Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Low humming in rear wheel problem

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Low humming in rear wheel problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-16-11 | 07:27 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Boulder, CO
Low humming in rear wheel problem

Hey all!
Finally went on a little ride given the good weather and while I was riding I noticed a low humming/dragging feeling in the rear wheel...the best way I can describe it is similar to the feeling of the drag/resistance you get from riding on the trainer. I cant hear it or anything but I can feel it with my butt (no jokes please) if that makes sense.
Anyone have any clue to what I'm experiencing??
Ekim4621 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-16-11 | 07:42 PM
  #2  
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: New York, NY
Did you make sure to remove your bike from the trainer?
crumbs357 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-11 | 09:15 AM
  #3  
shrinkboy's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 629
Likes: 4
i thought for sure some wise ass would ask the OP to identify the tune
shrinkboy is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-11 | 10:30 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 0
A couple of years ago a regular rider in our group was having trouble keeping up. Upon going back to see if he was ok it was observed that the rear brake pad was rubbing against the wheel. It is really hard to pedal with that drag on the wheel.

If not that then is the rear skewer tightened and the wheel centered? As a last thought, wheel bearings shot? How many miles on the wheels?
oilman_15106 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-11 | 08:23 PM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Boulder, CO
Originally Posted by oilman_15106
A couple of years ago a regular rider in our group was having trouble keeping up. Upon going back to see if he was ok it was observed that the rear brake pad was rubbing against the wheel. It is really hard to pedal with that drag on the wheel.

If not that then is the rear skewer tightened and the wheel centered? As a last thought, wheel bearings shot? How many miles on the wheels?
Hahah no no the brake is not rubbing whatsoever.. that would be a bit obvious. The rubbing is not constant.. it comes and goes at random times. The skewer is tightened sufficiently and the wheel is centered. Hmm..not sure about the wheel bearings.. how exactly would I tell if they were bad?
Ekim4621 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-17-11 | 08:35 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 785
Likes: 1
From: NW Arkansas

Bikes: Too many to count

Pick the back wheel up off the ground and spin it. Can you hear any thing?
Is there any play in the bearings, side to side wiggle in the wheel with no
weight on it? Does it spin free?

Bent axle? Fishing line in the hub?
BHOFM is offline  
Reply
Old 05-19-11 | 10:00 PM
  #7  
giantdefy's Avatar
The "Mechanic"
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
From: East Bay

Bikes: 2013 Tarmac SL4 Pro; 2011 Lynskey Cooper, 2015 BH Quartz Disc, 2014 Yeti SB75

does it happen when your in the highest gear on the rear cassette? have you figured out what was causing the noise?
giantdefy is offline  
Reply
Old 05-19-11 | 11:05 PM
  #8  
Nick Bain's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 1
From: Driftless

Bikes: Caad8, Mukluk 3, Trek Superfly, Gary Fisher Irwin.

axle cone may be shot. ie rebuild hub.
Nick Bain is offline  
Reply
Old 05-19-11 | 11:12 PM
  #9  
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
The space coyote lied.
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48,904
Likes: 11,096
From: dusk 'til dawn.

Bikes: everywhere

You can try the poor man's stethescope. With bike in stand (or upside down on the carpet) form a "Hang Loose" salute with your hand. Jam your thumb in your earhole and rest your pinky against the QR. Carefully pedal bike and listen.

It's usually better to have a good identical wheel to compare against, but...
LesterOfPuppets is online now  
Reply
Old 05-23-11 | 11:22 AM
  #10  
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Boulder, CO
Originally Posted by giantdefy
does it happen when your in the highest gear on the rear cassette? have you figured out what was causing the noise?
Yes it does!! Im still playing around with it and testing suggested things but I still havent found anything definitive..
Ekim4621 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-23-11 | 11:58 AM
  #11  
giantdefy's Avatar
The "Mechanic"
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
From: East Bay

Bikes: 2013 Tarmac SL4 Pro; 2011 Lynskey Cooper, 2015 BH Quartz Disc, 2014 Yeti SB75

Originally Posted by Ekim4621
Yes it does!! Im still playing around with it and testing suggested things but I still havent found anything definitive..
If your in the small cog on the rear cassette, that humming noise is normal. Every bike Ive worked on does it in the 11T or 12T cog. Im guessing it might be due to the tight wrap of the chain on a small cog.
giantdefy is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rb27
Bicycle Mechanics
7
02-27-17 08:00 AM
scarleton
Bicycle Mechanics
7
03-10-16 08:18 AM
BoggleMinds
Bicycle Mechanics
22
04-03-13 12:50 PM
kwakster928
Road Cycling
16
05-04-11 09:02 PM
ahson
Bicycle Mechanics
14
12-03-10 01:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.