rattle in back

[sah]

I have a Terry Fast Woman, love riding the bike it fits wells and lives up to the name... the bike is fast. I have ultegra components. When I ride over a rough section of paved road, I have a rattle in the rear wheel. It happens when I am spinning doesn't happen when I am pedaling and it doesn't happen if the road is smooth. My DBF tried to find it while we were riding. I don't think I can duplicate the sound in a shop. Any clues?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you have a saddlebag of any sort, check all the places it touches your bike- straps, buckles, etc. Especially if you have something attached to the seatpost- a light, a buckled strap, a lock/cable? Also check the rack connections if you have a rear rack. Check the little nut on your tire valves that it is not loose and rattling around. Check the screws on your water bottle cages. Check the flat fixing tools- are they rattling against each other? Make sure your bottle cage is snugly holding your bottles so they don't jiggle and rattle.

[sah]

Thanks, I have bottle racks and a small rear light. I'll check those. I did try holding the bottle rack while riding and the rattle was still there. I don't have much on the bike. The strange part is it only happens when I am not pedaling.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Kalidurga]

The strange part is it only happens when I am not pedaling.

You mentioned that it happens on rough sections of pavement. Perhaps your chain is smacking against the chainstay as you go over bumps. If you're pedaling over those same bumps, there could be enough tension in the chain to prevent it from smacking.