"CLUNK" when hitting bumps
 

I have searched this all over the net, I just want to see if anyone here knows better.

Everytime I hit a bump while riding I hear this awfull CLUNK. It seems to be comming from the steerer tube and head tube. I removed the fork and checked things out, even exchanged the fork from my Triathlon bike, still the CLUNK remain. Any ideas?

I am riding a Cervelo Soloist with an aluminum steerer Alpha Q fork.

Thanks.

Sounds to me the headset is not tight enough.

The first thing to check is headseat bearing tension. There needs to be enough tension on this bearing so that when you hold on the front brake and rock the bike back and forth there is no movement in it but loose enough that you don't feel that its rough when turning side to side. If you can't adjust it to meet there requirements you may need a new headset bearing.

Anthony

what he said, the headset is loose...had this issue myself when I removed the stem/bars to take some spacers off, its an easy fix.

park tool's website has some in depth tutorials on how to do it.

http://parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=65

Chad

Make sure your front skewer is tight, too.

Water bottle bouncing in the cage and echoing in the CF?

If the above doesn't fix the problem, try holding the brake levers as you go over a bump. The levers can snap back after getting "squeezed" by the bump.

I was sure I had a fork or headset problem with my last bike until I discovered the noisy 105 levers were the problem.

+1 to noisy levers. Like he said, you hit the bump, lever kind of pulls a little then returns and makes a little knocking noise.

Next time you go over the bump hold the levers to make sure it's not just them making noise.

Something in your seat bag hitting your seat post? Happens to me if I don't pack it "right." Annoying.

I developed a clunk one ride. Checked the headset, skewers, brake release, all fine. Turned out it was the contents of my brand new bento bag knocking the top tube on bumps. Add anything to your bike lately?

could be something as simple as the cables slapping the frame.

Higher pitched click, cables, brake levers. Deeper clunk that you can also feel, headset, wheel bearings (loose cones), broken fork crown. If the headset is loose you might detect some play by locknig the front brake and rocking back and forth.