Crazy mystery chirping screeching noise

[Deleted member 121159]

Hi, My road bike is making a crazy mystery chirping screeching noise and for the life of me I can't figure out where it's coming from. It's really difficult to explain the problem to a local bike shop person as the noise only starts when I start cycling. Anyway they don't seem very interested.

I uploaded the sound here:
View: https://soundcloud.com/steve-choi-859347784/sets/bike-noise


1. The noise didn't gradually grow louder. It suddenly appeared one rainy day and is still here.

2. It starts when I get up to a good speed. It continues even when I'm coasting.

3. Spinning the wheels when the bike is mounted to the stand does not create the noise. (So my weight on the bike must have something to do with it.)

4. It's not the brakes. The noise is separate from whatever noise the brakes make.

5. It's not the tyres. My bike has disc brakes and there's nothing rubbing against the rim or the tyres.

6. The noise is not constant. It can be gone for a few days and come back. It visits the bike when it wants to.

Am I hearing things or can you also hear it in the audio file? How do I get rid of it?? Somebody help me please!

 

[Oldhippy]

Haunted bicycle?

 

[cougie uk]

Ah sounded to me like a tyre rubbing on the frame. Are you sure there's no rub marks on the side of the tyres ?

 

[Mike_P]

If not a rubbing tyre could it be head tube related?

 

[Deleted member 121159]

Haunted bicycle?

My best guess at the moment

 

[Deleted member 121159]

Ah sounded to me like a tyre rubbing on the frame. Are you sure there's no rub marks on the side of the tyres ?

I'll check again, thank you!

 

[Deleted member 121159]

If not a rubbing tyre could it be head tube related?

Hello Mike

Do you mean something inside the head tube? Sorry I'm not very knowledgeable about bike components!

 

[Broadside]

Check the rubber seals on the end of the axles. These usually remain static while the wheel rotates and can make similar sounds. A couple of drops of light oil between the rubber seal and rotating wheel will make it go silent.

 

[Dolorous Edd]

Welcome. I can't really help you with your bike noise, but I am very interested in following the reactions to your interesting avatar.

 

[fossyant]

Seized sealed bearing somewhere. Wheels, BB and jockeys ASAP.

 

[Punkawallah]

Sounds rubber/plastic to me. As tyre rub has already been suggested (wheels not square/tight in the dropouts?), could the jockey wheels on the derailleur need greasing? When wet the noise goes away, when they dry out it comes back. Good luck, anyway :-)

 

[Ridgeway]

Just played this noise, both dogs woke up and 2 out 3 cats came running into the living room, i guess looking for a rodent

Hamster powered e-bike ?

 

[Deleted member 121159]

Check the rubber seals on the end of the axles. These usually remain static while the wheel rotates and can make similar sounds. A couple of drops of light oil between the rubber seal and rotating wheel will make it go silent.

Hello Broadside

Do you mean on the wheels? I've got QR skewers not thru-axles. I've took them out, cleaned them and greased them yesterday. Are you talking about different axles?

 

[Deleted member 121159]

Seized sealed bearing somewhere. Wheels, BB and jockeys ASAP.

Hello, thanks for the suggestion! I'll try and check them out.

 

[Deleted member 121159]

Sounds rubber/plastic to me. As tyre rub has already been suggested (wheels not square/tight in the dropouts?), could the jockey wheels on the derailleur need greasing? When wet the noise goes away, when they dry out it comes back. Good luck, anyway :-)

Hello

I'll try tightening up the skewers tomorrow. But I'm a bit sceptical about the jockey wheels as the noise persists when I'm coasting. Thanks!