Creaking when climbing out of the saddle.

Ringo 68

I gave my Cube Agree a bit of a wash the other day, nothing too serious, just a good going over with soapy water and a sponge followed by a good rinse and left it to dry in the sun for 20 minutes. I didn't take the wheels off.

Since then, every time I get out of the saddle on a hill there is a creaking noise coming from the front of the bike around the bars/stem/fork/wheels area.

Any ideas?

canoas

Looks like pressure on the handlebars/stem. If you've checked the bolts are tight, which I gather you already have. Then take off the stem, check for cracks firstly and also remove from handlebar check for cracks on handlebar.

See if the expandable plug inside the carbon fork has not risen, think it needs a 5/6mm allen key to remove expandable plug. Once removed check for cracks, if no cracks probably wasn't tight enough, place back in and use about 5nm with a torque wrench or I just use feel tighten back on. (Put grease on the bolt inside of Expandable plug, not essential...grease stem bolts).

Most of time its just a expandable plug that has come loose, happens a lot on rough roads can come loose overtime...you should always check the above every 3 months approx.

If not this at least you've maintained your stem. I do approx 10,000km a year and do these checks last thing you want is a stemn coming loose coming down at 80kmph!

Herbsman

HOW OLD IS THE BIKE? COULD IT BE A WORN HEADSET BEARING?!?!

I had the same problem and the headset needed replacing.

Buckled_Rims

By "soapy water" I hope you don't mean fairy liquid type soap! This is a degreaser (ie cleaning the fat off the pans and dishes) and could have degreased any thin lubricant from a bearing ring. Probably best to check the headset and the BB for enough grease. Also, the last time my bike developed a creak as I stood out of the saddle it was the BB not tight enough.

Ringo 68

Thanks for the replies.

The bike has only done 450 miles and is only 6 weeks old. I did notice the stem spacers were lose so slackened off the stem, tightened down the fork plug and retightened the stem....didn't help. I will stip it down properly and check everything.

I did use Fairy :oops: but certainly didn't go mad with it, just a light clean.

The bike is due in for its 6 week check next week so if I can't find anything I will mention it to the shop.

crescent

As above, sounds like the soapy water is the key here. Cleaning your bike is good practice but it is important to dewater and lubricate afterwards. Washing up liquid is designed to remove oil and grease and it sounds like I has done so, possibly around the headset area.

Cheers

thegreatdivide

I gave my Wilier Cento Uno a major wash after the Etape Caledonia (using Muc Off) and then went out on a ride. About half way in I started to hear a loud creak coming from the front of the bike whenever I got out of the saddle. Turned out the headset needed cleaned out as some of the dirt had worked its way in then regreased. No creak after that :-)

So yeah, get your LBS to regrease the headset.

Norris-wf

I had a very similar problem, couldn't figure it out. Thought is was headset, crank, bottom bracket etc. turned out to be the gear cable creaking in the down tube holder. Put a spot of grease in there, problem solved. Yours may not be as simple, but it surprised me