Banging noise uphill?

[Alex McCarthy]

Have recently bought a secondhand steel frame road bike to get back in the saddle after 8 years of not being on a bike! It's absolutely fantastic being back on a bike.
Having done just over 25 miles in my first week, I can't help but notice that when going uphill and putting some real effort in, I hear a banging noise from either the frame or front crank, I can't quite work it out, any suggestions?

 

[helston90]

Bottom bracket?

 

[raleighnut]

Bottom bracket?

Gotta be 1st thing to check and while its out new bearings are always a good idea.

 

[Alex McCarthy]

Right, will do! Will take it to my LBS as the technical side of things are not my strong point as you may have gathered.
It's probably due a few new parts over the next few months as it is so will get it overhauled ASAP.
Thanks guys

 

[Cold]

"8 years of not being on a bike + going uphill and putting some real effort in"

Are you sure it's not your heart you can hear

 

[Bodhbh]

Like others have said, it's always been the bottom bracket developing play when that happens to me.

 

[Alex McCarthy]

Thanks for all the help, I'm looking at parts as I write this.
Will my bike be rideable for the next week or so before I get the new component fitted?

Thanks

 

[Bodhbh]

Thanks for all the help, I'm looking at parts as I write this.
Will my bike be rideable for the next week or so before I get the new component fitted?

Thanks

I always ride it for few weeks before I get sick of the knocking and get a new bottom bracket- this has been happening quite a lot using rubbish HT2 Deore bottom brackets.

 

[albion]

If it has a freewheel it often means the rear axle is near broken.

Noise can be deceptive.

 

[Alex McCarthy]

Explain please? Newbie to this.
The noise comes only when cycling uphill at the top of my pedal stroke?

 

[gbb]

Explain please? Newbie to this.
The noise comes only when cycling uphill at the top of my pedal stroke?

I was thinking In a similar vein to albions, but not the same.
Freehubs are occasionally prone to sticking, I had a similar thing when I reallyput pressure through the cranks..the freehub slips momentarily and you get a bang as it re-engages under pressure. Sometimes, but not usually you'll feel the crank slip as it failed to engage at the freehub..but not normally because it happens so quick. But this is with freehubs, not normally with freewheels.
I had an occasional sticking freehub when a previous bike was nearly new, but it passed after about a month, never to re-appear.
Alternatively, a BB on the way out can bang, as the balls move out of position in the races, bind against the next ball, then bang as they release again under some considerable pressure...this would be a more likely reason than the freehub.

Happening when the cranks at top of stroke ? That could be when maximum force is beginning to be exerted,, a most likely time for any stress to show itself.

 

[Alex McCarthy]

Thank you for all your help! Going to be replacing the bottom bracket withing the next week or so to try and solve the problem.

Will keep my progress posted

 

[tyred]

I was thinking In a similar vein to albions, but not the same.
Freehubs are occasionally prone to sticking, I had a similar thing when I reallyput pressure through the cranks..the freehub slips momentarily and you get a bang as it re-engages under pressure. Sometimes, but not usually you'll feel the crank slip as it failed to engage at the freehub..but not normally because it happens so quick. But this is with freehubs, not normally with freewheels.
I had an occasional sticking freehub when a previous bike was nearly new, but it passed after about a month, never to re-appear.
Alternatively, a BB on the way out can bang, as the balls move out of position in the races, bind against the next ball, then bang as they release again under some considerable pressure...this would be a more likely reason than the freehub.

Happening when the cranks at top of stroke ? That could be when maximum force is beginning to be exerted,, a most likely time for any stress to show itself.

I had that problem with a single speed freewheel and it took me ages to figure out what was wrong. A spray of WD40 into the freewheel body resolved it.

The OP says his bike was second hand, if it was lying in someone's garage for 20 years, it may be worth spraying a little WD40 or similar into the freewheel body but be careful not to get into the wheel bearings.

 

[HLaB]

Noise can be deceptive; it can be comming from a variety of areas, it could be the pedals, the headset, BB, etc. I have to get to the bottom of a noise like that myself; my bike makes an audible click when I throw it from side to side on a uphill sprint, silent otherwise, I'm guessing its the headset but thats only a guess.

 

[Alex McCarthy]

Have replaced the bottom bracket (adventure in itself learning how to do it) and it runs perfectly smooth now, broke it in with a wonderful 13 mile cycle down some country lanes!