multilife

I've been riding more often this past month, but the last two times i've gone out, something makes this awful, chrunchy clicky noise and I have no idea what it is. It happens with each pedal stroke and is worst when accelerating from a stop.
any idea what it might be??

cia dog

Here are a some web sites that should help:

https://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

https://www.bikewebsite.com/noise.htm

Steev

The most likely cause would be the bottom bracket if it happens with every pedal stroke, but there's many possible causes. Get the bike looked at by a competent person.

cia dog

Never immediately assume it's the worse thing possible. If your not sure start with the simplest thus cheapest thing first that could cause noise. Go to the web sites I provided and start there with diagnosing.

Braden1550

Here's what you do;
1. Convince S/O or mrs. that you need a new bike
2. Get new bike
3. Take clicky one to lbs and have it fixed
4. ????
5. Ride!

kimconyc

I had the exact same problem; turned out to be an ISIS bottom bracket I was using (went through 2 of them in less than 4k miles).

Could be any number of things though like chainring bolts, pedals, cleats, etc.

Noises suck and sometimes it's very tough to figure out what's causing the noise.

Go dog Go

Flux capacitor is worn.

cia dog

That's only if his bike was struck by blue lightening otherwise the flux capacitor is ok.

volball

nope....a worn flux capacitor makes more of a clacking noise

knobster

Probably the best suggestion of the night: take it to your LBS.

invwnut

Turn up your Ipod. Does anything feel different than before it made the noise? Try a simple one, lube the chain and see if it goes away. If you have a computer, make sure that the magnet isn't hitting the receiver. Those are common things some overlook.

davesax36

i gotta go with a really good chain cleaning. I do mine with mineral spirits every time things get a little crunchy. Then I'm good to go unti I ride in a lot of blowing dust or rain.

ultraman6970

1st thing missing is the bike brand and model, that could help. But I'm going to make the assumption we are talking about a carbon bike...

1: BB needs to be tighten a little bit.
2: The seatpost is playing tricks and needs some grease and the clamps at the seat area and frame are needs to be tighten
3: Headset, same stuff. re grease it and adjust it a little bit better
4: Stem and Handlebars... same stuff than before.. grease and re tight them.
5: re tight the cassette lock.
5 th and maybe the cause of all your problems is that the skewers are old. New skewers are made of plastic and after a few months or years they need to be replaced. Nothing like the old mavic or campagnolo skewers in steel. Just in case it should be the front one the one that is messing you around. Borrow one 1st.

THanks.

MrTuner1970

I'm having something similar. New Lynskey R330 with Chorus 11. Only 800 miles. LBS (who assembled the bike) thought at first it was the chain, as cleaning and dry lube made it better. Went for about 60 miles and no problems. Then I cleaned the chain very well, and went back to my oil lube. Got a 32 mile ride in, and noticed the noise at the end of the ride.

Took to the LBS today. He checked the RD hanger, which needed to be straightened a bit. Did that, and a minor RD adjustment, and the noise was gone. He told me to adjust the RD during a ride to see if it made any difference. Got home, and noise was back. The chain was very gritty sounding when flexed. So I cleaned the chain again, lubed, but noise is till there. RD adjustments made no difference.

So, I'll either have to try a new chain, or check the BB. One site I looked at today suggested a check for BB noise: take the chain off the chainrings so the crank can rotate w/o the chain. Put your ear to the saddle, turn the pedals, and listen for noise. I will try that tomorrow.

I don't mind trying a new chain, but it doesn't seem like it would be that after only 800 miles (and when the chain is completely cleaned and lubed). And trips to the LBS are getting tiresome (35-miles one-way). I can figure anything out, given time and money to buy parts that I might damage in my learning process. Learning time means time off the bike, though, and that's no good. But I might have to do it anyway, as it beats repeated trips to the LBS.

spry

The frame is warped from being left in the sun too long.Things are just starting to click.

Doohickie

This is why I ride old bikes. The grunts and groans just don't sound as alarming.

Paul Y.

kickstand

Dheorl

I had a similar sounding issue with my mountain bike. Showed up alot more when I was powering up a hill, starting in a high gear or sprinting etc.

Turned out it was just that the bottom bracket had come a bit loose.

stapfam

Just do the same as I do in the car- Turn the I-Pod up and then you can't hear it.

Just watch out for those bottom bracket/headset sounds- Could be the saddle or seat stem needs tightening.

patentcad

Incorrect. That's the LAST thing it is. Trust me on this. Here are the steps to take (what I do when my bikes start clicking):

1.) LUBE the drivetrain (cluster, chain, particularly the rear derailleur pulleys)

2.) CLEAN the drivetrain (particularly the rear derailleur pulleys)

3.) LUBE the pedals (i.e. take them off the crank arms, clean, grease, re-thread them)

4.) MAKE SURE your quick release levers are TIGHT (common cause of creaks on bikes is loose QR levers, worse with some brands of wheels)

5.) CHECK the seat post: on my Cervelo this was creaking like a mad dog, took me a week to figure it out. Removed, cleaned, a spot of spray lube, it stopped.

6.) Check the handlebar/stem connection, bolts, i.e. loosen them, a little spray lube, re-torque. That can make noise too.

7.) HAVE LBS CHECK the chain for wear, if it's shot or nearly shot, that starts clicking.

If all that fails, could be the BB. 90% of the time it's (1) through (4), sometimes (7).

JonnyHK 

+ 1 on looking for something simple/


The most recent annoying noise on my bike that I couldn't work out turned out to be 3-4 tight links in my chain!

Not sure how I managed it, but something about the way my bike is stored and how I put lube on it means I seemed to consistently miss the same patch. Nuts!

johnileo61

4.) MAKE SURE your quick release levers are TIGHT (common cause of creaks on bikes is loose QR levers, worse with some brands of wheels)

+1 PCad... The LAST thing you'd think is the cause, but oftentimes is.

Sardian

Mine starts making noise when the chain/chain rings/cluster gets dirty. A good clean up and lube and all is well again.

rumrunn6

BB is a good guess though

spry

Trek owners recommend JB Weld for the bottom bracket.

{the story lives on....}