be my next step...

Any ideas? The noise is remarkably consistent/regular/predictable ...which makes it so unlike any other mechanical noise I've ever had to diagnose on a bike that I'm at a complete loss!

Thanks.

Conventional wisdom says it probably the bottom bracket cups. What type of bottom bracket is it, threaded or one of the press-fit "standards"? Removing the bb and either greasing the threads or applying mild Locktite to the press fit bearings should quiet it down.

A new chain is definitely not the next step.

You lubed the pedal bearings or lubed the pedal threads? Lube the pedal threads with grease or oil.
Check all chain ring bolts & teeth.
Check the spoke intersections. Apply a drop of oil at each intersection, work it in and wipe off the excess to rule this out.
Lube the seatpost, stem and adjustable neck serrated fastener if equipped.
Check the bottom bracket & crank arms torque.

Of course it has nothing to do with the chain - it has over 100 links, and your chainrings have less than 1/2 as many, as well as each having a different amount. It takes over 2 crank revs for the chain to make a revolution. If the above suggestion for the cups does not work then you need to check pedals on cranks, cranks on spindle and chainring bolts. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html

Modern crank or square taper? If not modern I'd check the crank arm bolt torque.

Before going deeper make sure that the noise is not caused by your front derailleur wire or your shoelace ticking against a crank arm, or a pedal making noise.

OP states that his bike has Record 11 speed components. If the bike has a Campagnolo crank it is probably their Ultratorque design

A few ideas here:
Link

Tinnitus .. :50:

The bulk of the various creaks/clicks and groans from my bikes over the years have always sounded like they are coming from the BB area, in reality the culprit was usually the headset or the saddle/seat post as a consequence thats my first port of call when the dreaded creak/crack reappears. Happy hunting

Brooks saddle?

Based on some of the suggestions here as well as on a couple other forums where I posted this same query, I greased the seatpost, QR skewers (both front & rear), and the outside of the dropouts (both front & rear), and based on my recollection of curing a mystery squeak some ~7 or 8 years ago I liberally doused the insertion points of the saddle rails with teflon chainlube.

One of those things was the culprit, because the noise went away! In hindsight, I wish I'd taken the time to troubleshoot step-wise, methodically, so that I could be sure which one of those items was the cure.

Threaded

both

LOL! No, I'm quite familiar with that sound, this was definitely something else.

fizik Aliante Kium