Most common clicking noise

shfcook

I have a clicking noise that correlates to my cadence, dissappears as I pedal softly, gets louder as I pedal harder; not sure I can hear it when I get out of the saddle but that may be that I'm further away from the source of the noise.

It's my bottom bracket isn't it? Just wanted to ask in case anyone could think of anything else before I order a new part.

Hugh A

There are other things it could be - see archive posts-

chain ring bolts
chain set loose on b/b
pedals
seat post
saddle clamp

worth trying greasing and / or tightening these first. If the b/b itself is at fault then there is usually but not always some play or unevenness detectable there. If not then something else is just as likely to be wrong!

Stwutter

Make sure the front mech cable isn't sticking out and catching your shoe whilst you pedal.

Sounds obvious, but worth checking.

Eat My Dust

It could be lots of things. I nearly changed my bottom bracket due to a similar clicking, only to find that it disapeared when I tightened the bolt on my seatpost clamp :oops:

shfcook

I hadn't thought about the chainring bolts or the seatclamp, have tightened the cranks, checked the pedals are tight, reset carbon seatpost with hairspry(!).

With a carbon seatpost my experience is that if the seatclamp isn't set properly the post just sinks, so I think that must be working, but I shall check the chainring bolts.

Can you get a clicking noise from inside the pedals even if they're attached to the cranks properly?

ivancarlos

Eat My Dust wrote:

It could be lots of things. I nearly changed my bottom bracket due to a similar clicking, only to find that it disapeared when I tightened the bolt on my seatpost clamp :oops:

Nearly did the same only for it to disappear when I changed the pedals.

Aidocp

Stwutter wrote:

Make sure the front mech cable isn't sticking out and catching your shoe whilst you pedal.

Sounds obvious, but worth checking.

With an old bike I had it was exactly this. Another time it was my pedals. And another time it was my cranks needing tightening.

FrankM

Completely agree with Hugh. I had a clicking noise last week which sounded like it was coming from the BB area and regreased and tightened the seatpost and saddle clamps and the noise has now gone.

A guy in a bike shop once told me to start at the top (i.e. the saddle) and work down. Sound travels so it can be very difficult to tell where the noise is coming from.

shfcook

Thanks for the advice, I was confusing the seat clamp with the saddle clamp, hadn't thought of this either. I will also try a different seatpost in case the carbon fibre seatpost is creaking.

wildmoustache

good advice above.

i have had the same thing. sometimes it's related to moisture, and you'll find it doesn't happen on dry days. have you ridden the bike in heavy rain? that can get into the BB area and cause noise too. talking out th eBB and greasing the hell out of it has been effective for me.

shfcook

I have changed the seatpost and saddle, checked the front mech and chainring bolts, taken the bottle cages off, and the noise is still there. I shall remove the bottom bracket now; it's a Colnago so I presume it is Italian thread, however how does one know? Is there any identifying mark so one can tell visually?

graham_g

Always been either chainring bolts or saddle clamp for me - thanks for the tip on greasing the saddle clamp, i'd never considered that!

PrettyBoyTim

I had a clicking noise from my BB that started a few days ago. I took it to my LBS and they tightened it and now the noise has gone. I was pretty sure it was the BB because I could only get the BB to click by alternating the pressure from one pedal to another - if I put my weight on one pedal only, it would click once and then not again.

nom de plum

shfcook wrote:

I have changed the seatpost and saddle, checked the front mech and chainring bolts, taken the bottle cages off, and the noise is still there. I shall remove the bottom bracket now; it's a Colnago so I presume it is Italian thread, however how does one know? Is there any identifying mark so one can tell visually?

Hi
take a look at http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=94

PHcp

Everything you ever wanted to know about bicycle noises, and then some
http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

Gav2000

I wouldn't remove the BB just yet but you could check to see if it is loose, I understand that Italian threads naturally unscrew unless they have some Locktite on the thread.

I've had some very annoying clicks, creaks and noises that have never so far been the BB. They have been; my cleats, the connection between the top of the saddle and the saddle rail, a loose cassette and a chain.

You should be able to narrow the noise down by pedaling harder, pedaling with one leg then the other, standing up and pedaling and freewheeling and pedaling and freewheeling without holding the handlebars. Depending upon when the noise is heard or not you should be able to narrow it down quite well.

It may still be the BB but modern ones seem to be pretty durable sealed units, there are lots of other joins and moving parts that are more likely to be the problem.

Gav.

campagsarge

I am getting vibrations when in the biggest gear (big chain ring, smallest gear at back). I have tighten everything and replaced the entire drive chain and still it persists. There is a dull grinding noise as well, so I suspect it is my BB that is ropey.

Anyway, I have taken it to my LBS to get them to have a look. They reckon that water has got into the BB, even though it is a sealed Veloce unit.