Click, click, click.... Bottom Bracket?

[Aggie_Ama]

My bike started a very obnoxious rythmic clicking at mile 63 of our century today. Everytime I turned the pedal (when my foot was down) there it was. I want seem borderline intelligent when the wrenches are talking to me, it is quite possibly the bottom bracket right?

[amelia05]

I had this exact problem about 6-7 months ago. The bike only clicked when I was pedaling, didn't matter what gear I was in, just click-click-click 80x/min on every ride. I ignored it for a week or two because I had been meaning to get a tune-up anyway, but then I did a 60-mile charity ride where the click was driving me batty by mile 30. I gave in and checked with the mechanic at one of the rest stops. After eliminating everything else on the bike (not even sure he heard the clicking while it was on the stand--I couldn't hear it from where I was standing), he did think it was the bottom bracket. Since there was not much he could do in the field, I just rode the rest of the route and took it to my LBS the next day for a tune-up and asked them to clean and re-pack the bottom bracket also (the field guy's advice).

They did that, I took it home, and it was still clicking. Through some trial and error, I figured out that when I unclipped one foot, the click was either much quieter or went away completely. Also, it didn't click at all when I rode in the rain. That made me think it was the pedals (SPDs) or the cleats, and it probably wasn't the cleats because I tried with two different pairs of shoes. This went on for another few days until I scheduled another service appointment. On that one, they figured out that it was indeed the pedals that were causing the click. I replaced them, and the problem went away.

So, yeah, it may well be the bottom bracket, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to check your pedals too.

[DebW]

Pedals are a definite possibility. Try pedaling by putting pressure with only one foot for a few strokes and see if the noise goes away. Or swap out the pedals.

[GLC1968]

I had the same issue. LBS thought it was the cranks so they tightened them and sent me on my way. I swear that the clicking got worse!

Then I ordered a new bottom bracket and replaced it...clicking remained.

I switched pedals with my husband, and sure enough, that was it. I was ready to buy new pedals when DH suggest I re-grease mine. It worked! So I put my old bottom bracket back on it (sold the new one on ebay), put the regreased pedals back, and made a mental note to try the easiest solutions FIRST next time. ;)

Moral of the story: check the pedals, first. It might be an easy fix. :)

[spokewench]

There can be a lot of clicks caused when you are pedaling, so look for really obvious (Or not so obvious things). My old bike used to click and I thought it was the loose stuff rattling around in my pedals (they did this from the first day I bought them so I kind of ignored the click).

Then one day I was looking closely at the bike and realized that the little end cap on the cable for the derailleur was hitting the pedal arm every time I pedaled!

Yikes, talk about obvious!:o

[Zen]

There can be a lot of clicks caused when you are pedaling, so look for really obvious
... one day I was looking closely at the bike and realized that the little end cap on the cable for the derailleur was hitting the pedal arm every time I pedaled!


I always look for loose duct tape on my bike ;)

[Aggie_Ama]

Is there any certain type of pedals this happens on? My Look pedals are only 3 months old and I don't know where you would grease them. My DH had the clicking problem with Speedplays, but I am not sure where to start with my pedals.

[Eden]

Chimes in with another non-bottom bracket click - I get a creak-click that sounds like someone dropping a ball bearing if I don't periodically reseat/tighten the quick release on my rear wheel. It was driving me bonkers. I had my LBS tighten the BB too - he did say one side (its and external BB) was a bit loose, but the creak remained until I tightened up that rear QR.

My husbands TT bike definitely has a loose BB - the sound it makes is a very loud snaping noise.

[boy in a kilt]

Don't worry about feeling foolish trying to explain the BB clicks to a good wrench. The good ones ride bikes too and they know that mysterious clicks can come from that region or seem like it.

If you decide to take your bike in and have it looked at, take your cleats with you.

On the look pedals. There is a small rubber patch where the cleat contacts the pedal. Try some clear finger nail polish or duct tape on it. Sometimes that works. Also, there is so much plastic in contact with metal that creaks are pretty much inevitable. Replacing it when it starts to wear is the only real way to fix it... until the next time it wears down.

The contact surface of speedplays needs regular lubrication. Take a little oil and work it around the contact surface on the pedal.

[GLC1968]

Is there any certain type of pedals this happens on? My Look pedals are only 3 months old and I don't know where you would grease them. My DH had the clicking problem with Speedplays, but I am not sure where to start with my pedals.


In addition to what BIAK suggested, I also found that just removing the pedal, cleaning up the threads (where it screws into the crank), regreasing them and then putting it back on cleared it up. So simple and yet so silly of me to not have checked! My pedals were only about 4 months old (look-type shimano ultegra) when it started. I actually thought that maybe they were defective since they still looked brand new...I was about to send them back to Shimano when DH suggested I try greasing them and putting them back on. I think that some grit or something must have gotten in the threads? It's been 5 months since I fixed it and I haven't heard a peep out of them.

[Geonz]

My LBS guy said that those clicks are hard to diagnose. I've got one...it's not loud but it's clattery and persistent. Toe clips generally don't click so I don't think that's it ;) I think it'll keep until I take it in for its 5000 mile checkup ...

[lph]

I just had the same thing, and indeed, took off the pedals, regreased the threads, and total silence.

My dh once had this weird creaking from his bike that he just could not diagnose. It turned out it was his seatpost... he finally clicked to the fact that the creaking went away when he stood up to pedal. :p

[ladyicon]

I have had this problem also. First thing you need to do is check the obvious.....seat post, a cable hitting, a water bottle cage, or even something in you bag. Mine turned out to be the seat post even though I could have sworn it was the bottom bracket. Taught me the lesson of first look at for the easiest fixes, then if no luck take a trip to lbs. Good luck.

[NJBikeGal]

Just one other suggestion of a possible cause...a stiff chain link. This can produce a rhythmic clicking sound also and is an EASY fix. This may not be the problem at all...probably pedals as everyone else has stated. But, in case that doesn't work...:)

[Eden]

And don't forget those notorious shoe laces.... (I have a pair of mt bike shoes I wear in the winter that lace up first, then velcro over) - every once in a while one of those laces escapes and I start hearing this tick, tick, tick.........

[Aggie_Ama]

We went to the LBS today and my chain is not ready to be replaced. According to the wrench it shows signs that I am a "soft-pedaler". He tightened up the tension on the rear deraileaur and took it for a test ride. The clicking was gone, but I may need to check my shoes. I am going to try to test ride it tomorrow to investigate.

[Aggie_Ama]

Darn it wasn't that!! I am going to take the bike and shoes in to see if it is the pedals. If not it is only $20 to service the bottom bracket. :rolleyes:

[Aggie_Ama]

I took my bike in today and the guy cleaned my cleats and pedals for me. I was too tired to ride, but hoping it does the trick. Best of all- no charge again. I love my LBS! :D

[OakLeaf]

Or....

I had a click in my left pedal (I thought) on my old road bike that I just could not figure out. Checked the pedal bearings, the bottom bracket bearings, looked for a rock stuck in the shoe's cleat mounting channels, nothing.

Then I got a new bike this spring, new pedals, new shoes and everything and... the click was still there.

It's my knee :eek:

No pain, no perceptible shift in the joint, just the noise. What mechanics refer to as a "non-harmful noise."

[Aggie_Ama]

Well it wasn't the pedals and it wasn't the bottom bracket. They serviced the bottom bracket and I still click. It is maddening!!! I think I am going to ask them to put a new chain on it and then just live with it. I am going crazy!!!

[maillotpois]

Check and lube your saddle rails - not the seat post, but the rails where the saddle attaches to the post.

I had the exact same thing on my bike: click when left foot down in pedalstroke. Sounded like the whole transmission was falling off. Through trial and error in the wee dark hours of the morning of a double century I diagnosed it as being the saddle rails. (Easy diagnosis: Pedal while standing out of the saddle on a flat road with resistance on the chain. That'll tell you if this is it.)

LOL about the knee click!

[redrhodie]

I also had a mystery click when I first got my bike. It wasn't repetative with every pedal stroke. It was just one or two clicks after I'd start pedalling, after coasting or braking.

Turns out one of the pawls, which is a part inside the hub, was in backwards. This mistake was made at the Shimano factory, and I guess it's highly unusual that it would be put in wrong. Luckily, my lbs guy found it in one visit. It would have been very easy to miss.

If you have a weird click that the mechanics can't find, have them look inside your hub. It could be a pawl.

[Aggie_Ama]

After riding today and listening very closely, I am sure it is still in the pedal. If I pull up against the top of my shoe it stops but I can't pedal like that! I am going to take it to the LBS and see if we can lube up the pedals. :rolleyes:

[GLC1968]

Amanda - Do you have an extra pair of pedals? Or can you borrow your H's? Or maybe an old pair you can borrow briefly from your LBS? That's partly how I diagnosed mine...I put on a different pair and the sound went away. Process of elimination...done at home! ;)

[Triskeliongirl]

If its in the pedals, why not lube them yourself. Just part of routine maintenance. Its so easy, will take you less time than a trip to the LBS!

[Aggie_Ama]

GLC- DH rides Look Keos as well, maybe I can have him swap them out before I take it in.

I will have to take it because I need someone to show me how since I think it is not in the spindle and I am a visual learner. Plus the LBS is walking distance from my work and I don't do anything on my lunch break anyway. I would rather take it and have them give me a little lesson in pedal maintenance than sit reading the paper. ;)

[OakLeaf]

because I'm going to have to pull my pedals off for transport pretty soon, and since you're also riding the Keos which don't use a 15mm pedal wrench?

The right hand pedal is right hand threaded and the left pedal is left (reverse) threaded, correct? But since I'm unscrewing the axle from the medial side, it's backwards again, so: allen socket in the right pedal loosens clockwise; allen socket in the left pedal loosens counterclockwise.

Have I got this right? Because they're in so tight I'm going to have to use the impact wrench on them and I don't want to get it backwards! I think the LBS must've put Loc-Tite on them.

[Beane]

My dh once had this weird creaking from his bike that he just could not diagnose. It turned out it was his seatpost... he finally clicked to the fact that the creaking went away when he stood up to pedal. :p

what did he do to fix it? i have had a creaking which I thought was the seat (since i'd driven it into the garage once, having forgotten it was on the roof rack --whoops!), but i switched seats and it persists.