Normal vs. abnormal bike noises
 

Hey ppl.

I'm not really sure how to explain this question, which is why I'm not posting it in the Mechanics' forum.... I don't know technical terms and really don't want those guys to tear me a new one because I'm not a gear head. Maybe you can help me first?

I just got a new bike from the local place, it's doing great, only has about 30 miles on it so far. Sometimes it makes different clickety clack noises and I really don't know what that "means" if it means anything.

The first day I took it for a ride, I think I messed up a couple of times on my shifting. Do you know what I'm talking about? I don't think there is anything wrong with the gears or the shifting, I'm just not perfect at it yet. I assume this is like driving a stick.... you get smoother and more accurate at it the more experience you have.

So I've been paying more attention to how my shifting thingies work.... especially the one on the left hand side. It still makes different noises sometimes, but the action feels smooth, the mechanics move from gear to gear like they are supposed to, and nothing "feels" amiss. Just the difference in the quality of the clickety clacks, once in a while.

Could be that more observation is required to give a clearer sense of what's happening, or could be this is what a normal new bike sounds like. It's the first new bike I've had, so I don't have anything else to compare it to. My old bike made tons of weird noises.

thanks for your help

Everything will need adjusting after about 200 miles.

Bikes make all sorts of noises. However, if you're riding straight in a gear without shifting and you're not crosschained (look it up) the bike should be relatively quiet. Your rear derailleur (the thing that shifts the chain) will almost always make a bit of noise. The front derailleur (the thing that shifts the chain in front) should not make noise. If it's rubbing then it's poorly adjusted.

We can't really help you unless you post some videos of the noises.

First, look up some terminology. "shifting thingies" -- come on man...

But yeah, for there to be different noises each time you shift is pretty normal. It's going to depend on how much tension is in the driveline -- so if you're shifting while mashing on the pedals on a climb because you started in the wrong gear, it may sound and feel like something completely broke off the bike entirely. Even if you have to downshift while climbing, you want to ease up a bit. If you're always shifting while hammering the pedals, it doesn't matter if you have Sora or Dura Ace...it's going to feel wrong and sound off.

Clicking noises could be a lot of different things, and a bike can run pretty much silently so eventually you'll probably want to track it down.

For now since you're new to shifting, it's possible that you're "cross-chaining" which can be noisy. That's when you're on the big ring (hardest) on front and the inside gear (easiest) on back. Or vice versa. Which isn't a disaster but not recommended. If the noise is only in some gear combinations that could be it.

Otherwise there are too many possibilities to speculate. When you take it into the shop for the first adjustment they might fix it then.

Not necessary to insult me. If you don't like the way I talk you're not required to respond.

I think Cross-chaining might be an answer to my question.... I will read about this and see if I can apply it on my ride home.

thanks

Seriously? I realize I'm not required to respond. I responded to try to help you. If you were insulted by my suggestion to look up some terminology, then good luck to you in life.

PS...you're welcome for my time that I took out of my day to assist you with your question.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to help me with my question.

Well they shouldn't make noise, old or not. I've bought new bikes and had bikes repaired that have had stuff misadjusted right out of the box, so to speak, that's always possible. Recently bought a new bike for my wife with disk brakes the front was rubbing right off the bat. & supposedly assembled by knowledgeable mechanic? Twice I've had bottom brackets replaced and the press fit cranks were not tightened.

Properly adjusted bike should not have any clicking, ticking, creaking or squeaking. There might be normal chain noise you hear when riding next to a wall, etc. that comes from the chain wrapping through the RD.

For reasons I listed, I now do most of my own mechanics. There are numerous videos out there on adjusting your derailleurs, etc, (I highly recommend the Park Tool videos).

I would ride the bike a few more times, making sure you shift into a few different gears front and back (IOW work the cables). Then take it to the shop and let them adjust it. Cables will stretch after a while on a new bike but yours sounds like it wasn't right from the start.

If its making a constant ticking its most likely the rear derailleur need adjusting, especially if it sounds like it coming from back there. If the clicking is directly below you, it might be the cranks need tightening.

I know this may be a really novice question.... but it's not supposed to clack even when coasting? It should be completely silent?

Freewheels/freehubs make noise while coasting, some more than others. That's normal.

Some lower end freewheels will click even while you're pedaling, although they should be silent.

100% truth.

You should hear rubber on the road, and maybe the slightest soft whir of the chain.

Even older bikes make noises after new parts are installed, and your bike is a collection of new parts. If they offered you a tune up after a couple hundred miles as part of your purchase they should be able to take care of the noises, it's just like when you take a new car back for service after you've had it for a little while. If not, I would imagine that if a female customer showed up with her new bike, questions and some of you "chocodias" made with TJ's peanut butter they'd do it anyway.

Thanks! I went and tinkered with the bike just now and it does click when coasting. The other noise I was hearing was the chain rubbing (lightly) against the front derailleur cage. I suppose cross chaining is the cause of that, I'll have to be cognizant from now on not to do that.

It's not a prominent or bothersome noise but I wanted to know why it was happening and (as I suspected) it's user error. Glad to have everyone's help.

It could also be that your front derailleur limit screws need a slight adjustment, especially if it happens even when not cross-chaining.

+1. If you shift the rear into the middle of the cassette, then shifting the front to any chainring (do you have 2 or 3?) should not touch the FD cage. If it is rubbing, 99% chance it's rubbing on the right side of the cage, which means new cables have stretched from use (absolutely normal, it settles down after a short while, which is why bike shops almost always offer a free adjustment after a month or two). Look for a barrel adjuster where the FD cable exits its shifter, unscrew it a quarter-turn at a time and you should see the FD tweak to the right. (The barrel adjuster may well need to be pulled out against a spring in order to engage, otherwise you're spinnin for nothin)

More complex problems include the FD is misaligned -- not angled parallel with the chainrings (you should be able to see by eye that the chainrings are parallel with the sides of the cage), or too high/low. These things can be tweaked too, but with wrenches to loosen/re-tighten the mounting hardware. If you don't want to try yourself and have a new-bike tuneup coming, make sure and point out at the bike shop how the chain is rubbing, they'll know what to do.