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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Noise from my drive chain

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Old 03-23-10 | 06:37 PM
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Noise from my drive chain

Lately I've been having some noise from my drive chain. The best I can describe it is the sound when you ride of a bunch of those little tiny gravel bits from the road. It's pretty faint, but it's noticeable. I can't exactly pinpoint what the problem is. My cranks are tight, my lockring is tight. I figured it's either my BB or my chain.

I think it is the chain because another thing I noticed is that when I start going really fast I hear a bit of creaking coming from somewhere down there, and then when I get off my bike my chain is significantly more slack. It doesn't look like the rear wheel is slipping on the ends or anything.

The bike is new, so is this just the normal process of breaking the bike in, or should I be worried?
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Old 03-23-10 | 06:42 PM
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Oil your chain a bit and wait it out. The bike is new and you need to allow time for your chain to flex/your drivetrain to get worn in a bit. And no bike will ever be completely silent, if the noise is really as quiet as you describe its probably nothing, just ride on. Id start to tinker if it gets substantially worse.

Last edited by gobby1095; 03-23-10 at 06:48 PM.
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Old 03-23-10 | 06:50 PM
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Your cog is slipping.
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That 'creaking' may be your saddle. Loosen the bolt a bit, put a few drops of light oil on your seat rails and tighten it back down real well.
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Old 03-23-10 | 07:29 PM
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Alright. I'll throw some oil on it and see what happens. The creaking is definitely from the chain. I put some pressure on the chain with my finger and heard a similar noise.
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Old 03-23-10 | 07:38 PM
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Your cog is slipping.
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I just threw that out there about the saddle 'cause when I first put my Turbo on my bike the creaking was driving me mad until I oiled it.

Tighten your crank arms. They may be moving around on the spindle a little bit as you're riding.
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Old 03-23-10 | 09:08 PM
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Pinpointing a sound can be tricky & don't convince yourself its in a specific place
I had a squishing sound i was certain was coming from my right pedal. played with the pedal, retorqued the crank arm.
In my case it turned out loosening the velcro strap on the saddlebag did it
but damn I was sure it was that pedal
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Old 03-23-10 | 09:54 PM
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Make sure all your chainring bolts are tight.
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Old 03-24-10 | 08:35 AM
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Just how old is the bike? And a dry chain can definitely be a noisy chain.
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Old 03-24-10 | 11:33 AM
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I finished putting together my bike this past Saturday morning. I haven't gotten a chance to go out on my bike yet today, but I'll let you guys know what the verdict is after I throw some oil on that chain.
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Old 03-24-10 | 12:19 PM
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"Lately I've been having some noise from my drive chain."

You've had the bike less than a week and "lately" you've noticed some noise? ;-)
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Old 03-24-10 | 05:05 PM
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Lately would be the last 2 days, including today.

Anywho, I oiled the chain and it's still making noise. I also made sure my cranks are tight. I flipped around to a freewheel and it makes the same noise. The noise, which can best be described as crushing little tiny rocks, mostly happens when I accelerate. Any ideas?
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Old 03-24-10 | 05:14 PM
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Your cog is slipping.
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Perhaps there are tiny rocks being crushed in your drivetrain.
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Old 03-24-10 | 05:15 PM
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Very possible. Is this ok?
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Old 03-24-10 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by yummygooey
The noise, which can best be described as crushing little tiny rocks, mostly happens when I accelerate. Any ideas?
Try another set of pedals. They can make a gravelly sound when the bearings aren't properly adjusted.

Hubs with free bearings can make clackety sounds as the bearings bump into each other. Do you still get the sound when you're just coasting?
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Old 03-24-10 | 05:56 PM
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I thought it was creaking.

???
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Old 03-24-10 | 06:21 PM
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I don't get the sound when I'm just coasting. It happens pretty much when I apply pressure to the pedals to accelerate.

I suppose I described the sound wrong the first time around. Rather than a creaking, it's sort of a crunchy, gravelly sound.
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Old 03-24-10 | 06:42 PM
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Maybe pedals are cracked?
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Old 03-24-10 | 07:07 PM
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Sand? I live at the beach and it happens to my bikes all the time.
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