I went over a nasty pothole recently - double puncture and a torn tyre. Somehow managed to stay upright.
Ever since I've had a continuous creak when pedalling. I can reproduce the creak by pressing down alternately on the left and right pedals. The creak seems to be coming from the down tube.
Now, I know there are plenty of reasons why a crankset can creak. I have a SRAM Force 1, and they're apparently notorious for creaking. I also know that sound can 'travel'. My concern, however, is there might be damage to the down tube and that the pedals are exerting a twisting action on it which results in the creak and might eventually cause it to fail. There's no cracks that I can see. Is it possible for carbon fibre to creak in this way?
Andy
Does carbon fibre creak?
Re: Does carbon fibre creak?
Creaking carbon bikes are the stuff of legend for creaking. If you've had the wheels off, try your QRs first if you've got them. Could be the seat post of anything, that's the hard part, finding it.
Supporter of the A10 corridor cycling campaign serving Royston to Cambridge http://a10corridorcycle.com. Never knew gardening secateurs were an essential part of the on bike tool kit until I took up campaigning.....
-
- Posts: 5818
- Joined: 18 Aug 2015, 7:05pm
Re: Does carbon fibre creak?
AndyHenderson wrote:I went over a nasty pothole recently - double puncture and a torn tyre. Somehow managed to stay upright.
Ever since I've had a continuous creak when pedalling. I can reproduce the creak by pressing down alternately on the left and right pedals. The creak seems to be coming from the down tube.
Now, I know there are plenty of reasons why a crankset can creak. I have a SRAM Force 1, and they're apparently notorious for creaking. I also know that sound can 'travel'. My concern, however, is there might be damage to the down tube and that the pedals are exerting a twisting action on it which results in the creak and might eventually cause it to fail. There's no cracks that I can see. Is it possible for carbon fibre to creak in this way?
Andy
I think it's pretty much inconceivable a carbon frame would be damaged by hitting a pot hole.
Re: Does carbon fibre creak?
roubaixtuesday wrote:AndyHenderson wrote:I went over a nasty pothole recently - double puncture and a torn tyre. Somehow managed to stay upright.
Ever since I've had a continuous creak when pedalling. I can reproduce the creak by pressing down alternately on the left and right pedals. The creak seems to be coming from the down tube.
Now, I know there are plenty of reasons why a crankset can creak. I have a SRAM Force 1, and they're apparently notorious for creaking. I also know that sound can 'travel'. My concern, however, is there might be damage to the down tube and that the pedals are exerting a twisting action on it which results in the creak and might eventually cause it to fail. There's no cracks that I can see. Is it possible for carbon fibre to creak in this way?
Andy
I think it's pretty much inconceivable a carbon frame would be damaged by hitting a pot hole.
but not impossible
That said, i'd start with the Q/r before searching further afield, its the only thing that has potentially changed from pre pot hole to after
Convention? what's that then?
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
-
- Posts: 27
- Joined: 15 Oct 2013, 11:40am
Re: Does carbon fibre creak?
Thanks for the replies. Not sure whether to be reassured, or not.
Re: quick release - first thing I checked. I know where to look for creaks, I'm just worried the frame might be damaged.
Andy
Re: quick release - first thing I checked. I know where to look for creaks, I'm just worried the frame might be damaged.
Andy
-
- Posts: 1903
- Joined: 1 Feb 2018, 10:20am
Re: Does carbon fibre creak?
My guess is a bent QR.
Re: Does carbon fibre creak?
being on the cautious side i'd check both the fork blades and, crucially, the steerer tube.
would you happen to know the steerer material? and hence if it is bonded to the fork crown.
would you happen to know the steerer material? and hence if it is bonded to the fork crown.
Re: Does carbon fibre creak?
can you make it creak by pressing on the pedals when not seated, i.e. when reacting the load into the saddle, that narrows down the range of possibilities a bit. It is certainly not impossible for carbon to be damaged or to creak once it is. In the grand scheme of things it is much more likely to be 'something else' but that covers a wide range of things.
If you cannot identify and correct the source of the creak then you should at least be mindful of the places where it could have the worst consequences; mig's advice about inspecting the fork is along these lines; if the fork is damaged and gives way whilst riding it could kill you. Many other types of failure are less dangerous than this.
cheers
If you cannot identify and correct the source of the creak then you should at least be mindful of the places where it could have the worst consequences; mig's advice about inspecting the fork is along these lines; if the fork is damaged and gives way whilst riding it could kill you. Many other types of failure are less dangerous than this.
cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~