Is that noise coming from your bike? Find & fix it !

A cycling enthusiast knows how annoying it is to hear the annoying clicking sound made by the bike pedals every time the crank gets turned.

The noise occurs especially when the bike pedals are being used under high loads – for example, during a sprint or uphill. Some perceive cracking noises as creaking noises and squeaking noises by others. It’s also safe to say that you are afraid of what these shrill sounds mean, and you are also startled.

A variety of factors can cause bike pedals to crack. Other bicycle components often cause problems with bicycle pedals. Along with pedals, cassettes, chains, quick release skewers, and spoke holes are well-known sources of squeaking.

This blog post has the purpose of presenting you with some solutions to enable you to finally drive more or less smoothly on streets and through forests again without drawing the attention of all of nature on yourself.

DIRTY CHAIN – FIXING THE BIKE CHAIN NOISE

The chain needs to be lubricated if it is squeaky. Depending on your bike’s size, you may need to lean it against a wall or put it in a stand to allow the pedals to spin freely. While pedaling backwards, apply one drop of lube to each chain link. You will need to pedal backwards to apply lube.

Use the same pedaling position and a clean rag to wipe away excess lube before your next ride.

If your chain has severe corrosion or stiff links, your bike shop should replace it.

You probably have a dirty, grimy chain if you squeak when you pedal. It is particularly true if you did not recently oil or clean your chain.

Clean your chain with some degreaser and an old toothbrush. Apply the chain lube once you’ve removed all the grime. A rag gets used to remove any excess lubricant.

WORN BRAKE PADS – FIXING THE BIKE BRAKES

Before attempting to silence a squeak, you should ensure that your wheel is seated correctly in the fork dropout or the rear of your frame. A wheel that isn’t seated properly will align off-centre and rub on one brake pad or part of the frame.

If your wheels are true when you hear a squeak from the wheel area, it could be due to dirty or worn brake pads vibrating against the rim.

Rims need to get cleaned of their braking surfaces. Replacing your brake pads if they get worn and toeing them in toward the rim is next. Rub alcohol, or other brake solvents can be used to remove grime if the brake pads don’t need to be replaced but are dirty. After cleaning, roughen the pads with sandpaper.

BIKE PEDALS – FIXING THE CREAKY NOISE

You should add a drop of lube to the pedal springs and the spindle joint. Excess lube needs to get wiped away. Your bike shop may need to service your bearings if your pedals are grinding or stiff.

You should check your bike shoes’ cleats if lubing the pedal spring doesn’t stop the creaking. Loose cleats can generate creaky noise.

LOOSE BOTTOM BRACKET – FIX IT!

Your bike’s bottom bracket may be causing a clunking sound when you pedal.

There’s a good chance that you have a loose bottom bracket, even if it’s not a loose pedal. The crank arms must get removed to tighten the bottom bracket.

You can make the needed repair if you have bottom bracket tools by tightening the bottom bracket cups or adjusting the bearings. It may be necessary to visit your nearby bike shop if you are less experienced or do not have the necessary tools.

BIKE HANDLEBARS – FIXING THE CREAKY BARS

A loose stem bolt may cause up-and-down play in your handlebar. Using a hex wrench, use your hands to tighten the front wheel while the bike is on a stand where the bolts on your handlebar get located. Ensure that both the bottom and the top bolts get snugly tightened.

Have a qualified bike technician inspect your bike if this solution doesn’t get rid of the scratching. A crack may be the cause of the creaking.

RATLING BLOTS – FIXING THE NOISE

While riding your bike, any one of the bolts can come loose and rattle. Check all bolts in the area where you hear rattling to see if any are loose. Ensure your bottle cage is attached correctly to your bike frame by checking the bolts. Open bottle cages can generate noise.

A General Guide to Bike Maintenance

• Regularly service your bike at your local REI or other bike repair shop. If you hear clicks, creaks, and squeaks, you should get your bike inspected by a qualified mechanic before they become serious problems.

• Keep your bike well lubricated and clean to prevent wear and tear.

• You may also wish to keep a tube of paste grease, as well as a bottle of lube suitable for the conditions you ride in. Cleaners and lubes for bikes need to get frequently used to keep the noise away.

• You must use a torque wrench to ensure your bike’s bolts get tightened according to manufacturers’ specifications. Whether you’re adjusting your rotor or stem, the bolt usually states how tight it should be. After tightening the bolt to the specified torque, the wrench will release the pressure when the right tightness gets achieved. Don’t mistake an adjustable torque wrench for a Torx wrench, which is a star-shaped bit wrench.

We hope we were able to help you locate the sound source.

There may have been only one issue – the bike pedals cracked when you pedalled – if that was the case, then you were really lucky that a fix came quickly.

You have good clues and possibilities to “turn off” the noise if you follow the other steps on where such noises can occur.

Consulting an expert is the best course of action hence, gt hold of a qualified bike mechanic if none of these tips worked for you; even if it means he won’t have much fun with that type of work, your problem will get resolved.

Please feel free to comment if you have any suggestions for future posts.