Rubbing noise - cant find it...

Felloffmebike

Can't seem to track down a problem with my road bike. When I push on the pedals, say going uphill or into a wind, I get this very irritating rubbing noise. It's not there when I freewheel so it's not brake blocks or wheel problems. When I'm rolling comfortably at any speed and turning the pedals nicely it's not there. Only when I put on a bit of pressure, the more pressure the louder it gets. It's not the derailleur, there is plenty of clearance in every gear, anyway it happens in any gear. Two visits to my LBS haven't cured it. I have had it on the stand at home a hundred times and not a sound, everything runs smoothly and perfectly. You need to be riding it. I've lubed and oiled everything that needs it and I keep it clean and wash it regularly. It's driving me mad, and annoying my cycling companions as well. Any clues? A bearing? The chain?

morana

Felloffmebike wrote: »

Can't seem to track down a problem with my road bike. When I push on the pedals, say going uphill or into a wind, I get this very irritating rubbing noise. It's not there when I freewheel so it's not brake blocks or wheel problems. When I'm rolling comfortably at any speed and turning the pedals nicely it's not there. Only when I put on a bit of pressure, the more pressure the louder it gets. It's not the derailleur, there is plenty of clearance in every gear, anyway it happens in any gear. Two visits to my LBS haven't cured it. I have had it on the stand at home a hundred times and not a sound, everything runs smoothly and perfectly. You need to be riding it. I've lubed and oiled everything that needs it and I keep it clean and wash it regularly. It's driving me mad, and annoying my cycling companions as well. Any clues? A bearing? The chain?

shoes on the cranks

Raam

Chainring bolt off the frame? When giving it a bit of welly there might be some flex. Check for clearance and any marks on the frame near where they might meet.

alfalion

Felloffmebike wrote: »

Can't seem to track down a problem with my road bike. When I push on the pedals, say going uphill or into a wind, I get this very irritating rubbing noise. It's not there when I freewheel so it's not brake blocks or wheel problems. When I'm rolling comfortably at any speed and turning the pedals nicely it's not there. Only when I put on a bit of pressure, the more pressure the louder it gets. It's not the derailleur, there is plenty of clearance in every gear, anyway it happens in any gear. Two visits to my LBS haven't cured it. I have had it on the stand at home a hundred times and not a sound, everything runs smoothly and perfectly. You need to be riding it. I've lubed and oiled everything that needs it and I keep it clean and wash it regularly. It's driving me mad, and annoying my cycling companions as well. Any clues? A bearing? The chain?

Bum cheeks?

Felloffmebike

alfalion wrote: »

Bum cheeks?

First thing I thought of....but no

mitosis

Take the back brakes off and test. I had similar and it was the wheel flexing onto the brakes under hard pedalling. Replaced the wheel

dquirke1

mitosis wrote: »

Take the back brakes off and test. I had similar and it was the wheel flexing onto the brakes under hard pedalling. Replaced the wheel

+1 on this. Could well be the wheel flexing into the brakes.
Open the back brake and see does that fix it.

If it does then adjust the brakes accordingly or else invest in some stiffer wheels and/or frame

Felloffmebike

Pretty sure it's not the brake. Rode with the back brake open for a while tonight and it was still there.

Darkglasses

Did you check Morana's suggestion? Is there some wear or scuff marks on your shoes?

Raam

Is it the bolts? I'll put money on it. It's the chainring bolts. Give me money.

Seriously, check 'em. I had that issue just the other day and also in the past when the bolts were coming a little lose and only rubbing when out of the saddle.

Mr. Skeffington

Also try the wheel quick release skewers, I have seen a few times where unidentified noises have been solved by tightening the skewers!

Felloffmebike

Darkglasses wrote: »

Did you check Morana's suggestion? Is there some wear or scuff marks on your shoes?

Explain this one to me. How can that cause a problem? Worn cleats? Or excessive movement of shoes in the pedals? Shoes are SPD SL. They might be a bit scuffed from general walking about but they are fairly new. The noise which might also be described as creaking as much as rubbing seems to be coming from that general area. So it could be something like that. The crank bolt is still in the running too though.

Darkglasses

Felloffmebike wrote: »

Explain this one to me. How can that cause a problem? Worn cleats? Or excessive movement of shoes in the pedals? Shoes are SPD SL. They might be a bit scuffed from general walking about but they are fairly new. The noise which might also be described as creaking as much as rubbing seems to be coming from that general area. So it could be something like that. The crank bolt is still in the running too though.

It's not a problem, it just might be the origin of the sound.

It's possible that when you pedal hard, you turn your feet slightly (toes pointing out) and so you rub part of your shoe against the crank arm as you pedal. You can check this by seeing if any part of your shoe upper is marked or worn.

Sorry, I'm finding this hard to explain. In the morning I can upload a picture of where my cycling shoes get scuffed by rubbing against the crank arm.

Wishbone Ash

Is it a metallic type of sound or a 'softer' rubbing sound?

I'd imagine any sound caused by shoes, tyres or wheels on brakes would be a lot 'softer' than metal against metal/carbon fiber.

Felloffmebike

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Is it a metallic type of sound or a 'softer' rubbing sound?

I'd imagine any sound caused by shoes, tyres or wheels on brakes would be a lot 'softer' than metal against metal/carbon fiber.

More of a metal sound. A creaking sound maybe as much as rubbing.

morana

Felloffmebike wrote: »

More of a metal sound. A creaking sound maybe as much as rubbing.

you're changing the symptoms now!!!!

its your chain on the derailleur cage!

Surveyor11

Felloffmebike wrote: »

More of a metal sound. A creaking sound maybe as much as rubbing.

Can you record the sound and upload? Might help.

























only kiddin':pac:

smacl

Was getting similar noises, and following on from a thread here, lightly greased the drop outs and also between the bar spacers, and the noise has gone. Was just about to by a new BB, as I'd convinced myself that was the problem.

kenmc

grease your bottle cage bolts. that worked for me in the past.

doozerie

Ah, a creak is a different matter entirely. In my case, as with smacl, the source of a creak which persisted for months (and foiled every rational attempt to find it) was the interface between the fork dropouts and the wheel. A light coating of GT85, though any light lubricant would do, on the dropouts sorted out the problem for me.

Otherwise, my guess is arthritis, grease your knees.

f1000

I had the same issue for a month. Even got my bottom bracket serviced due to the creaking being so annoying. Had checked every screw and bolt and it was only last night after ages, I figured out what it was.

Seatpost! removed, cleaned, added a little bit of lube. Job Done.

pikefisher

grease around your bar spacers

Felloffmebike

Folks thanks for all the suggestions and advice, even those who suggested that I might put a bit of oil on several of my ageing body parts. Patient is now back in the LBS with a shortlist of suggested causes and remedies. I'll have it back tomorrow. Let you know the outcome.

Felloffmebike

Outcome as per previous visits. Can't find anything wrong. Checked, tightened and lubed anything and everything. Said "even though I couldn't find it I might have fixed it.." took it out for 20k tonight. No change. Noise still there and even more irritating than before.. Funny thing, even though it happens when peddling hard I realised tonight it doesn't happen as much or at least is not as loud when I come out of the saddle and stand on the pedals. Go figure...

J Madone

Felloffmebike wrote: »

Outcome as per previous visits. Can't find anything wrong. Checked, tightened and lubed anything and everything. Said "even though I couldn't find it I might have fixed it.." took it out for 20k tonight. No change. Noise still there and even more irritating than before.. Funny thing, even though it happens when peddling hard I realised tonight it doesn't happen as much or at least is not as loud when I come out of the saddle and stand on the pedals. Go figure...

1 Tighten your cleats on your shoes and if that fails
2 buy a new bike

smacl

J Madone wrote: »

1 Tighten your cleats on your shoes and if that fails
2 buy a new bike

FYP

Felloffmebike

Got it. 2 hours this evening with the aid of my Aldi bike stand. Everything off and cleaned, oiled, lubed, sprayed and tightened. Best overhaul and clean it ever had. Then took it for 20k with a few short sharp hills and quick sections and bends and corners. And ... nothing. No rubbing, no grating, no creaking or whatever it was. So I fixed it. Don't know exactly what I fixed or how but I got it. Purred like a contented cat all the way around. Thanks again folks for all the suggestions. One of them worked, just can't say which one.