Click...click... creak

Variado
Variado Posts: 107
edited August 2010 in Workshop
I got a new bike a couple of weeks ago (Focus Mares expert) but after 150 miles it's developed a very annoying clicking/creaking - i'm wondering if something's just going out of alignment as cables stretch etc. or if it's the sign of a problem.

Under normal riding I'm getting a 'click' as my right pedal goes through the 5 o'clock position. This happens in both chainrings (50 and 34), and doesn't happen if I spin softly. Harder riding gives a double/triple 'click' and if I'm climbing out of the saddle then it becomes a loud creak at the bottom of both pedal strokes. Sounds like it's coming from the bottom bracket, although I guess it could be elsewhere - as it requires a bit of effort I can't track down the noise with the bike in a workstand. It's been getting progressively worse over the last two rides (~25 miles each).

Components are good quality (Ultegra etc.) and my other bike (also Ultegra) is silent under similar riding. Bike's clean and cared for.

Any ideas what's causing this? The bike's great, but would hope that I wouldn't be having to deal with mechanical issues on a brand new £1k bike...

Comments

  • Just a few suggestions,
    1) if the front changer is band on, it might need tightening
    2) it might be a problem (cracks) in one of the rims. I had a similar noise which after re greasing the bottom bracket and all the usual checks, finally found that the rim had a tiny crack in it.
    3) It might be that the chainring bolts need tightening / a little copper grease.

    if all else fails contact the place where you got it from - wiggle?
  • Bunneh
    Bunneh Posts: 1,329
    I have a similar problem with creaking and I've narrowed it down to the cassette. I suspect some Muc Off or GT85 has removed the grease and it's making a rattling sound. I can't get the cassette off myself since I only have the removal tool not the chainwhip so can't be sure but I'm pretty sure it's the cassette when I put load on it. When I spin it it sounds hollow and very 'clean'. Off to the LBS for a check tomorrow.
  • Variado
    Variado Posts: 107
    D'oh - after a long session of 'intervals' ... stop, adjust, sprint, repeat ... it turned out to be the pedals being slightly loose. Hence the noise getting worse when I was out of the saddle.
  • Yeah check the chainring bolts and put some grease on them, i've have this a couple of times and narrowed it down to them...cant believe shimano don't grease all metal on metal bolts, but seemingly they dont.
  • Bunneh
    Bunneh Posts: 1,329
    Sadly my problem hasn't cleared up. Cassette regreased, new bottom bracket, everything greased and tightened etc, still got a loud creaking from the back wheel. I'm quite worried about it but the LBS thinks it'll quiet down once the BB has settled in. That sounds wrong to me.
  • bazbadger
    bazbadger Posts: 553
    You checked the headset?

    Can creak in time with the pedals - makes you think it's the pedals!

    Or look at the freewheel.

    Both headset and freewheel have been a source of creaks on my bike.

    It's a right pig to trace a creak on a bike.
    Mens agitat molem
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    Check the rear skewer is tight enough, that's a common source of creaks. It should be quite difficult to fully close, not to the poiot that you need leverage to close or open it though.
  • Bunneh
    Bunneh Posts: 1,329
    Headset is fine and the freewheel has been stripped down and rebuilt. I'll check the skewer but it's unlikely since the LBS fitted everything back together; I would hope they knew what they were doing :)