Persistent Creak - Any Pointers?

[Hip Priest]

My commuter bike has developed a creak over the last couple of weeks. It occurs once with every rotation of the pedals, which suggests a pedal / BB problem, rather than anything else.

I've tightened up the crank bolts and the chainring bolts, and checked that the pedals are correctly tightened.

I guess it looks like it might be a problem with the BB itself. However, the BB is fairly new (500-1000 miles) and the bike has only recently been serviced.

I'm not confident messing with the BB myself, so has anyone got any other suggestions worth trying before I head to the bike shop?

 

[MikeG]

Is it your shoes on the pedals?

I suffered these exact same symptoms, and ended up with a wipe of vaseline on the underside of my shoes, which cured the problem.

 

[Donger]

I guess it looks like it might be a problem with the BB itself. However, the BB is fairly new (500-1000 miles) and the bike has only recently been serviced.

I'm not confident messing with the BB myself, so has anyone got any other suggestions worth trying before I head to the bike shop?

I've had a couple of occasions when I've been convinced my BB is on its way out. It's easy to convince yourself that it is, especially if the creak appears at the same point of your pedal turns. So far, I've always been surprised to find that lubing my chain thoroughly has always sorted it. The BB is not usually the problem if you don't get any lateral play when holding both pedalsfirmly and trying to rock them about..

 

[Hip Priest]

Is it your shoes on the pedals?

I suffered these exact same symptoms, and ended up with a wipe of vaseline on the underside of my shoes, which cured the problem.

That's an interesting suggestion. I've only recently fitted SPDs to the work bike. I might go round the block with a normal flat pair of shoes on, and see what happens.

 

[Hip Priest]

Right, I've tried the shoe thing, and cleaning / lubing the chain, to no avail. Cheers for the suggestions though. Another couple of things ruled out! There's no lateral play at all in the BB, which is normally what happens when my BB is on its way out, like you say.

 

[rb58]

You might think this an odd suggestion, but could be the seat post (when your weight is in a certain position). Is it still there when you stand on the pedals? Creaks are really annoying and can be hard to pinpoint. It's often a case of trial and error.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Don't want to teach you how to suck eggs, but I would take off the pedals, grease the threads and re-fit them.

 

[screenman]

More noises start from saddle rails, seat posts and where the gear cables enter the ferrules on the down tube than what they do from the obvious places. 40+ years of stopping creaky bikes has led me to this conclusion, now if only I could stop the knee's creaking.

 

[Hip Priest]

Cheers for all the replies chaps.

I managed to fix it (I think). Took the cranks off, then took the BB tool to the cups. The non-drive side was a bit a loose, so I tightened it, put it all back together and it seems that the creak has gone. I've only had a short lap of the street though, so tomorrow I'll know for sure. Thanks again.

 

[Hip Priest]

More noises start from saddle rails, seat posts and where the gear cables enter the ferrules on the down tube than what they do from the obvious places. 40+ years of stopping creaky bikes has led me to this conclusion, now if only I could stop the knee's creaking.

I had a terrible clickety-clackety sound a few months back. It was driving me insane, and I half expected the bike to fall apart at any minute. Then I realised that one of the four bolts attaching the child seat bracket to the seat tube was loose, and was rattling in the housing. Problem solved

I think my knees make a noise too, but I can't hear it over my wheezing lungs.

 

[Gravity Aided]

The wheezing lungs thing is going around. Just to tide you over to the allergy season.