yugdlo

I have 2012 Giant Defy 2 that I have put around 900 miles on so far. It started making an clicking noise when pedaling. First I thought it was a dirty chain because if I back pedaled slowly it appeared to hop. I degreased and re lubed it and thought that was it. I went for a ride today and the noise was back. First it seemed only while pedaling; then I could start to hear it while coasting. If I stood up, taking weight off of the seat, it seemed to go away. When I got back home I put the bike on the rack and started looking. I grabbed the rear wheel and thought I could feel some side to side play if I pushed it side to side. I pulled the wheel and tightened the cones about an eighth of a turn. put the wheel back on and could not detect any play. I had a meeting to get to so all I had time for was a quick spin around the block. There was so much ambient noise from cars and mowers I could not tell if it went away or not.
So my question is; should I take the wheel to the LBS to have the bearings and races checked. Its the stock wheel set so I assume they are loose bearing hubs. Another reason I hesitate to check it myself is I do not posess a chain whip, and cannot get the cassette off myself. And I have no experience with a free hub, so I don't know what to expect in servicing one of those.
Whatcha all think?

cny-bikeman

First see if the noise is still there and confirm that it happens when not pedaling and when not in the saddle. If that is true then it can't be the drive train (coasting) nor can it be pedals/crank (standing on pedals). Clicking from a hub is not common, and the weight on the wheels is not terribly different in and out of the saddle, so the wheels are probably out as well. The only exception might be spoke noise,, as your legs will absorb more road shock when out of the saddle, but spoke noise would occur more on a rough road. The variable then is the saddle - perhaps the interface between saddle rails and clamp or where the rails enter the saddle itself. That is where I would look first, unless you find the symptoms are different than you first described.

yugdlo

Think your right about the saddle. Had a mechanic look at the wheel and give me his blessings. Put it back on and went for a spin. Took a little time but the noise came back. Tried pedaling while standing, could not hear any thing. Could be the seat/seatpost interface. It has 2 adjusting bolts one for clamping the rails and one for tilt. As far as your mention of spoke noise, what would be possible source?
Loose spoke, bent spoke? The wheel is true.

cny-bikeman

Sorry I did not explain - spoke noise is most often caused by spokes flexing at the interlaced cross (often from too low spoke tension). After a while a burr forms and when a spoke moves across the burr from the normal tension/release cycle it produces a click. It can happen regularly or irregularly, and more often with greater weight or stress on the wheel.