Creakity creak!!!
 

That's basically the sound my bike makes when I really hunker down and pedal hard. The chain is lubed up, but the overall age of it is unknown. Is that the sound a chain makes before it breaks?

What about the bottom bracket? Could it be that?

Also, when replacing a really worn out chain, should the cassette be changed at the same time?

Thanks

--Tom

My bike did that, turned out to be a crank arm that wasn't tightened all the way.

Could also be the bearings in the pedals, especially if you have a cheapie plastic/composite pedal.

Several things. If your frame is alum it will be very hard to find. Normally it is where the crank engage the bb, the pedal or the bottom bracket. Best thing to do is tear it down, regrease and hope for the best.

That said it could also be a bad hub, chain etc. Alum frames project sound. You will have to go piece by piece to find it until you get used to how the sound activates :)

The frame is steel. After reading a few posts over in the Mechanic forum, I torqued my crank bolt down to 34 ft-lbs and tightened my pedals, stem and seat post. I also lubed some stuff up. It got rid of most of the creaks but there are a few here and there. Next I'm going to check the chainring bolts.

Thanks for the help.
--Tom