creaking machine

sloxam

hi, when i get out of the saddle the bike creaks like crazy. it sounds like its coming from the front end, so i've tightened/regreased/checked the handlebars, stem ,headset. but t no avail. any ideas?

globetrotter

I have exactly the same problem at the moment. Did all the checks you have mentioned and also swapped my wheel sets around to see if it was the wheels, but no. Was out with a group yesterday and one of the other chaps suggested it might be the bottom bracket probably needs re-greasing. I used my bike all winter without mud guards, so probably makes sense.

Not sure when I'll have time to take to LBS to sort tho and have an event coming up. Might have to grim and bare the noise for a few weeks and hope not to do too much damage. Has made me start to climb in the saddle more, even on steep climbs which I've found really good to do.

topdude

Hi, in my experience of annoying creaks i would suspect the following :
Pedals, remove and grease threads or better still try another pair.
Both wheel skewers, clean and re-tighten.
Cranks, remove and clean/grease where they tighten onto the BB,
Then if it still creaks when out of the saddle remove the BB and clean/grease or replace.
After that replace the bike.

Dai_bach

Agree with previous posters: that the problem only occurs when you're out of the saddle suggests that it's a crank/BB problem. Noise could be transmitted through the frame and hence sound like it's coming from another part of your bike.

fizz

I've just put my bike into the LBS because it was creaking / clicking. The mechanic said that on the Hollowtech II shimano BB that dirt gets in between the crank arms and the bearing seals and then forms little ridges of dirt and the clicking is caused by that.

They took my crank apart and cleaned it all and refitted it and its sorted it out. He also said to me that sometimes loose or worn shoe cleats cause this also so that might be worth checking to.