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Slight "tick/cick" I need help before I go insane!

Seriously...I am going to throw the bike in the river!  3

So...I have a Specialized Allez Elite which is giving off the faintest clicl/pop/tick on my left when riding (its very quiet...but to me is unbearable). It's not even as loud as the tick of a watch, but it's deafening to me!

Now, please bear with me, I know I sound like a madman, but I am at a loss...I have taken apart the all the usual culprits...pedals, cleats,l tightened saddle, headset, cleaned everything...swapped the pedals completely, rode a test with different shoes and it is still there...I have checked the internal cabling to ensure it isn't rattling...all good...!

Now the thing is, it doesn't sound like any of these normal sounds you would expect...its no a mechanical click or creak...it is the faintest sound, and seems to occur when the left pedal crosses just about 12 o clock...even so, I have now convinced myself it isn't coming from the pedals...I even tried as I say changing the pedals completely, and have just been out in flip flops and its still there!

To my ear it 100% sounds like it is coming from left handlebar end or near the shifter or break...or "inside" the handlebars...I have removed the end caps and rode, still there, tried with brakes pulled on and off...still there...

You can't "feel" the click...the ride is silky smooth, but it is seriously driving me insane...my ear is very sensitive...I can't even have a watch in a drawer in the bedroom or it will keep me awake!.....this is now ruining my riding  2

Has ANYONE got ANY ideas...? I beg you...  1

Update...So...the plot thickens

Just been out for a quick 30miles to try to get to the bottom of it...still no joy...however.

It only happens when I am seated AND holding the handlebars. Let go of the handlebars..stops..stand and pedal...stops. I stopped a couple of times and tweaked the saddle position, I even stopped and undid all the bolts and loosened and retightened the handlebars. No joy  2

I appreciate everyones comments, but I really dont think it is anything rubbing, or BB or derailer, it just isn't that kind of sound. The only thing I can compare it too is that air bubble pop you get when you crack your fingers, but much fainter...this is ridiculous I know!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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30 comments

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Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
0 likes

I thought my BB was knackered but it turned out to be internal cable routing. When cracking on I'll tend to probably put too much into the bars and move them slightly so it corresponded with pedal strokes. It wasn't much of a sound but it was annoying. It was only when I stripped the bike down on my stand I accidently moved the bars and it made the same noise.

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Spokesperson | 4 years ago
0 likes

I know this one!! Or at least I had a similar issue that was resolved after months of me agonising over it. It was the end of the derailleur cable on the RIGHT side of my bike that touched my right pedal as I passed it. It was the slightest of touches but was enough to resonate through the frame and annoy the heck out of me. I couldn't locate the source of the click. Theresa from Mosquito Bikes in Islington sussed it out in seconds when about four other bike mechanics said they were baffled (is she/are they still there? This was years ago).

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Spokesperson replied to Spokesperson | 4 years ago
0 likes

PS you just shorten the derailleur cable, or bend it in a bit so it doesn't hit your pedal/cycle shoe.

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Woldsman | 4 years ago
2 likes

Undo then retighten the front (and why not rear) QR skewer? 

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ibr17xvii replied to Woldsman | 4 years ago
0 likes

Woldsman wrote:

Undo then retighten the front (and why not rear) QR skewer? 

Light coating of grease on them as well doesn't hurt particularly on the ends.

I had a clicking noise a while ago that went as soon as I reseated the wheel & greased the QR's front & back.

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peted76 replied to ibr17xvii | 4 years ago
2 likes

And do em up tight! I've had clicking with cheap 'lightweight QR;s before - a bike needs decent QR skewers.

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Richard_pics replied to Woldsman | 4 years ago
1 like

Woldsman wrote:

Undo then retighten the front (and why not rear) QR skewer? 

 

Id put my money on this being the culprit!

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Drinfinity | 4 years ago
1 like

So the noise changes depending on where your weight is - no weight or lots of weight on the front end suggests headset or front axle to me. I've been spending lockdown chasing creaks on various of the family bikes, especially coming out of the back of a cross season. Pretty much silent now. So far:

Four bottom brackets 

Freehub bearings, and greasing ratchet/pawls

Tightened drive side rear dropout, and greased threads on axle

Greased and tightened direct mount chainring

Loctite on chainring bolts

Headset check

Spokes - found two loose ones, also a bit of lube on the crossovers

Seatpost greasing

Pedal threads - copper slip again

Tested pedals using soft soled shoes to eliminate cleat noise as source

Tightened lock rings on SRAM cassettes (XD especially needed more grease and more torque)

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Flâneur | 4 years ago
1 like

If you've checked your drivetrain, seatpost & handlebars, check your headset next. I had this once. Nearly drove me insane tracking it down

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No Sweat | 4 years ago
3 likes

I have a Specialised Langster - it had a click, which seemed to coincide with crank revolutions. I sequentially swapped out the pedals, installed a new BB, swapped out the freewheel, new chain and chainring. It still clicked.
I took apart the headset bearing, and found a cracked ball-bearing (crappy loose ball-bearings)! I knocked out the horrible Specialized headset and fitted a new set of sealed bearings - no click! It seems that the slight regular movement of the steering with pedalling was enough to cause the bearing to click.
Laborious and expensive, but it's now practically a new bike.

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Barraob1 | 4 years ago
1 like

I've a similar click noise on my bike, not constant but... A bike mechanic suggested that it's not always the bottom bracket but can be wheel/spoke related.

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Podc | 4 years ago
1 like

Saddle rails? Had a squeak from where the rail went into the saddle body. Squirt of lube (GT-85) sorted it temporarily.

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nniff | 4 years ago
1 like

Seat post - it's nearly always the seat post if it's not an obvious candidate.  Especially as it happens when you're seated, although this is not a necessary condition for a creaking seat post.  Take it out, clean both it and the tube and replace.

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brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes

It's not just the pedal bearing, is it?

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benbrangwyn | 4 years ago
2 likes

Have you tightened the chainring bolts? Often a culprit.

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TheFatAndTheFurious | 4 years ago
0 likes

I had this, right down to the "stand and pedal - stops".

It was the seating of the grommet where the rear brake cable exited the (aluminium) frame on the top tube. It was a hard plastic fitting, and there was just enough flex in the frame for it to rub against a coarse edge of that fitting. If I stood, or pedaled with the brakes on, the frame didn't quite move in the same way and the noise stopped. 

Found it by accident slapping the frame in frustration on a ride after having dismantled everything for the N'th time. 

Removed the grommet and put a dab of grease on it and the edges of the hole in the frame, and silence.

Hope you find it...

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stampz replied to TheFatAndTheFurious | 4 years ago
0 likes

Interesting, thanks!

Going to check all these little nuances today

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dolly | 4 years ago
1 like

I had a creak. Fitted a new bb. Swapped pedals. Tried different shoes. Dismantled seatpost, cleaned, greased, reassembled. Dismantled crankset, removed rings, cleaned, greased, etc. Checked bars and stem. Still had a creak. Drove me mad. Turned out to be the rear skewer. Cleaned, bit of copper slip, do it up quite tight, all good. You live and learn. I feel your pain though.

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stampz | 4 years ago
1 like

So...the plot thickens

Just been out for a quick 30miles to try to get to the bottom of it...still no joy...however.

It only happens when I am seated AND holding the handlebars. Let go of the handlebars..stops..stand and pedal...stops. I stopped a couple of times and tweaked the saddle position, I even stopped and undid all the bolts and loosened and retightened the handlebars. No joy  2

I appreciate everyones comments, but I really dont think it is anything rubbing, or BB or derailer, it just isn't that kind of sound. The only thing I can compare it too is that air bubble pop you get when you crack your fingers, but much fainter...this is ridiculous I know!

Avatar
ktache replied to stampz | 4 years ago
1 like

It probably isn't, but is never a bad idea to do regularly anyway, but clean and grease (or carbonny stuff if it's that way) your seatpost.  Even if it's not the source of the noise it will stop it binding and destroying your soul.

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srchar replied to stampz | 4 years ago
0 likes

Two things it could be that you don't say you've checked:

  • Saddle rail clamp (undo/light lube/tighten)
  • The saddle itself (dab of lube where the rails attach to the base)
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nniff replied to stampz | 4 years ago
1 like

So have you actually taken the seat post out, cleaned it all and re-positioned it? My money is still on that

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check12 | 4 years ago
3 likes

oil your ankle

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Podc | 4 years ago
3 likes

Front derailleur cable end hitting crank arm?

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peted76 | 4 years ago
1 like

Nothing to add, but I feel for you Brother! 

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Joe Totale | 4 years ago
3 likes

If you haven't read this already, the solution may be contained here:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html

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pmurden | 4 years ago
0 likes

Bottom bracket????? Apologies if this has been checked.

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waldner71 replied to pmurden | 4 years ago
0 likes

Bookmarked this thread! Hope you get it sorted. One of the sources of ticking noise when pedal goes down on left (after checking /greasing all bolts, seat post pedals and BB) was rear wheel QR Axle not tight enough after rear tyre replacement- Could have sworn was coming from left hand crank/BB, but no, was just the rear QR axle!!

 

 

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Hirsute replied to waldner71 | 4 years ago
1 like

Since you bookmark it, I'll add in my 2.
After replacing BB and pedals traced it to not quite tight enough rear sprockets ( only heard under load up inclines).
Clicking noise at low speed up hill turned out to be a dynaplug brass end tubeless repair that had come off inside. I think at normal speed, it sat in the tyre and didn't drop.

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ktache replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

Ooohh, dynaplug ends.  Ive had the little bit that Mavic put over the join in their rims come loose, inside the rim.  At speed no noise, only when the going gets slow do the move about and make noise.  Dribbleing in a bit of superglue stopped it.

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