strange noise
 

i just got my bike last saturday and i've been riding it for about 5 days now. on day four i took to my bike shop because i was hearing a strange noise in my chain. the chain issue was solved by him showing me how to shorten my cable on my rear derailleur. i guess this is a common thing so i felt kind of dumb afterwards.

today i started noticing a strange noise in my handlebars (that's probably not the correct term for'm, but hey i just started riding). when i push down on them, as i supposed you're supposed to do because they somewhat hold you up, i noticed a strange noise coming from the middle of the bars where they are connected to the bike. is this another common thing, or should i get someone to take a look. i can't tell if it's just the tape or or if it is the handlebars where they are connected.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/...t/P1000947.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/...t/P1000938.jpg

It's probably a little bit loose. You might want to have them check it, or tighten it yourself.

Your handlebars are probably a little loose -- try tightening the two bolts on the front of the stem. Alternatively, you can try grabbing the front brake and try rocking the bike back and forth. If you hear / feel something knocking about, then your headset is a bit loose (although that usually won't squeak when loose). That can be a little more involved to tighten up -- dig around on ParkTools.com if you're feeling adventerous, or take it to your shop.

FYI, I rarely actually "push" on my handlebars. I just rest my hands on them. No need to death grip them or anything like that.

You may be flexing the handle bars, and as the others said you may need to tighten them. If you are a big guy then just tightening them won't cut it and you may want to look at putting a layer of rubber between the handlebar and the neck, that way when it flexes it won't creak.

Thank you. I thought that tightening would fix it, I'll do that before work tomorrow. BTW, I'm a girl, but I suppose not the "smallest" girl either. Perhaps I should look at the way I grip too.

Holy long steerer tube bat man! Is that bike the right size for you. I have concerns about the height of your saddle and then the height of the bars.

Oh and you shouldn't have too much pressure on your hands. If your hands start to get numb or cramp, you need to be fitted.

It's a road bike geometry, adjusted for upright/hybrid positioning...nuthin' wrong with that.

Tho, to the op, I would consider maybe flat bars vs your standard road bike drop bars; I'm trying to visualize the awkwardness of using the brakes in that set up.

EDIT: This is assuming that the saddle is at the correct height based on your inseam measurement. I see alot of people on their first-time road bike with the saddle way too low.

today i adjusted my seat just a little bit due to a strange pain in my knee. as for the height of the bars...it was fit for another person when i bought it. i actually like the way it feels. no pressure on my hands nor do they cramp. it's actually quite a comfy bike. i'm small in the sense of short. my torso is "normal" i suppose but i have short little legs. it's hard to find a "fit" straight up therefore i make adjustments as i go. i'm not spending a whole bunch of money to get the bike "fit" for me.

A quick rule of thumb: Pain at the Knees, the saddle isn't high enough...Pain at the back of the knee, leg strain and your saddle is too high.

Your saddle should be high enough, so that when your leg is extended on the down stroke it is almost straight. The knee should be bent some.

i'm not far from that now. my leg is almost straight with the knee bent slightly. we'll see how movin' the seat up slightly will affect the ride tomorrow.

No reason to move it unless it starts to hurt again. I would leave it where it is.

Can't quite tell what fork you have, but if you've a carbon steerer tube, you're way out of manufacturer recommended stack height.

i've got a Carbon Composite w/Alloy steerer fork