Creaking

[Owlie]

On the second half of my ride today I noticed my bike making a lot of creaking noises, mostly when going over bumps or if I shifted around in the saddle. Since it wasn't making noise on my last couple rides and I've cleaned it since then, I checked anything I may have removed (ie, wheels) and they're snug and happy where they should be.
It sounds almost like it's coming from the front half of the bike, but if I've learned anything from here, it's that bikes are ventriloquists, so it could theoretically be coming from anywhere! Any ideas? (I didn't notice any relationship with pedal strokes, if that helps.)

[Grits]

I have had that happen twice. Once it was the rear wheel, which I hadn't put back on tightly enough, but you have checked that. The other time it was the bottom bracket, which needed to be replaced. Good luck.

[Owlie]

DBF thought it was a loose bottom bracket too, but I *think* I fixed it.

I think it was a loose bolt on the saddle clamp thing, combined with a slightly loose rear wheel. I double checked that after I got home (tightened things up a bit more), and then tightened up the bolt on the clamp (since I needed to adjust the saddle tilt anyway), and took it for a little spin, and haven't heard a peep out of it since.

[makbike]

Owlie, you might also want to clean and lube your seat post.

[OakLeaf]

My handlebars have been creaking on climbs ever since the last time I swapped stems. I put a torque wrench on it as always, but I probably torqued the bolts to the lower end of their range (don't recall specifically). I think I'll just live with the creaking, actually, as long as the bars aren't moving around - lower torque means less chance that they will break or bend in a crash.

[marni]

my "bebe" has several creaks and clicks which have been with me almost since I started riding in spite of having been taken apart, checked, relubed, rechained, regeared, re derailleiur etc. I have decided it is just the bike talking to me, and functioning happily. I start to worry when I don't hear the familiar litany or hear anything new. I gues it's one her "endearing qualities." :0