Frame "knocking" at high speeds

junglist_matty

Yesterday evening was out riding and for the first half was riding into the wind then turned and the final 15miles were with a tailwind, I put some power down and got the speed around about 30mph. As I hit a small section of small road "bumps" (as in road imperfections that you don't really notice unless you're going at speed) I heard a knocking noise coming from the frame and then again on other bumps.... Got quite concerned and slowed the speed a bit and the noise all but disappeared.

Frame is Canyon Ultimate AL, never heard this noise before, covered just over 3000 miles in the last 6 months since new.

Sound is almost like two bits of solid metal knocking against eachother, not the usual resonating type sound that you would expect if something was hitting the frame.... I double checked that everything is tight; wheels, seatpost, nothing has any play.... Am baffled by the noise, checked frame for any visible damage / cracks but can't see anything wrong.

Any ideas?

junglist_matty

...

goonz

nuts on the tube valves?

nuts for the bidon holders?

jgsi

Check headset for any play

FoldingJoe

Gear\Brake cables hitting the frame, although the sound you describe doesn't fit.

junglist_matty

goonz wrote:

nuts on the tube valves?

nuts for the bidon holders?

I run the tube valves bare,
The bottle cages are tight; I checked them,

JGSI wrote:

Check headset for any play

Will double check this, although the noise sounds like it's coming from the rear end, either way, it's something i didn't check!

smidsy

Chain hitting chainstays?

goonz

You dont by chance have mud guards on your bike that may have come loose?

AchillesLeftKnee

Given how windy it was, any noise from the bike's going to be really noticeable with a tailwind. Chain hitting something maybe? Metal pocket / bag contents clonking together? Frame pump rattling?

danlikesbikes

What wheels do you have?

junglist_matty

I also thought all of these things.... Definitely wasn't chain hitting, I looked down and the chain wasn't flapping about enough and the noise wasn't a "chain slap" noise.

I've got Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels - which is what I thought and looked straight at the wheel on hearing the knocking the first time, but all looked fine and after checking, it's not loose or anything.... It's wierd because it's only happening at high speed, I can hop the bike and not hear the same knocking noise when it lands which is surely the same sort of force as a small bump at high speed.

g00se

It sounds like one of those noises where you would check the headset. I don't want to teach you how to suck eggs, but you do know the way to check for a loose headset? When it's fractionally loose, it can be a bit hard to notice, more of a feel thing.

It wouldn't be something simple like a rubberised light mounting letting the solid part of the light/mount lift and bang back against the frame or bars?

iPete

Is it high speed or more when putting all power down?

Creaky crankset/bb or wheel flex?

Pumpkin Positive

My focus cayo used to make a similar noise to this. It turned out to be the internally routed cables knocking the inside of the frame. It's very disconcerting until you know what the source is.

andi1363

I had something similar and spent ages trying to find it. It was carbon fibre saddle clamp .

danlikesbikes

junglist_matty wrote:

I also thought all of these things.... Definitely wasn't chain hitting, I looked down and the chain wasn't flapping about enough and the noise wasn't a "chain slap" noise.

I've got Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels - which is what I thought and looked straight at the wheel on hearing the knocking the first time, but all looked fine and after checking, it's not loose or anything.... It's wierd because it's only happening at high speed, I can hop the bike and not hear the same knocking noise when it lands which is surely the same sort of force as a small bump at high speed.

OK so same wheels I had an issue with myself & was the rim itself. When the make the rim for these wheels they have small metal piece glued in which can become loose. Don't have my wheels at home right now (in storage for house move) but think there is even a sticker at the point, but might have that wrong. It should not come loose but did on mine rear wheel & I thought for ages it was the frame but my LBS diagnosed the issue for me straight away. Noise only happens as certain speeds but not at slow speeds.

LBS mechanic advised me is rare but can happen & if you take the wheel off and remove the skewer hold the wheel horizontal in front of you and shake like your starting to move a hola hoop if you feel the knocking through the rim then thats your issue. Or hold the wheel vertical with hands as 9-5 position and slowly rotate the wheel rim and if you hear/feel some movement from within the rim.

Mine was swapped over by the LBS straight away and the old one was sent back to Mavic.

Might not be the same issue but thought I'd ask what wheels you have. I'm not a technical expert myself when it comes to bikes but as you have the same wheels as me and a similar problem might be worth checking.

junglist_matty

iPete wrote:

Is it high speed or more when putting all power down?

Creaky crankset/bb or wheel flex?

I was putting a lot of power through the pedals at the time, I also thought of creaky crankset, but I really don't think it's that.... What "exactly" do you mean by wheel flex?

Pumpkin Positive wrote:

My focus cayo used to make a similar noise to this. It turned out to be the internally routed cables knocking the inside of the frame. It's very disconcerting until you know what the source is.

It could well be that as mine has internally routed cables; thanks, never thought of that one either

Danlikesbikes wrote:

junglist_matty wrote:

I also thought all of these things.... Definitely wasn't chain hitting, I looked down and the chain wasn't flapping about enough and the noise wasn't a "chain slap" noise.

I've got Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels - which is what I thought and looked straight at the wheel on hearing the knocking the first time, but all looked fine and after checking, it's not loose or anything.... It's wierd because it's only happening at high speed, I can hop the bike and not hear the same knocking noise when it lands which is surely the same sort of force as a small bump at high speed.

OK so same wheels I had an issue with myself & was the rim itself. When the make the rim for these wheels they have small metal piece glued in which can become loose. Don't have my wheels at home right now (in storage for house move) but think there is even a sticker at the point, but might have that wrong. It should not come loose but did on mine rear wheel & I thought for ages it was the frame but my LBS diagnosed the issue for me straight away. Noise only happens as certain speeds but not at slow speeds.

LBS mechanic advised me is rare but can happen & if you take the wheel off and remove the skewer hold the wheel horizontal in front of you and shake like your starting to move a hola hoop if you feel the knocking through the rim then thats your issue. Or hold the wheel vertical with hands as 9-5 position and slowly rotate the wheel rim and if you hear/feel some movement from within the rim.

Mine was swapped over by the LBS straight away and the old one was sent back to Mavic.

Might not be the same issue but thought I'd ask what wheels you have. I'm not a technical expert myself when it comes to bikes but as you have the same wheels as me and a similar problem might be worth checking.

Thanks, I'll also check this then!

Pumpkin Positive

junglist_matty wrote:

Pumpkin Positive wrote:

My focus cayo used to make a similar noise to this. It turned out to be the internally routed cables knocking the inside of the frame. It's very disconcerting until you know what the source is.

It could well be that as mine has internally routed cables; thanks, never thought of that one either

I could induce my bike to replicate the sound by picking up the front end and dropping it onto the ground from about 6 inches - try that.

iPete

junglist_matty wrote:

iPete wrote:

Is it high speed or more when putting all power down?

Creaky crankset/bb or wheel flex?

I was putting a lot of power through the pedals at the time, I also thought of creaky crankset, but I really don't think it's that.... What "exactly" do you mean by wheel flex?

The wheel flexing under stress but this usually results in rubbing the brakes, not a knocking noise...

junglist_matty

iPete wrote:

The wheel flexing under stress but this usually results in rubbing the brakes, not a knocking noise...

That's what I thought you meant; it's definitely not that though,

wac100

Have you checked your bottom bracket?
I had a knocking sound coming home on the bike last night and checked over the bike when I got in. When I held the cranks in place I noticed a bit of side to side play so assumed that was the cause of the knocking sound. Took it into the LBS first thing this morning for a replacement BB and it should be ready for picking up in the afternoon, that's service for you.

Essex Man

+1 for BB. I had a knocking noise that was worse the more power went to the cranks. Removed cranks (BB is BB30) and regreased, then all was fine.

lawrences

Essex Man wrote:

+1 for BB. I had a knocking noise that was worse the more power went to the cranks. Removed cranks (BB is BB30) and regreased, then all was fine.

Was that a sort of creaking/groaning noise as you put more power in? because I think I have that at the moment on my bb30.