At end of my tether with damn creak

pab01

Hi all, a few days ago my bike developed an annoying loud creak seemingly coming from the bottow bracket area. Despite changing BB, checking stack bolts, greasing pedals, riding with/without cleats and changing saddle its still there. Local lbs couldn't hear it but needs a few mins of hard riding for it to really kick in and become obvious. Also only seems to happen when in saddle.

Any suggestions on what to try next. Worried it could be carbon frame failing but I would expect to have creaking out of saddle or when applyingpressure when static.
Thanks

07Lapierre

Remove wheels.. Put some 3and1 oil on your finger and rub it on the dropouts. Refit wheels and make sure there tight.

xebec

Had the same issue a few weeks ago, like you sound seemed to be coming from the drive train and only when seated. After checking lots of things with no luck, removed and regressed the seat post which has solved the issue. I'm on an alu bike with alu seat post though, so might be different with carbon.

smacl

pab01 wrote: »

Any suggestions on what to try next.

Some invaluable advice from a fellow boardsie here;

Zyzz wrote: »

If you turn it upside down and spin the wheel, as well as loosening the spring in the free hub, you should be able to buy a new bike and the problem will go away.

inc21

QR, Saddle, Seat post, Pedals, Headset.
All common creaks while pedaling. Clean and lube HS and make sure it pulls proper back together. Some carbon forks have top cap that you screw off to drop out the fork. But once you have top cap removed you should see another screw in expander plug. Just make sure it hasn't slipped out.

magicbastarder

could be your knees or ankles?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Chain ring bolts are also a common reason for creaks and often overlooked in favour of a new BB.

Juan More Time

Had exactly the same problem myself...replaced chain and cassette, bottom bracket all to no avail...The damn creaking still persisted until I decided to swap out the fork with one from one of my other bikes, and voila problem solved... I shudder to think what would have happened had the fork failed at speed... New stuff is no fecking good:eek:

Limestone1

magicbastarder wrote: »

could be your knees or ankles?

true dat ...... your shoes,pedals or things you've attached like crossbar bags etc..

Lumen

Juan More Time wrote: »

Had exactly the same problem myself...replaced chain and cassette, bottom bracket all to no avail...The damn creaking still persisted until I decided to swap out the fork with one from one of my other bikes, and voila problem solved... I shudder to think what would have happened had the fork failed at speed... New stuff is no fecking good:eek:

Maybe it was your headset.

crosstownk

xebec wrote: »

Had the same issue a few weeks ago, like you sound seemed to be coming from the drive train and only when seated. After checking lots of things with no luck, removed and regressed the seat post which has solved the issue. I'm on an alu bike with alu seat post though, so might be different with carbon.

Exact same scenario here. I tackled everything - drive train, drop outs, pedals but when I greased the seat post it cured the creak.

diomed

Lumen wrote: »

Maybe it was your headset.

This should keep you amused for hours.
http://jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html
Fwiw every noise appears to come from expensive areas.

diomed

pab01 wrote: »

Also only seems to happen when in saddle.

It was on this last test that I found the creak no longer happened while standing up. So, it was definitely seatpost/saddle related and, knowing the seatpost was new, had been greased to within an inch of its life and the down tube had also been checked - I started to focus on the Specialized Toupe Comp Gel Road saddle.
Solution: I had previously tried greasing the saddle rails as I had read on your site which also didn't work. I then thought, well the rails obviously attach into the saddle, I may as well try lube at that end as well. The sound stopped straight away! I was speechless that a problem at the top of the saddle could sound that bad at the bottom of the down tube. Now, with all the new and greased parts the bike is running like new. I'm just a few hundred pounds lighter!"

pab01

Thanks all,

overhauled headset this morning and swapped out back wheel. Not worked out which it was but did just over 70 miles without a single creak. Will put wheel back in tomorrow to test if it was it.

3102derek

Was in the same situation. Creaking like mad for the last two months. Check everything except the wheels. Put on the winter wheels yesterday and creak is gone.

So it must be the "good" wheels

Bloggsie

same as you, it was driving me nucking futs, went to the LBS & he advised me it was from my pedals, he did a quck clean & lub, sorted!