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Bike Tech: Creaking on the Accent

For the bike tech guys and gals,

I did a pretty serious hill ride today - good 9% grade over multiple miles which made me stand out of the saddle a lot more than I am used to. When I got out of the saddle and over my bars, I noticed a creaking sound on every mash of the crank. It sounded like it was coming from the front derailleur area, but I really could not tell. It was one of those things I could not duplicate because when I sat down it went away. At first I thought it was a front wheel bearing because it actually sounded similar to an automobile bearing going, but it was too synchronous with my peddles and after about thirty minutes I felt like I was pretty sure it was in the front part of the drive train. I was in small chain ring and the inside half of the rear cassette so there wasn't any cross over.

Your thoughts? My chain is about ready to be replaced (if not past slightly past due...) I fear that it could be a combination of a wearing chain, and wearing chain ring. I am pretty handy when it comes to fixing, but am still too new to the sport for proper diagnostics.

Here's something else - mechanics are out of control expensive here in Adelaide, Australia (10x PLUS, after exchange rate, to what I paid in Boston for comparable service), so I will do what I can to avoid that... If that means posting a macro shot my chain ring for inspection, just say the word

Thanks guys.

Jeff

Triathlon Gear

I know this sounds dumb, but

Submitted by ChunkyB on August 30, 2010 - 05:29

I know this sounds dumb, but I've experienced this before, and it ended up being my shoe rubbing on the crank. I think when I stand up, my feed sit differently on the pedals, and end up rubbing. Maybe they just have more pressure on them, so they get a little wider or something. It's worth checking.

Does it happen with each pedal stroke, or is it just the right or left?

It could be many things in

Submitted by fpugsley on August 30, 2010 - 05:56

It could be many things in many locations:
1: BB creaking. Take it off, clean the threads so you could eat off it, inside the shell and on the bb. apply teflon tape (or whatever everyone else recommends, but its what i use) and reinstall. make sure your chain ring bolts are secure and clean as well.
If its not fixed,
2: Rear dropout/quick-release - take your rear wheel off. Clean the area where your hub and quick release mate to the frame. if needed, sand each face a little. make sure your lockring is tight.
if not fixed,
3: cockpit - take everything apart, clean it very well, and reinstall with the appropriate grease or lack thereof based upon your component material. use a torque wrench.
4. cleats on your shoe. take them off, clean everything up. add thread lock and reinstall.

creaking can come from lots of places. its usually a dirty interface or loose component.

I think fpugsley has it

Submitted by gshuldes on August 30, 2010 - 06:08

I think fpugsley has it about right ... "It could be many things in many locations ... " Sometimes creaks come from the strangest spots.

Here is what Sheldon had to say about "Creaks, Clicks & Clunks...":

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html

To echo fpugsley . . . I've

Submitted by TriSooner on August 30, 2010 - 06:29

To echo fpugsley . . . I've had the "creaking while standing" issue.

BB problem - May need cleaning, re-installing, or new BB
Cleats - Coming loose, screws squeak on compression
Pedal - Threads on spindles may be dirty, or housing inside pedal may be dirty or shot.

It could be an issue of "cleaning and re-installing"; may be an issue of having to replace. Start with the easy, cheap one first (cleaning and reinstalling the cleats), then take off the pedals and grease (not lube!) the spindle. Next, try cleaning and lubing the pedal platform housing, which requires taking it apart and applying more from a lube gun. If it's still there, it's probably coming from the BB. I don't mess with my BB, so I took mine in and got a new one. (FWIW, my shop even talked me out of the $300 ceramic and just put in a standard FSA.)

Indeed, I've had his too.

Submitted by cjhoffmn on August 30, 2010 - 08:01

Indeed, I've had his too. Surprising part is that it can come from almost anywhere and *sound* like it's in the bottom bracket because your frame acts like a sound chamber. I've had it twice. First time I fixed it by taking off my front chain rings, cleaning the connection points, putting a drop of grease on those points and reinstalling. The second time is was the cleat on my right shoe. I would have sworn it was my BB, but I tightened my cleat on that shoe, and away went the rhythmic creaking with every standing stroke.. Easily fixed without a mechanic in my case.

-c