Noisy wheels

[Chonker]

I've only done about 500miles on my new bike, a Ribble Sportive Bianco and was really pleased with it but the last couple of rides it's become worryingly noisy. I did a bit of investigation this evening and the noises I'm hearing are coming from the wheels (I swapped wheels with my girlfiend's bike and the noises went away).

The front wheel makes the occasional plinky noise, it used to just be when I stood up with most of my weight over the handlebars but it's becoming more frequent now as I go over bumps.

The rear wheel is worse, it makes a clattering noise over bumps and even sounds noisy if I spin it up with the bike on a stand.

I'm not really sure what to do now, I've plucked all the spokes and none sound rattley like they're under no tension. Could it be the hub bearings? I've been caught in the rain a couple of times recently but I figured the bearings would be sealed from water getting inside? The noise doesn't really sound like it's coming from the hubs directly but it's hard to tell, it sounds like it's coming from all over but I guess that is probably just the vibration traveling through the taught spokes and resonating the wheel.

I guess I should speak with Ribble but I really don't want to have to send them back and not be able to ride until they can ship them back to me.

 

[Chonker]

I just came across this

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

so I'm going to start with the stuff about lubricating the spoke nipples and the spoke crossover points I think.

 

[accountantpete]

Basically any new bike should be serviced after 200 miles as it may take a little while for components to bed in.

I'd try taking the front wheel off, remove the QR's and then place one end of the hub on the floor.

Then press down on the rim with hands at quarter to three - this stresses the wheel and you may hear your "plink" which is probably a loose spoke.

No idea re the rear - I'd get the LBS to have a quick look at it.

 

[Chonker]

I took out the rear wheel to check the casette was done up tightly, which it was. Turning the axle by hand it felt very notchy, not at all smooth so I took the hub apart, it has cup and cone style bearings with loose balls. I think some water must have got in because on the drive side there was hints of rust on the balls and the grease was reddish brown, I wiped everything off and put some new grease in there and it's a bit better but still a little noisy. I've been looking at hub overhaul articles and it seems I'm going to need to buy some cone spanners to give it a better go.

 

[rb58]

I had the same on my front wheel, most noticeable when our of the saddle. I dribbled a little lube onto each end of the spokes and it was suddenly silent.