Creaking BB.

[Caruut]

So, I've had my current bike about 6 months, got it off the online store Ribble.

But, whenever I come out of the saddle (or even just putting in a lot of power in the saddle, sometimes), I can hear a creaking from somewhere. I'm pretty sure it's the bottom bracket, but I'm not that sure. The bike has an aluminium frame with carbon fork and carbon stays, running a Campy Veloce groupset. The chain also tends to make a fair bit of noise, though I've lubed it a fair bit recently.

I can't really afford to go to a bike shop for every little problem, and I like fixing things myself, so if possible I'd rather do that. Is this a known and/or easily fixable issue?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Martin318is]

Its something that would have been sorted by a purchase at an LBS (Local Bike Store). One of the things you would have received with your purchase is a free service after a short period after buying the bike. The reason for this is that for want of a better word, parts bed down through initial use. Key areas are: cable stretch makes shifting performance degrade and some bolts, etc may become loose. The "Free first service" is designed to tighten all that stuff back up again so you can then enjoy your bike for a good while before the next service. (same as a car actually)

In your case, it sounds like one or more of the following are a little loose and/or require lubrication: Bottom bracket cups, cranks, pedals, chainring bolts. Easiest way to deal with it if you arent familiar with the components yourself is to get a bike mechanic to look at it. If you can't do that, start with the easy stuff first and lube and tighten parts until the noise goes away.

So, given I am guessing you bought the bike without pedals and then put your own on once you received it, take them off and grease the thread before putting them back on. If that doesn't work it gets a little more complicated. Cranksets and Bottom brackets are partly brand specific and can require specific tools. If you dont have the tools, it can very well turn out cheaper for you to get the bike serviced than to buy them yourself. It also gives you the chance to build a relationship with your LBS that can help you in the future.

(This isn't designed to be a patronising answer, I am just being comprehensive as its a common question and others may well see it in the future.)

 

[Fatclimber]

... The chain also tends to make a fair bit of noise, though I've lubed it a fair bit recently...

Chain noise can mean a few different things. First make sure your rear derailleur is aligned with your cassette properly. If it is, get a chain gauge tool and check to see if your chain has stretched more than recommended. Stretched chains make a lot of racket and on top of that they will shorten the life of your cassette and chainrings. Don't let it go too long. If it's neither of those, possibly your shifters indexing has worn out. Campy is great in that you can rebuild their shifters, however, I don't think that applies to Veloce.

You may want to consider getting a comprehensive maintenance book, all of your issues will be addressed. Plus many more. I like Zinn's book but haven't seen any others.

 

[Kiara is a rational girl]

In your case, it sounds like one or more of the following are a little loose and/or require lubrication: Bottom bracket cups, cranks, pedals, chainring bolts.

Or it could be a quick release skewer, or his handle bars or stem, or his shifters.

Is this a known and/or easily fixable issue?

Yeah. Buy a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. You're ****ing in the wind if you think anyone will be able to fix your bike over the internet, from your description, beyond saying, 'check everything'. From your post, the course of action most likely to yield success would seem to be to hand your bike over to someone with a bit of mechanical aptitude.

Thanks in advance.

No problem.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

So, I've had my current bike about 6 months, got it off the online store Ribble.

But, whenever I come out of the saddle (or even just putting in a lot of power in the saddle, sometimes), I can hear a creaking from somewhere. I'm pretty sure it's the bottom bracket, but I'm not that sure. The bike has an aluminium frame with carbon fork and carbon stays, running a Campy Veloce groupset. The chain also tends to make a fair bit of noise, though I've lubed it a fair bit recently.

I can't really afford to go to a bike shop for every little problem, and I like fixing things myself, so if possible I'd rather do that. Is this a known and/or easily fixable issue?

Thanks in advance.

Noises can be anything, take forever to find. Most I see are pedal/cleat tho, not BB BUT these online bikes are sometimes slapped together by the guy lowest on their food chain but.

-Noise standing and sitting?

-every pedal turn or every few?

-any cog, any ring?

Then-

-ride bike w/o cycling shoes-noise still there?

-Swap pedals-noise still there?

-swap rear wheel-noise still there?

Then go to BB
For Veloce, if new, need specific tools to pull crank.

 

[Fiemme]

Creaking generally comes from lack of detail during the build process. It is more than likely associated with the failure to lubricate components when assembling the bike and/or incorrect tightening of components. Creaking generally does not come from the chain as these are lubricated at the manufacturing process. Chain noise is generally created by the front or rear derailleur not adjusted correctly and/or the gear cables not installed correctly. Keep in mind Campag freewheels are generally quite noise when freewheeling. The pawls in the freewheel tend to be quite noisy compared to other brands.

My suggestion would be to strip the components and re-build making sure you lubricate all threaded components and tighten to correct torque settings.

Creaking comes about by two or more components rubbing against each other. Continual use will eventual result in some type of mechanical failure.

Being an aluminium bike I would also make sure the seat post is lubricated not so much for creaking issues but for aluminium fusion issues. (If the seatpost is aluminium as well). Also check the frame for cracks. If its a new frame this should be unlikely.

 

[Caruut]

Noises can be anything, take forever to find. Most I see are pedal/cleat tho, not BB BUT these online bikes are sometimes slapped together by the guy lowest on their food chain but.

-Noise standing and sitting?

-every pedal turn or every few?

-any cog, any ring?

Then-

-ride bike w/o cycling shoes-noise still there?

-Swap pedals-noise still there?

-swap rear wheel-noise still there?

Then go to BB
For Veloce, if new, need specific tools to pull crank.

Currently riding clips - getting proper shoes next week. It can be any cog, any ring, standing or sitting, but only when I'm pressing very hard on the pedal. It happens on both sides, so I'm pretty sure it's not the pedals. The creaking feels like its right underneath me.

 

[Caruut]

After reading everything here, I'm resigned to go to the bike shop, I think. I'll try and ask them what it actually was that did it.

 

[DirtyWorks]

The creaking feels like its right underneath me.

Standing or sitting eh? If there was more/different noise sitting than standing I'd say the seat post clamp.

From simplest to complicated:

-remove pedals and clean surfaces. Try a little WD 40 where the pedal cage is joined to the pedal spindle.

-remove chainrings clean everything. Lube bolt threads lightly.

-rebuild bottom bracket.

My guess is the bottom bracket.

 

[Caruut]

Standing or sitting eh? If there was more/different noise sitting than standing I'd say the seat post clamp.

From simplest to complicated:

-remove pedals and clean surfaces. Try a little WD 40 where the pedal cage is joined to the pedal spindle.

-remove chainrings clean everything. Lube bolt threads lightly.

-rebuild bottom bracket.

My guess is the bottom bracket.

The noise only comes when I am really pushing the pedals - generally when standing up.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Currently riding clips - getting proper shoes next week. It can be any cog, any ring, standing or sitting, but only when I'm pressing very hard on the pedal. It happens on both sides, so I'm pretty sure it's not the pedals. The creaking feels like its right underneath me.

Could also be the rear wheel(QRs?, lube them) or the cogset(tight?, lube on outside of FH body?), 'Could' be pedals, hard to say w/o swapping them and riding.

Could be BB also, just trying to the easy ones first.

 

[avanti]

................................
Being an aluminium bike I would also make sure the seat post is lubricated not so much for creaking issues but for aluminium fusion issues. (If the seatpost is aluminium as well). Also check the frame for cracks. If its a new frame this should be unlikely.

Very true - I had a squeak on my alum frame Cervelo and it took me a year before I dicovered it was my seatpost. Now I grease the end of the post whenever the squeak returns about every 8-months.

 

[richwagmn]

So, I've had my current bike about 6 months, got it off the online store Ribble.

But, whenever I come out of the saddle (or even just putting in a lot of power in the saddle, sometimes), I can hear a creaking from somewhere. I'm pretty sure it's the bottom bracket, but I'm not that sure. The bike has an aluminium frame with carbon fork and carbon stays, running a Campy Veloce groupset. The chain also tends to make a fair bit of noise, though I've lubed it a fair bit recently.

I can't really afford to go to a bike shop for every little problem, and I like fixing things myself, so if possible I'd rather do that. Is this a known and/or easily fixable issue?

Thanks in advance.

Sure. Though bike noises can be hard to trace down. You'd be surprised how many things can creak on a bike. On a previous bike I thought I had a BB creak and it turned out to be the rear quick release (only really noticeable out of the saddle or when giving it the mustard (as RD4 would say). A little grease on the drop outs and it was gone.

You'll need a special tool to tighten your BB if you think that's the problem. But you should really take it out and clean the shell and follow Campy's instructions for reassembly. If you don't want to visit bike shops to have this done then you'll need to start to purchase some tools anyways.

You really have to work methodically to find and eliminate creaks.

 

[ElChingon]

Here's a pretty thorough listing and solution or look into helper:

http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

A friend once took his bike in as a joke with a noise complaint to a bike shop. He showed the owner the bike and produced the creak/noise, it had to be very quiet to hear the noise but it was there. They mounted the bike on the stand and started to inspect, everything seemed fine, no loose anything or anything obvious. So before the dismantling of the BB took place some pseudo turns were done to reproduce the noise and nothing, then the bike owner got closer and we could hear it again if we were very quiet. As the show wrench was about to take the cranks off and begin his work the bike owner said hey be quiet and we all got close to the BB but no turning of the cranks, WTH we heard the noise again! Well the joker was bending his artificial knee to simulate the noise which you could hear only if it was very quiet. Luckily the shop wrench had a good sense of humor (which was known) so it was a good laugh for all.

 

[biker77]

is your bike bb30? If you have a FSA crank you need to retorque the crank bolt (every 3-4 rides as it is a pita).

 

[Caruut]

Sure. Though bike noises can be hard to trace down. You'd be surprised how many things can creak on a bike. On a previous bike I thought I had a BB creak and it turned out to be the rear quick release (only really noticeable out of the saddle or when giving it the mustard (as RD4 would say). A little grease on the drop outs and it was gone.

You'll need a special tool to tighten your BB if you think that's the problem. But you should really take it out and clean the shell and follow Campy's instructions for reassembly. If you don't want to visit bike shops to have this done then you'll need to start to purchase some tools anyways.

You really have to work methodically to find and eliminate creaks.

Not that it makes any difference, but I don't use QR skewers. Since I don't race/have a spare wheel just lying around, the extra time to use a hex key is pretty negligible - especially compared with the knee to the nuts that is having a wheel go missing a while away from home.

I've got a BB tool, so that's not really an issue. I'll have a strip down in a couple of days, see what I can do. If all else fails, guess I'll have to take it to the shop.

 

[Elagabalus]

Also, have you ridden in the rain or other semi-aquatic environments recently? Did the creak begin after that?

Biker77 brings up an interesting point. Is your bike equipped with full Veloce groupset or does it have different cranks, wheels, other misc bits. I would definitely check the crank bolts and the left crankarm/BB bolt to see if they are loose. You may not have to disassemble anything.

But first, do as BK suggested and get your trainers on and ride around to see if it's the pedal-shoe connection.

Even if your skewers are not QR you still should grease the rod that goes through the axle.

 

[Caruut]

Not getting shoes 'til later this week, so it's not that

It's the full gruppo.

Will grease the skewers and all when I strip it down later this week.