Disclaimer: I tried to search but it didn't work, so I apologize if this is a repeat.

The bike: stock Felt F30, DA triple deuralliers(sp), shifters and cassette: 9-sp, FSA cranks.

The problem: Last night on the steep uphills, I was in the granny gear and when really pushing through the 12 oclock to 3 oclock (3 oclock pointing forward) position in the crank I heard a little click coming from the bottom bracket area.

It did not appear that it was the chain rubbing, and upon inspection of the bottom bracket area I did not see any cracks or other things that were obviously wrong. I could not duplicate the problem on the rack, but on each of the uphills I got the same click, every rotation in the same spot all the way up the hill.

The noise does not occur on the flats, even when pushing hard. Is this a normal thing that I shouldn't worry about, or is there something else that might be causing the problem? (I also checked the pedals to make sure they weren't the culprit).

Sure the chain isn't hitting the front deralleur?

I just went through this, so read my story and see if any of it applies: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=58502 I had the same noise, with the pedals in the same position, regardless of gear.

Check:
-front derailleur (as mentioned)
-integrity of chainring teeth and chain
-that crankarms are torqued on tight
-that pedals are in tight; sometimes, if you have a curved crankarm (like the Shimano Octalink) the pedal bushing doesn't sit exactly right on the crankarms surface and you'll get a clicking when you hammer and the crankarm flexes. A quick fix for this is a little lube in between where the bushing meets the crankarm face.
-that the pedals are lubed and the noise isn't coming from a pedal (releasing one pedal and peddling with only one foot is an easy way to test this while riding)
-BB (see my thread above); check for tightness, water, etc.

Good luck.

Do you have a kickstand mounted on this bike? I had a similar problem and I thought it was my new Eggbeaters but turns out the corner of the kickstand would contact the left crank when I really pushed.

If the noise is being caused by a kickstand on a full Dura-Ace Felt road bike, hand it over, right now! You don't deserve to be riding it! :D

Hand over the kickstand or the bike? :P
I had the exact same problem (clicking noise from BB), turns out there was junk in the BB? (Cheap MTB here).

Based on my experience, noises, clicks, etcetera that seem to be coming from the BB are usually coming from somewhere else.

The culprit is usually the pedals, but other odd things can happen too;

Pedals bearings going bad
Bent chainring hitting chain
bike lock swinging back and forth hitting frame...

Before taking apart the BB, check every other possibility.

Or it could be the freewheel since they click.

Okay, I rode again last night and same thing happened on the hills.

Things I've checked: Pedals, Chain on Der. (there is no kickstand), and no, its not the freewheel as I can't coast uphill. If you learn how to do this, please share it with me :D

One of the guys on the ride last night said it might be "chain-slap." I'm not clear on what this is, but he said that when I'm climbing, the bike moves back and forth quite a bit (I'm not a good climber), and the chain might be slapping against something. I had never heard of this before. Is that a reasonable explanation? As I said, I tried to duplicate the problem on the stand and on the flats (even in the same gear (30-25)), and can't. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll check everything over this weekend and see if that takes care of it. I'm also going to try to read up on chain slap.

Perhaps some of this might help you.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=57690

Sounds like its time to clean the bike......more like remove wheels and check the drops, look at the non-drive side of the crank for gunk, and pull the pedals. Always a hard creak to trace so start with a "clean" slate

I encountered an annoying click/squeek noise that I suspected was coming from the bb area, when indeed in was the seat/seatpost junction causing the noise.

Does it make the noise out of the saddle?
If it doesn't then you may nee d to retighten the seat bolt/binder or put a little lube on the rails.

Easiest way to determine if it is the seatpost is to remove it and ride.

Noises are so difficult to pinpoint via writing, but clicking is a distinct sound different from creeking.

One real possibility is to check the bolts that hold the chainring onto the crank spider. Make sure they are tight.

If they are loose, they do make a distinctive clicking sound that will drive you crazy (and you might be half-way there already ;) .

I have the same thing, at least I think so. It's not so much an audiable clicking, but I feel a "click" in my right foot everytime the right pedal gets about 3/4 from upper-vertical. I've noticed that if I back pedal and come forward again, it doesn't do it. If I pedal with just my left foot, it doesn't do it.

No front derailer, so I'll check my chainrings and the pedal today.

Thanks! Let us know if you figure it out!

Vincent

Had a similar problem myself. The clicking grew progressively worse over time (along with the crank play), and it turned out that the BB did need to be replaced.

you are my hero.
i would never have guess that.

i was about to take out everything and reinstall it.
you just saved me many many hours :)

that clicking noise was really driving me INSANE

I bought a beautiful Merlin frame* on Craigslist this year, and a few months after purchase started getting an irregular clicking noise from the bottom bracket area when pedaling, which increased with the pedaling cadence or when ascending a hill. It also clicked when putting hard downward pressure on one pedal. The clicking sounded like a car engine cooling after the ignition was turned off.

I switched out the bottom bracket and cranks with another frame, wrapped Teflon tape around the BB threads, coated the BB shell threads with anti-seize, and greased the seat tube and every other bearing, but nothing would get rid of the clicking sound. It was driving me crazy, and I was afraid I had been stuck with a lemon instead of scoring a titanium gem.

I took it to the LBS, and half the shop had taken it for a test ride and were left scratching their heads. One mechanic torqued down the BB and the cranks, and happened to notice that the clicking noise disappeared when the clamp-on front derailleur was removed. It seems that the force of pedaling deforms one side of the seat tube just enough to cause friction with the clamp and the seat tube. A little anti-seize between the two took care of the problem. Now I have my sanity back, and I hear nothing but the quiet whir of the hubs of my Cane Creek Volos wheels as I roll along. Now, that's the sound of paradise!

* 1998 Extralight with Wound Up carbon fork and Chris King headset