My bike is creaking. What should I check?

Can you discern any direction or specific relationship to the creak to an action. For example, when standing climbing, or when seated only on the drive side down stroke, etc.

When I am pedaling, seated on the downstroke.

Could be seat post / saddle related.

I thought it was my bottle cages; tightened them up. Will check the seat post.

I first make sure it's the bike that's making the noise...and not me!

Seat rails not tight enough. That is the sound that can appear to come from any where on the bike- After that it could be anything and from anywhere. Seat post not Lubed so grease the post lightly and tighten. Cranks being a bit loose- Bottom bracket not tight or breaking down. Headset not adjusted properly- Cables catching on the headtube.

These are the common ones over the last few posts but even has shoes catching on rear brake cable that is a bit too long after the tightening nut. And front derailler cable doing the same.

And is it a creak? Chain catching on front derailler-is a sound that worries a lot of people- mainly other riders as you can't hear it.

It is definitely a creak. Going to tighten up everything, but not going to mess with cable tension. The bike operates smoothely, it just has acquired an annoying creaking sound.

Cranks being a bit loose- That could be it Stapfam! I put new cranks on it about a month ago... Probably need a little tightening. Thanks!

Pedal/cleat interface?*


*provided you use cleats on your shoes..

Just had this problem with my Son-in-laws bike. I only ever get that bike when it goes wrong and he insisted it was the bottom bracket- So I changed it. Two weeks later and the same noise- and same complaint. The crank bolt was loose so tightened it again- with a hammer on the Allen key. Two weeks later and the same. Took the crank bolt out and compared it to my crank bolt that is the same- No difference--Except mine had a washer behind it. Put my washer behind his Crank bolt and cured it-- My Bike has suddenly developed the same noise.

Turns out S-i-L had cleaned the bike and taken the cranks off- and probably that was when he lost the washer.

But you can normally feel a loose crank in the pedals. So don't hold your breath.

Saddle, pedal, BB bearings, ankle, knees, or possibly a cricket.

I had this happen a few weeks back. It was my seat post. My bike mechanic had a helluva time trying to find the source. I thought it was the bottom bracket.

This is the fifty+ forum. If it was me, I'd start with my knees. They can usually be lubricated with Glucosamine, or with a liberal application of Joint Juice.



Or - check your BB bearings...

LOL

I say saddle or seat post too. Stand and peddle and see if it goes away. If it's still there while standing be sure your rear quick release skewer is properly tight. Other wise check everything else others have mentioned.

Oops i see you might have already found the answer.

Sometimes they can be hard to find, I had one that went away on it's own after driving me nuts for about a month. I am still scratching my head about that one. Goof luck.

Every point was hit above. Think about getting a container of Tacx, an assembly paste. Then, take apart all joints (seatpost to seat rails, etc.) cleaning them and reassembling with Tacx. Can't do it with your BB. Just take it apart, clean the threads, lubricate as appropriate and reassemble. Torque everything to specs. Re-torque after about 100 miles. Carbon components are especially susceptible to creaks.
here is a good article on the use of Tacx.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/re...paste_388.html

It always has been with me.

My carbon fiber bike head a creak. When I stood up on the pedals, it stopped. I started with the saddle, but found the problem was the seat post. Removed post and cleaned it, cleaned bore of seat tube, applied assembly paste, and tightened post with torque wrench. No more squeaks and creaks!

This is 50+, start with the engine

I found the creak... Cricket in my saddle bag! But seriously it must be the seat post or something. I was creaking along this morning.

Seat rails. Almost guaranteed.

Before tightening things, I'd re lube them with clean lubricants, even a thin layer of grease on the seat rails (you can wipe off the excess once it is clamped down). I'd do the same with handlebar clamp. I'd put some real thin silicon spray on my cleats and the pedals too.

Problem solved... It was the seat stays. Tightened em up a little. No more creak.

Nothing worse than loose seat stays. How did you tighten them?

Allen wrench.