Chasing the creak
 

About a week and a half ago I started to get a creak that is rhythmic in nature. Only happens when pedaling but it can be while spinning or when applying decent pressure.

Mostly while seated but has happened a bit when standing. It originally sounded like it was coming from the bottom bracket but some tell me it seems to be from the rear, tough to say given the reverb from the mix of steel and carbon frame.

So far I have re-applied carbon paste to the seat post topper, replaced the BB and chain (bb seemed fine but was due anyway), oiled the crossing of the rear spokes. Checked cleats and pedal mating surfaces, Removed and greased chainring bolts, and applied a bit of grease to the quick release cam. This all seemed to help but after a few rides creak came back. I have removed the cassette and rear hub seems ok but I haven’t popped bearings or replaced since they’re cartridges (industry 9 hubs with about 9k miles). I’ve also checked all welds and crankset for any fractures. I’m told that the sound is similar to what people have had prior to their Shimano cranks cracking (some reported instances but not widespread).

Any thoughts? It’s driving me absolutely batty. Will attempt to post poorly done video below. Sound does not happen when in the stand so obviously requires some pressure on the wheels.

Will report back with video need to upload to YouTube first I guess and can’t find account info!

Lets see if this works

Can't tell from the video.. Bottle cages with or without bottle? I'd say thru or QR axle but you already addressed that and had it off and on again... Does it happen no hands, possible stem/bar related? A strap from a seat bag swinging hitting a rail? Sounds dumb but happened to me before. Is it on power from one crank only? Not sure what that would narrow down but....

Do you have a spare wheelset ready to swap? that will probably eliminate the wheels as a noise source.

Check the headset and spacers.

Those random noises are frustrating but you're a genius when you find them.

I've noticed lately my seat tube or saddle mount squeaks. I bet if I spritz the mount with a little WD40 the squeak will be gone (for awhile).

Cages both have a bottle in them. I did check tightness of mount but did not grease the threads, will do that next. I think it happens hands off as well but will try a focused approach. Definitely not my seat bag. Good call on single sided pedaling will try that next.

I only have one spacer but will definitely check that and the headset although it doesn't seem to be coming from up front, still, who knows... Strangely enough, this is the one time in my last 8 years where I don't have an extra wheelset ready to go but was telling myself yesterday it was time (just sold my last back up). I was thinking of getting some new QR's today just to cross that off the list. The current ones are old and quite cheap.

I haven't checked the saddle rails (carbon) or the mating with seatpost topper also carbon (Enve)

Make sure your cassette is tightened down firmly. I had a very annoying creak that was due to the cassette being to loose.

I had a bad rhythmic "clunk" that I swore was from the BB on a Cannondale. Turned out it was a loose headset.

Noises like this on a customer's bike can drive a mechanic insane, and fill his wallet at the same time:D.

When watching the video on my phone the creak is very loud, on my computer hard to hear until about 26 seconds in.

Will definitely check the headset today, it has been 2.5 years since I installed it, jiggle test doesn't find it loose but worth actually checking for sure.

I have ensured sure that the cassette is torqued to proper specs. What are people's thoughts on rear axle and QR. Could the axle spin nicely, not appear loose or overly tight but simply require additional grease after time?

It's definitely possible, and easy to correct.

Just get out your torque wrench and go through the entire bike with proper torque specs. Found the source of my clicking because my crank arm was not torqued correctly. Also my right brifter was loose; took a full turn to tighten it and relieve my rattles over rough pavement.

I haven't actually worked on hubs with cartridge bearings, any best practices to suggest, along with QR?

Done and done, still driving me crazy

One one of my bikes, I get creaking from the interface between the clamp nut on the thru-axle and the rear dropout. A film of grease is all that takes to fix that.

I-9 classic?

I'd contact them directly, and ask if they have a video for their road hubs.

Like everyone else has said, these can be hard to track down.
I had such a noise this past week. I adjusted the front derailleur and it was gone for my short test ride. I will see if it is gone when I go out for a longer ride in a bit.

I believe they are Torch's but looking at pics they could be the Classic. purchased new Sept 2018

I put a little grease on the cam of the QR but nothing where the axle or nuts interface with the drop out. Will try.

will do. Definitely Torch, I have the torch tool kit and replacement bearing in the cart, but would be a shame to order if not needed. I'm thinking of finding a way to pull of the end caps easily to get access to the bearings and take a look

should be the same on torch road hubs

what crankset are you using? I have the newest Dura Ace on my Ti roadbike and have a similar noise that too drives me crazy. I went through the same troubleshooting you mentioned in the thread and eventually gave up.

Check whether your rd hanger is tight. That was the culprit for me when I last had such an issue.

The last time I had a creak/squeak that was a pedaling-only scenario, sounded somewhat similar to what I could make out in the video over the sound of wind, it turned out to be the rear derailleur pulley wheels. Took em out, gave them a good ole cleaning and re-greasing along with the rest of the derailleur and it took care of the issue. Have you tried that?

same boat as you and it WAS the shoe, cleat, pedal interface
 

Do you have another pair of cycling shoes you can try? Or simply put on some running shoes and pedal the bike that way for a ways. Get back to me with an answer.

it is a Dura Ace 9100 series crank. I had heard that there have been some reports of these and Ultegra cracking here and there with a creak similar to this prior. I’ve inspected and found nothing so far. I certainly can’t leave it as is lol

my bike does not have a replaceable hanger so definitely not that!

i haven’t yet thanks for the suggestion!

I do have another pair and will give that a shot as well thanks for the suggestion.

I put a little film of grease on the mating surfaces of the axle and drop out today will see if that helps. May swing by LBS tomorrow if I have the time and look at some new QR’s as well. Have the tools and bearings in the cart with I9. Wheels have close to 10k on them so maybe good to service anyway