So I took my newly finished conversion out for a real ride today. I had rode 20 miles the other day but it was an effortless ride because it was flat all the way. However today's ride included some hills, some requiring to really work my way up the hill. As I was stood up to pedal my handlebars began to make this awful creaking sound, only when i stood up to pedal and really put my weight over the bars. Is this normal? These bars arent gonna snap on me while I am out riding one day, are they? Thanks for any light on this topic.

Grime in the works? A little grit can make for a lot of embarrassing noises...

tighten up you stem clamp if its a quill it could be rust with the wedge block if so a little sanding and steel wool

Also, check here...

https://sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html#bars

Good luck!

what type of stem? the old dura ace ax stems were notorious for this. . .. they look so clean, but the creak annoys the hell out of me!!

If it's creaking, it's moving.
If it's moving, it's stress cycling.
If it's stress cycling and its aluminum, it's gonna fail soon.
Take the assembly apart, clean thoroughly, lube all threads and clamp areas, re-install, tighten to spec.

do you have a quill stem...if so try taking it out of your steertube, then rubbing a thing layer of grease all over the stem where it goes in the steer tube...then inserting it back into your steertube where you like it to be and tightening the bolt...now take a rag and wipe off the grease around your headset locknut and now go ride it and see if it happens.

grease. 'nuff said.

In my situation I brought it to the pedicab shop I worked at and the owner just said to loosen the bolt and move the handlebars a hair and tighten back up. It was gone as soon as I did this.

xg43x

Sheldon. All you need. for godz sake post back here, thank us, and close this thread.
<edit>

I havent had time to check it, but I dont believe its the stem. I distinctly hear the sound coming from the bars, where it sits in the clamp. Like I can feel it flex when it creaks. Sorry I didnt make my post more clear.