Fixing annoying noises

Learn a new lockdown skill and become your own bike mechanic

With lockdown limiting our access to the genius of bike workshop mechanics, this is the perfect opportunity for you to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to maintain your own bike.

From hard-learned experience, the best advice we can offer to help avoid serious problems occurring is to regularly clean and lube your bike, and be watchful for the first signs of any issues so you can nip them in the bud. Care for your bike and it will pay you back many times over.

So, if you discover some infuriating creaks and squeaks from an unknown source on your bike, don’t just ignore them as it’s likely to be one of the following six reasons. This easy step-bystep guide will help you keep your bike running smoothly and quietly.

01

Crank bolts

A common cause of creaking is loose crank bolts, particularly on square taper and splined axles. Two-piece style external bottom bracket cranks, such as Shimano’s Hollowtech II, can creak if pinch bolts are loose. Remove and clean the crank bolts. Check if the bottom bracket has developed bearing play; if so, replace it. Check cranks with separate spiders for tightness because loose spiders will creak.

02 Pedals

Other causes of noise can include loose/improperly adjusted pedal bearings, and worn bearings. Spinning the pedals and getting a crunchy-feeling spindle will diagnose a bearing problem. Adjust/ replace the bearings and/or give the pedal a good service. Lubing the pedal mechanism and springs can help too.

03

Frame fittings

Check all bolts are tight and if cables are rattling excessively consider using cable donuts (available loose from most bike shops or online). Unthread the cable inner from the outer, thread on as many donuts as necessary, rethread the remainder through the outer, then cinch up and readjust the mechs/brakes.

04

Seatpost & saddle

A creak when pedalling hard in the saddle is often due to the saddle rails not being clamped tightly enough in the seatpost clamp. Securing them should sort this out. If they’re torqued correctly and there is still creaking, it may be that the seat clamp binder may need lubing to prevent dry creaking or tightening up.

05

Stem & handlebars

A loose stem or bar can creak if the threads of the bolts need to be greased. Remove, clean, grease the threads and re-secure. Do the bolts up bit by bit, rotating around each of the bolts in turn – don’t just cinch one up to torque and then the other. Don’t over-tighten clamping bolts when fitting carbon bars.

06 Headset

If there’s play in the headset undo the stem steerer clamp and tighten the headset bearing preload cap with an Allen key. If the headset cups are fitted incorrectly check the head tube isn’t ovalised. If it is true, remove the headset cups using a cup removal tool, grease and refit the cups with a headset press.