Cracking, popping sound while pedaling
 

I have a 2007 Fuji Team (carbon fiber) road bike. I bought it in February. It has about 750 miles on it. Recently it started making a strange sound while pedaling. It sounds like a popping or cracking sound. It sounds like it is coming from around the crank but I am not sure exactly. It does not make the sound when I am coasting on the bike. Nor does it do it when I have it on a stand and I crank the pedals. Only when I am actually riding and pedaling.

I checked out the frame all around the crank and I don't see any cracks. It may be a coincidence but it seemed to start after I had washed the bike really good. I sprayed some lube around the crank arms afterward but could it just need a little more?

I took it to the LBS and they said it was because the crank arms had loosened up. There were supposed to have tightened them but it is still doing it.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

I know this may sound strange, but what kind of seatpost do you have? Is it a Ritchey WCS?

http://sheldonbrown.com/creaks

Sheldon "Shhhhhhhh..." Brown

Swap out, or grease the rear quick release skewer . . .

I hate creaks :mad: I've had lots of creaks on my bikes.
One of them was something to do with the seatpost. it also slipped over time. I read on here somewhere that to get it to stop slipping/creaking use some thick grease. So I got the big tub of bearing grease at the dept store for $0.99 and layed it on thick. Messy as all get out but worked great. the whole bike seems quieter. and no slippage.
then a few months later I got another creak. coming from the crank area. only when riding, and only when seated. thought it was the seatpost again, or perhaps seat rails. tried a new seatpost and seat, no go. tightened cranks, no go. still only creaked when seated. then i noticed about 1mm play in one of the pedals. so i swapped out the pedals with another bike. problem solved. :rolleyes: I don't know why it only creaked when seated though, but it hasn't made a noise since i swapped the pedals.

I am learning that there could be many causes for this. It does not have a Ritchey seatpost, it is a Fuji branded one, a Fuji ProLite.

Thanks Sheldon for you articles and suggestion to read there. I have read a TON of your articles and appreciate them very much.

I will start with the easy things that I can do my self and get progressively more difficult where i will have to go back to the LBS.

I really want to make sure the bike is safe. If it is just annoying, I can live with it until I get it resolved. If it is unsafe, I want to know so I can stay off of it until it is repaired.

Thanks again.

On my bike, it would be my knees. :o