Cured a creak

[Mick F]

I've had a creaking noise for a couple of weeks and blamed it on the dry and hot weather making it worse.

I've tried everything:
I listened to my pedals
I listened to my seatpost
I listened to my handle bars
I listened to my knees
I listened to my pedals

Everything I listened to, I couldn't zoom into what I could hear generally. The creaking wasn't there when I climbed hills or flew down them. It wasn't there if I went No Hands or even when I rode on the drops. It wasn't there when I rode with one foot off and one foot on. It wasn't there when I tried to figure out what it was!

It was there when I rode normally and only on the flat!

It was only there when I wasn't looking for it.
How annoying is that?

I took off my saddle and greased the clamp and greased the post and greased the seat tube.
I took out my quill stem and greased the stem and steerer tube.
I checked the quill/bar clamp bolt wedge and tightened it even more than it was tightened before.
I checked the cables and the way they were laced.
I checked my cleats - and shoes - and both pedal bearings.

Off the bike, I could flex and strain and push and pull everything I could, and nothing made any sound.

What was it that cured it this afternoon?
Been out for test ride this evening, and I've sorted it.

Have a guess what it was.

[Brucey]

chainring bolts....?

cheers

[mig]

new sunglasses

[Mick F]

Nope and nope.
Don't wear sunglasses any more when riding the bike.

One of the first things I panicked about was the chainring bolts and the crank bolts, but they were fine.
Should've listed those.

[mig]

bar end plugs

[Mick F]

Nope.

Only got one .... in the left. RH has a mirror plugged in .....

[chris3vic]

I once was driven mad by a knocking / clicking sound that made me want to smash my bike into a thousand pieces. Couldn't diagnose it no matter where I looked or what I did. Turned out to be a loose fitting in the sizing cog thing at the back of my helmet. Boy did I feel daft when I discovered it.

[mig]

new cap with creaky peak

[Mick F]

Nope.

I could pedal along on the flat creaking away, but climbing a hill it was silent. The noise sounded to be coming from the front of the bike and I couldn't recreate it when standing still and flexing stuff.

The creaking was a creaking/cracking/squeaking/groaning noise. I started to fear the worst thinking it was the steerer tube or summat! The bike frame is nearly 28years old, but the bike felt fine on the corners and climbing and braking.

[mig]

when climbing are you seated or not?

[cycleruk]

Can we assume it's on the bike?

GPS fitting?

[Mick F]

Seated.
Rarely do I stand up out of the saddle.

TBH, I didn't try it to see if it altered the creaking noise. Now I know what I know, and I know what caused it, the creak would have disappeared had I stood up.

The noise was definitely on the bike and not anything accessory to it.

Clue:
I have a Cinelli 1R quill stem.

[mig]

is it a saddle with a tensioning bolt?

[Mick F]

First thought was my Brooks, but the noise seemed different and further forward.

I took the saddle off and greased the clamp, greased the seatpost and reassembled. Next ride was as creaky as the last, so I gave the saddle a good dose of Proofide top and bottom paying much attention all the the metal bits.

No difference at all.

[mig]

pixies not involved?