Funny clicking noise...

I have a question about a wierd noise I was getting on the road today. I was climbing and getting this loud clicking noise with each pedal revolution. It only happened on steep climbs, not on the flats.

I checked my bottom bracket and its not wobbly. The bike only has about 2500 miles on it. I've got a Shimano Ultegra BB, is it possible I need to replace the bearing cassettes?

Also, I just switched to a 12/27 cassette yesterday and replaced my chain. Any chance that has something to do with it?

Any suggestions/solutions would be greatly appreciated!:)

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Originally Posted by agrsgrl

I have a question about a wierd noise I was getting on the road today. I was climbing and getting this loud clicking noise with each pedal revolution. It only happened on steep climbs, not on the flats.

I checked my bottom bracket and its not wobbly. The bike only has about 2500 miles on it. I've got a Shimano Ultegra BB, is it possible I need to replace the bearing cassettes?

Also, I just switched to a 12/27 cassette yesterday and replaced my chain. Any chance that has something to do with it?

Any suggestions/solutions would be greatly appreciated!:)

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Did you check that you tightened the new casette properly? Maybe the click is rotation of a loose casette.

I always try the simple solution first - try lubing the chain and see if that doesn't help.

Do you use clipless pedals? They are often a culprit of unidentifiable clicks.

The link on the chain where you re-pinned it. Did you get it good and loosened up? Is it still stiff?

Have you checked your chain ring bolts lately? Just asking. These tend to get ignored (I'm not immune).

Does the click always happen at a certain spot in your pedal stroke no matter which gear you are in? If so, then the problem is more likely with the shoe, the pedal, or the crank and axle....not with the chain or gears.

I know this sounds ridiculous...but more than one person has discovered that their mysterious click on their pedal stroke has been the hard end of a sholace ticking against a gear ring on each stroke. Just something to check on.

I just had to change one of my pedals (it's a "regular" bike pedal, not clipless) due to something INSIDE the pedal axle being loose after several thousand miles use. It made an annoying little snap/thunk sound and a snapping vibration every time my foot was at 1:00 starting each downstroke. DH kept saying it couldn't be inside the pedal, someone else said try it, they had had the same problem...and when we finally changed the pedal the problem was instantly gone.

If these things seem unlikely, then ask your LBS to check to make sure your crank is not loose. Unless you know what to watch for, it's not always easy to know what a slightly loose crank feels like.

I had a clicky sound that turned out to be the sensor for my cyclometer had turned a bit and the magnet was clicking it. Easy fix.

I've been following this because I had a similar clicking noise, always when my right pedal was at the bottom, always when going up hills or when the pedals were under pressure.

Yesterday I rode home in the rain, and now the clicking is gone. I think my clicking was coming from the seatpost/saddle connection, and the rain got in there and lubed it up a little. So maybe tighten/loosen/jiggle things around the saddle connection and see if that helps.

Bikes are like ventriloquists sometimes; the noises throw themselves around and you can't figure out where it's coming from, especially when your ears are high above the source of the sound.

I'll toss my 2 cents in, could it be a loose pedal on a crank arm?

Thanks for all the suggestions! I've now checked shoes/pedals, seatpost, cadence meter, chain, derailleurs, cassette, and cranks. No luck yet. This afternoon I'm going to pull the crank arms off and look at the BB again--maybe it is loose and I couldn't tell. :confused:

Worst comes to worst I'll take it to the LBS tomorrow to have them look at it.
Will keep everyone posted...

I had a very quiet tick - it almost sounded like someone dropping a ball bearing, that was the BB - one side was just a little loose. It didn't do any damage, but once it was tightened up it stopped making the noise and I no longer have to worry about it. I also had a creak that I determined was the rear dropout. I adjusted the quick release and that noise stopped.

I once had an annoying metallic rattle coming from my stem area somewhaere. It was driving me CRAZY!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:
Eventually I found it- it was the metal buckle of my saddlebag that was vibrating against my seatpost at every bump. YES- the metal pinging sound was traveling from the seatpost, all along my top tube, right to the front and seemed to be coming from my stem!!! :rolleyes:

Well, I never found out what the noise was. On the way home from my ride yesterday I was hit by a car. I'm fine--no more than cuts and bruises, but the crash destroyed the bike. The driver broadsided me coming out of a parking lot and the back end of the bike was mangled. So, it got rid of the funny sqeaking noise, but I wouldn't recommend it as a strategy.:(

OMG... agrs... you're ok, bikes wrecked... hope that driver is buying you a new one!!!!

Trust the shock didn't hit you too bad...

Guess thats one way to solve a noisy clicky bike... but there has to be another way!

Sorry to hear about your accident. Are you ok??? Around here bikers say it's not a matter of when you'll get hit, just how bad you are hurt. That doesn't sound quite right DUH but I hope you get my point. Gods speed on your recovery.

I'm fine, no more than bumps and bruises. Nothing to heal other than a few stiff muscles. Thanks for the concern though!

The insurance should cover the bike b/c the driver was at fault for not stopping (she actually got a ticket too). I was hoping that just the deraillieur hanger had been bent, but it turns out the whole frame was torqued. Pretty impressive, it was a ti frame. I guess parking a car on it isn't a good idea.

Anyone have suggestions on a good high-end women's race bike? I looked at the Scott Contessa CR1 Pro today and liked it.

I'm glad that you're OK and able to joke about it.

I once traded in a car rather than pay to get the AC fixed. :rolleyes:

Holy cow!tough way to cure funny clicking noise. Buy a new bike! Celebrate life.

Well, I pick up the new bike today!!! I ended up with the Scott Contessa CR1 Pro. Dura Ace components and a set of Kysrium wheels that I'm going to auction off.

The settlement for the accident went very smoothly--they covered the entire cost of the bike as well as an injury settlement and it was handled within a week.

I'm excited, tomorrow I can go back up Mt. Lemmon with the team. I'm aiming for Pallisades this time and next week its all the way to the top. In the end, the accident didn't take too much away from training time--which is good, b/c I start working with my coach this week.

I'm glad I'm riding with the team though b/c I'm still a bit nervous on the road where I got hit.

Thanks again for everyones support!

I'm sorry to hear about the run-in w/ a car. What a bummer. Thank goodness your o'k and were able to settle without huge hassles. When you have time post a pic of your new bike.