I cured my creaking - Cannodnale Synapse alloy

[pclay]

For a few days I had a terrible creaking coming from my Cannondale synapse Alloy 2014.

Having convinced myself it was my seat post, I took it out and regressed it.

The creaking continued.

I decided it was coming from the handlebar area. So I watched the GCN video in headset servicing, and dropped out my forks. Would you Adam & Eve it, the headset bearings were about as dry as Ghandi's flip flop.

With the bearings having no markings, I got out my steel ruler and measured them. I ordered some new bearings of ebay size 1-1/8'' Size:30.2X41.8X6.5/45°X45° and replaced the dried up old ones.

Creaking resolved. Silence is golden.

So please remember to look after your balls. I will be servicing mine once a year from now on.

 

[ColinJ]

You can fix the annoying ticking noise form my CAAD5 for me now!

I have convinced myself that it is from the chainring bolts, but maybe it is from elsewhere. I certainly never considered looking at the headset.

Actually, I don't think I have touched that headset since getting the bike nearly 15 years ago so it is probably time to clean it up and regrease it. It is mainly a fair weather bike so it hasn't had much exposure to water

 

[User33236]

A bearing that was removed from Mrs SG's Lapierre headset after she complained about a creak she claimed was the bottom bracket.

 

[Pale Rider]

Presumably none of the bikes mentioned so far have mudguards.

I understand why you wouldn't want guards on a road bike, but a narrow guard only a few inches long tucked under the fork would keep most road water and debris out of the headset.

 

[400bhp]

For a few days I had a terrible creaking coming from my Cannondale synapse Alloy 2014.

Having convinced myself it was my seat post, I took it out and regressed it.

The creaking continued.

I decided it was coming from the handlebar area. So I watched the GCN video in headset servicing, and dropped out my forks. Would you Adam & Eve it, the headset bearings were about as dry as Ghandi's flip flop.

With the bearings having no markings, I got out my steel ruler and measured them. I ordered some new bearings of ebay size 1-1/8'' Size:30.2X41.8X6.5/45°X45° and replaced the dried up old ones.

Creaking resolved. Silence is golden.

So please remember to look after your balls. I will be servicing mine once a year from now on.

Is this off a CAAD? I've noticed the headset bearings don't last very long on my CAAD 9.

 

[pclay]

My existing bearings where 2 and a half years old, and had 8850 miles on them. I had never looked at them before, never serviced them, never even dropped a fork out before.

I do use SKS Blumels mudguards during the winter, but take them off during the summer. I also regularly wash my bike down with a hosepipe, so perhaps this contributed to the demise of the bearings.

I guess 8 and half thousand miles is not too bad on a set of bearings, especially when the replacements are about £6 each.

 

[ColinJ]

Presumably none of the bikes mentioned so far have mudguards.

I understand why you wouldn't want guards on a road bike, but a narrow guard only a few inches long tucked under the fork would keep most road water and debris out of the headset.

Blimey - for years I had wondered about the tiny mudguards that sometimes used to be fitted to old bikes. Clearly they wouldn't keep the rider dry OR riders behind. I hadn't thought about them keeping crud out of headsets (and brakes)!

 

[Pale Rider]

Blimey - for years I had wondered about the tiny mudguards that sometimes used to be fitted to old bikes. Clearly they wouldn't keep the rider dry OR riders behind. I hadn't thought about them keeping crud out of headsets (and brakes)!

In mountain bike circles the Mucky Nutz Face Fender is well-regarded.

It protects the headset and is just long enough to keep muddy spray off your face.

Some mountain bikes have a plastic plug in the fork crown for headset protection.

http://www.muckynutz.com/mudguards/face_fender

 

[ColinJ]

In mountain bike circles the Mucky Nutz Face Fender is well-regarded.

It protects the headset and is just long enough to keep muddy spray off your face.

Some mountain bikes have a plastic plug in the fork crown for headset protection.

http://www.muckynutz.com/mudguards/face_fender

I have a Crudcatcher, which does a similar job, on the down tube of my MTB.

 

[Fab Foodie]

The headset IMO is one of the most critical part of a bicycle and one that's rarely given tve care or spend that it should. It's the critical connection between fork and frame. Any slight play or damage means that the frame system as a whole doesn't work as it should especially vibration absorption.

Look after your headset, keep it properly adjusted and buy the best you can afford.

 

[summerdays]

I had a creak that had been getting worse, and suddenly decided it could be the seat post... Took it out, bit of grease and I couldn't believe the difference that it could make... Bliss!

 

[gavroche]

I have some creaking on my 5 year old Specialized so I will grease the seat post first. If that doesn't work, I will get my trusted LBS, (a woman) to check the headset. Thanks for this post pclay, very useful.

 

[jonny jeez]

You can fix the annoying ticking noise form my CAAD5 for me now!

I have convinced myself that it is from the chainring bolts, but maybe it is from elsewhere. I certainly never considered looking at the headset.

Actually, I don't think I have touched that headset since getting the bike nearly 15 years ago so it is probably time to clean it up and regrease it. It is mainly a fair weather bike so it hasn't had much exposure to water

its not the headset.

 

[ColinJ]

its not the headset.

So, is it ...?

• The chainring bolts
• The stem
• The bars
• The chain
• The bottom bracket
• The cranks/crank bolts
• The pedals/cleats
• The seat post
• The saddle
• My knees/ankles

 

[goo_mason]

My latest 'BB or possibly seatpost creak' turned out to be coming from the back wheel, as I hadn't got the QR as tight as it should have been after putting my new wheels on.

Finding out where these noises come from is often a mystery worthy of Scooby Doo or - wait for it - Jonathan 'Creek' ;-)