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

[Catrin]

heheh, when I saw this thread title my mind went to physical creaking, not bike creaking...obviously more caffeine is needed this morning so I can read straight Owlie, glad to learn I was wrong

[Owlie]

Occasionally I'll misread what section threads are in, so I'm not surprised. But no, nothing's making noise here. I'm a little young for that, statistically speaking!

[Owlie]

It was creaking on today's ride again. I took it into the shop, so I'll find out what's wrong with it (and maybe have it back?) probably by Wednesday or Thursday. I doubt it'll need replacing. I know the components on this thing are crap, but I shouldn't need a new BB after 550 miles...

Now I have to find something else to do with my weekend.

[Grits]

I think mine had to be replaced at about 2,000 miles, which is still too soon. The LBS said that the bike came with a low end bracket and replaced it with a higher quality one. Whatever. Fortunately, it was not a very expensive part.

[Owlie]

I think mine had to be replaced at about 2,000 miles, which is still too soon. The LBS said that the bike came with a low end bracket and replaced it with a higher quality one. Whatever. Fortunately, it was not a very expensive part.

Okay. That's good to know. This is the first year I've been putting miles on her, so in a way, I'm not surprised if it's loose. The last 1.5 seasons I had her, things didn't have a chance to loosen up or stretch!

[nscrbug]

I've been dealing with an ongoing "creak" for the past few months. Took it in a few weeks ago and the mechanic tore apart my fork and headset (as that is where I could pinpoint where it was coming from). He ended up adding a few of these super thin metal spacers right where the headset meets the headtube. That seems to have solved the "creaking" noise, but now it's been replaced with a slightly less annoying noise - one that sounds like ball bearings crashing into each other. It's definitely not as loud and obnoxious as the creaking was, but I can still hear it and it bugs me. When it gets to the point where I can't tolerate it any longer, I'll have to bring it back in.

[DarcyInOregon]

I had a nasty creak and the LBS solved it as being in the seat post. Last month I had a group training ride on a rural asphalt bike trail after it had rained. The bike accumulated a lot of grit and wet tree needles that clumped together around the brakes. At one point I hit a large bump at speed, my left cleat broke, my foot flew off the pedal, and the sudden abrupt movements caused something inside my seat post to shimmy out of adjustment, making the saddle go up and down like a rocking chair. On my way home after the ride the LBS was still open, I stopped, and he fixed the seat post for me, but I hadn't been home to clean the bike, and some grit got inside the seat post, so on my next ride I got significant creaking noises. It was time for my 1,000 mile maintenance and new tires, so took the bike back, he redid the guts of the seat post and no more creaking. Hope this information is helpful.

[WindingRoad]

I have a strange creaking sound in what sounds like its in the bottom bracket. I replaced it once but it wasn't a high end bracket at all so I'm wondering if its just going bad again. It seems since the weather has been hot its worse??? It's almost a ticking sound? The crank arms are tight so it's not that. Any thoughts?

[Crankin]

My friend had a creak in her new Giant for 2 years. After bringing it to 3 LBS who did nothing, my DH put it on a stand, changed the wheel, and voila, that was it. He also discovered they had put a chain that was the wrong size for her triple on it. The bike originally had a compact, they swapped the components for her, and put the same chain back on... of course, they told her she was crazy. It took Dh about 5 minutes to diagnose this...