Ongoing Bottom Bracket Issue with Trek Checkpoint Gravel Bike

[Marioheir]

Thanks for the tips! I went through some of this earlier and agree—shoe laces and straps can cause noise, but I always hide the laces inside my shoes to eliminate that. The backpack straps can be ruled out too since the noise happens without it too

During my last inspection at Trek, they acknowledged the clicking noise and adjusted the preload on the bottom bracket. It was fine for about a month, but the noise is back.

I haven’t swapped the cranks or large chainring, and Trek said it wasn’t necessary. However, if the noise isn’t eliminated soon, my next step will be to replace the cranks, large chainring, and axle… but that would be pricey. The worst part is if I replace everything and the noise still exists!

[Jezrant]

What are the straps (?) flapping under your thighs that can be seen in your YouTube video?

[cycleruk]

Similar problem to one I have just had.
Consistent faint click at the same point in the chainset rotation.
Try adjusting and preloading the BB again to see if disappears.
Cured mine with a new BB but can be notoriously difficult to find the culprit.

P.S. This was a fairly cheap fix but if it didn't work I always would have a spare BB for when I need one.

[Marioheir]

The straps are from my backpack, but I’ve ridden the bike without it and still experienced this noise. Unfortunately, it sounds metallic and seems to be coming from the bottom bracket area. I’m not an expert, but during previous visits to Trek, they adjusted the preload on the bottom bracket, which worked for a short time before the problem returned. Currently, the bike is with Trek for what feels like the sixth visit, and I’m wondering what the outcome will be.…

[Jezrant]

That video is very good, but I'd make another one without the backpack to show to your Trek dealer as the left strap is in harmony with the noise. Seems to be in time with the downstroke on the NDS. If you are sure you still get the noise when riding out of the saddle, I'd make a list of possible culprits, excluding the bottom bracket and cranks initially, and systematically swap each bit one at a time with cheap or borrowed spares: NDS pedal, left shoe, seat post, saddle. You will get it sorted with or without Trek's help. Good luck with that one and don't forget to report back here the outcome.

[fastpedaller]

shoeplate?

[cycleruk]

shoeplate?

Just uses flat pedals. !

Does the bike have a front derailleur?
(some Checkpoints can be a single or double chainset.)

[Barrowman]

Various noises my CTC group have tracked down

Spoke nipple with a stripped thread that creaked periodically on a Tandem.

Loose crank ring fixing bolt

End of bottom bracket axle coming off (that was me, possibly due to my old habit of doing them up as tight as I could) (quality Axle, proper Stronglight one , polished races )

Old frame with unknown history , head tube parted company with down tube ( the noise started on the day it all came apart)

[Marioheir]

I’ll record the ride without the backpack, but I’m 100% sure it’s not the straps. For example, last summer in Richmond, London, I had the same noise. I went to Pearson Performance, but they were too busy, so I went to London Cycle Workshop next door. An engineer rode the bike, acknowledged the knocking metallic sound, and adjusted the cranks. He suggested changing the bottom bracket, but even after it was replaced, the noise persisted.

The noise is strange—it shows up for a few minutes, usually in the morning or uphill, and then disappears. I ride about 12 hours a week, and it mostly happens on the small chainring. My front derailleur isn’t hitting the crank, as there are no scratch marks. Also, I don’t use clipless shoes, just mountain/gravel bike shoes with a rubber sole for flat pedals.

[Barrowman]

Just thought of another fault

Broken roller in a chain .

There's hours of fun to be had tracking down a mystery noise

[TrevA]

I’ll wager that it’s a problem with the bottom bracket itself. Trek Checkpoints are famous for having either undersized or oversized bottom bracket shells, which means the bearing moves in the shell if it’s oversized, or the bearing gets crushed if it’s undersized. I know someone who had the same problem with his Checkpoint, it was cured by having a Hambini bottom bracket shell in the frame. Not cheap, a couple of hundred pounds, but it cured the problem. The Trek Checkpoint owner has a YouTube channel and made a video about it:

https://youtu.be/Iu6_VyfOxE8?si=H-hgi24KdaCxGUJ9

[Marioheir]

Hello, and thanks for the update! I think it’s more likely the issue you mentioned. I’ll forward this to Trek, as they’re working on my bike this week, to save them some time.

[Stradageek]

Just to add to the many suggestions; I had an intermittent click that I was convinced was the BB but was eventually traced to the bearings on one of the pedals after a suggestion from this forum.

I rebuilt and re-greased the pedals and it went away, never to return.

[Marioheir]

Hello pedals were replaced and click still continue

[rareposter]

Hello, and thanks for the update! I think it’s more likely the issue you mentioned. I’ll forward this to Trek, as they’re working on my bike this week, to save them some time.

That one (the oversized/undersized BB possibility) is worth considerably more investigation.

There's a YouTube channel called Mapdec Cycle Works, they're a high-end and very detailed bike mechanics place in Kendal and they quite often post "quality control" type videos showing how they measure BB tolerances. It requires some VERY high precision tools of the sort that most shops simply don't have but they are quite open in calling out brands on QC issues.

Ultimately, if this cannot be resolved (and depending on the warranty situation with the bike), it'd be worth giving Mapdec a call.