Loud Bikes
 

Sup guys, do any of you feel self conscious riding a loud bicycle around other people? My road bike’s drivechain is very loud, and has gotten louder since a bikestore related mishap resulted in it having a 9 speed cassette with 8 speed shifters. I just got it evaluated by another bike store, which said the chain is stretched well beyond when it should have been replaced, and both the cassette and chainrings show enough wear that they should be replaced with the chain. Pretty much I’m looking at replacing tons of stuff on the bike if I want to fix the noise (it shifts and runs beautifully otherwise, doesn’t take many watts to make a loud noise.)

My main problem is on group rides I feel like people judge a loud bike. Last week I went on one, and someone mentioned how loud my bike was and it didn’t feel great. Part of me thinks this is classist, not everyone can afford a silent bike that doesn’t click and crunch. The chain won’t drop so I don’t think it’s a safety concern. Separately, some fancy bikes have super loud hubs, and people don’t seem embarrassed to ride those. Is the purpose of the loud hubs so you don’t coast? My bike makes more noise when I’m pedaling than when I’m coasting. I like to wear headphones when riding alone so I don’t have to listen to it, loud bikes are mildly triggering.

I am embarrassed when I’ve got ticks, clicks, squeaks and creaks riding in a group.

I'm not sure of your financial situation, but a new 8-speed cassette and chain should not be very expensive. An 8-speed Shimano cassette on Nashbar is about $24, and you can get a new chain for close to $10. New chainrings can be found for close to $10 also, depending on which ones you get. You might even be able to go cheaper on eBay NOS items or Alibaba. But I would think there is a good chance you might not need new chainrings. If the noise is so loud that it bothers you when you ride alone, I think it's well past time for some replacement parts. In the meantime, I personally probably would avoid the group rides.

I never ride a loud or ticking or creaking bike, because I take very good care of my bikes and always ensure they're running smoothly. Any noises that arise are quicky taken care of.

And yes, loud hubs aside, I absolutely judge anyone who has an unnecessarily noisy or poorly maintained bike.

Just hand out cotton balls before every ride. It's what the pros do.

Me too. And if my bike makes noise it is even worse.

It doesn't have to be expensive to have a quiet bike. In fact, it's less expensive. Do almost all of your own work. Buy a work stand, cassette tool, torque wrench, a metric socket set, Allen wrenches, etc. Use a tape measure for chain stretch. Yes, there's an initial outlay, but then you have total control over your bike and almost no more bike shop expenses. If it's not right, it's your fault. It's amazing how responsibility creates change.

The only problems I've had with cassettes have been bike shop errors. Once I started doing that too, no more problems.

Yeah, I don't like riding a noisy bike either. So mine is never noisy. It's not all that complicated. One of the wonderful things about bicycles is how simple they are.

I feel ya, bro.

To recap-
- you find loud bikes to be mildly triggering.
- you feel like when someone else comments on your loud bike, they are being classist.
- your bike is loud because of incompatible drivetrain speeds.
- your incompatible drivetrain shifts beautifully.

Just want to make recap this since your comments so clearly conflict. Your comments are as incompatible as your mixed up drivetrain components.

My leather saddle squeaks with every turn of the cranks. Annoying. Maybe I'll do something about it. Probably not.

My name is RSbob and I have a loud hub. I’m not proud or embarrassed or Catholic.

I find it gets pedestrians on MUPs out of my way without a word.

I ride solo and get self conscious just passing someone on the sidewalk if my bike is making sounds. Main thing I have an issue with is squeaky cleats and have to remember to grease the pedal contact point about every week or two.

I'd say the sounds that my bike make, that bother me, are the ones related to maintenance. I've got some medium depth carbon rims on one bike. They make a noticeable sound, this doesn't bother me because it's just what deeper carbon rims sound like.

Disc brake rub, even if very slight bugs me. That of course can be corrected. Same with any sort of adjustment issue with derailleurs. But, I've noticed if I'm in a gear with a very straight chain line, I tend to hear more chain noises. Nothing to be done about that. Though maybe related to chain wear.

I occasionally come across other riders who seem to be serious riders, full kit, nice bike, and are riding fast. Yet their bike sounds like it hasn't been lubed in years and has been left out in the rain with the amount of squeaking I hear. Of course, it could just be I crossed paths with them on a bad day when a squeak developed and they just have to tough out the ride cringing at the sound they are making.

Of course, there are the very casual cyclist that I think literally haven't lubed their bike in years and do leave it outside in the elements. They seem to be oblivious to the sounds they are making. The bike moves, there's some air in the tires, the chain goes round, brakes may even work. So, they're good to go.

If your bike had a loudspeaker that constantly played an audio recording of a human voice shouting "I belong to an incompetent, lazy, or careless person!" you would be embarrassed to be seen on it, wouldn't you? When a bike has been neglected and isn't in good running order, the squeaks and grinding noises that come from it are saying exactly that in the machine's own voice.

The best solution to a loud drive train:
https://www.turbospoke.com

Loud bikes save lives.

my bike is quiet... but I fart, burp and groan during group rides.

Noise Annoys.

Cue up some classic Buzzcocks.

Sometimes I encounter another rider with a loud drivetrain--typically just needs some chain lube or maybe a derailleur adjustment--and it makes me cringe a little. I don't judge the rider, more like pity him/her. I want to say, "You know, that's pretty easy to fix. If you come by my place, I'll help you with it." Of course I don't actually say anything.

Larry, if it bothers you, you should save up some money and get it fixed. If you don't mind it, then disregard what others may be thinking. Goodness knows you've not been too sensitive to social norms in other aspects of your riding habits.

I showed up to a group ride once with my valve stem rattling a little bit. The guy leading the ride rode up to me on the warmup and said, "Don't ever show up to my ride with a noisy bike again, put some tape on that valve stem." Since then, I've always paid way more attention

If that happened to me, I think that would have been my last time riding with that group.

Excessive/abnormal noise are often indications that something is broken in some way and more prone to fail.

It's a constant reminder of you being a potential liability to the group and other riders.

This is basic stuff. You should have learned about that within a month of riding with a group. Yet, years, later you are still here.

It seems you spend enough money on useless crap (like those wheels) that it wouldn't be too hard to ride a bike that makes a reasonable amount of noise.

I might have said something rude to him.;)

I'd show up at subsequent rides with a bunch of loose aluminum tires levers inside a seat bag.

One of the guys who was a regular on our C&V rides tends to bring a tool bag full of loose tools that rattle and jingle as he rides. Since they usually have me lead, I use the sound to tell me when everyone's caught up.

I have no problem with loud hubs. One of the sounds of cycling (to me) is the buzz of a high-quality freehub operating properly. I have a silent hub on my MTB. It's weird to coast in silence. I was riding with a buddy, and he kept looking back to see if I was still following him because he couldn't hear me.

The noise of a worn or poorly-adjusted drivetrain is different. It's a sign of malfunction.