Squeaky seat post

[Chile Pepper]

My husband bought a Cervelo RS about six months ago (so a 2011 model). He loves it, except for a persistent squeak in the seat post. He has tried adjusting, tightening, and lubing, but the bike still squeaks. He asked me to post here to see if anyone has had (and hopefully resolved) a similar problem. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[bluebug32]

Are you sure it's the seat post? Carbon can be tricky and cause sounds to reverberate. I'm chasing a phantom click right now! Does it make noise when he's out of the saddle?

[Blueberry]

Could it be a seat rail? I've had those squeak like the devil.

[Owlie]

Bottom bracket? I needed a BB replacement this summer--the first thing the shop checked was the seat post in case that was the source of the squeaking. They did lube it for me, though.

[ridebikeme]

The first question that I have is this: is the seatpost carbon or aluminum? If it it carbon, make sure that it has some carbon "grease/paste" on it. This works well for carbon and doesn't allow it to move.

AS others have mentioned, with larger tubing in frames sounds often travel through the frame making it difficult to isolate where the sound is coming from. Check the obvious: seat, bottom bracket and bolts on his chainrings, crank bolts.

Good luck and definitely keep us posted!


http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[Chile Pepper]

Great suggestions. Thanks! I will pass these along and see what he says.

[bluebug32]

Search Bicycling's website for this. I know I've read articles on fixing squeaks.

[Chile Pepper]

My DH reports...

(1) he's fairly certain it's the seat post because he doesn't hear it when he stands;

(2) when he's sitting in the saddle, the squeaking is worse when he is pushing hard versus spinning lightly;

(3) he had not thought to try carbon paste. He'll pick some up next time he's in Santiago.

I also searched Bike Forums (thanks, Bluebug, for the suggestion) and found a suggestion about getting a longer seat post. My DH is quite tall, and while the seat post is within the maximum range, it might be worth trying a longer post.

[goldfinch]

I have had a persistent squeaking when seated and I assumed it was my seat rather than the post. I have carbon rails on my seat. I have my bike in the shop for a tuneup and they are going to see if they can squeeze some of that carbon stuff in there.

[OakLeaf]

Is there a temperature relationship? I was getting a squeak yesterday morning that went away as the ride went on.

[ridebikeme]

Not sure about the temperature difference, but it's also a good thought. I do know that carbon posts can creak, and can only imagine that carbon seat rails and a carbon post could only make the surface area larger and much more noisey. While I personally own a couple of bikes with carbon posts, I've never heard any noise issues... but I've always used the carbon paste.

Good luck to everyone and definitely keep us posted!
Ridebikeme
http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[Eden]

+1 to Ridebike me. I have a squeaky carbon post on my Ti bike. Carbon past (it's like grease with a little grit in it..) takes care of it.

[mozzette]

Hiya, i had that problem as well, couldn't stop it for love nor money. Took it to the bike shop and he said, "Squirt some WD40 on it", so that's what i did, sorted it straight away. Oil didn't work or grease only WD40.