Problem with Handlebars/Stem?

[128K]

So, this week i finally started commuting to work (Hurrah!). I've completed four return journeys on my bike so far (Probably total mileage of only about 30 miles), and i've noticed this evening that theres an annoying creak coming from the handlebars.

This is the bike i've got: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-urban-2-2010/

It does have an adjustable handlebar stem, and i've noticed on these forums that this could be the issue. I cannot tighten the adjuster up any further, and the creak seems to happen when i shift my weight from one side of the bars to the other. It sounds like its coming from the clamp that holds the bars to the stem (It has four bolts that fasten a cap over the bar). This is literally the only bit i fastened on myself, as the bike was pre assembled.

Am i worrying in-nevessarily here, is this usual, or does it sound dangerous? Could i have perhaps under/overtightened the bolts? I used to be a mechanical engineer, but literally know nothing about bikes (lol), but i thought tightening 4 bolts would be easy enough

Ideally, i think i need to take it to the lbs at the weekend, but i'm worried it'll collapse under me on the 4 journeys i have to make before then

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

If the four bolts holding the handle bars are tight, and there's no twisting movement, I doubt it's that. I've no experience with adjustable stems, but I'd say they would be prone to flexing under weight, so I'd say the noise is from the stem.

I'd take the front off, the four bolts, put it back on, if it still does it, get a fixed stem and put that on. As long as you've isolated the noise to that part of the bike, because noises on a bike can come from all sorts of places, saddles, seat posts, pedals, bottom brackets, crank arms, your shoes lol!

I wouldn't not ride it, as long as you've checked the tightness of the nuts located around the bike, it's more of an annoyance than a danger.