Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Out the saddle clicking noise

I've had this problem before on both of my bikes, colnago c60 and v1-r, seems like it's coming from the wheels when sprinting out the saddle worst and again up hills out the saddle? Last winter my lbs narrowed it down to the salt build up in the headset area causing it.

I've tried different shoes new and old and cleats and the noise still persists, it's so annoying having to regularly sort this, I've only washed the bikes twice since they got fully stripped down and greased, could water be penetrating the bb threads? The amount of built up dust/powder within the bb and headset is a joke and seems to need constantly cleaned out?

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.

Add new comment

21 comments

Avatar
turnerjohn | 8 years ago
0 likes

I had a simlar thing....thought was the BB but turns out my rear wheel bearing need changing...worth a look....otherwise insanity becons with a click you just can't pinpoint :-s

 

Avatar
Daveyraveygravey | 8 years ago
0 likes

Interesting read, I have a similar clicking when out of the saddle, right pedal around the 6 o'clock position.  Bike is being checked out before the weekend, will talk him through these suggestions.

Avatar
racingcondor | 8 years ago
0 likes

I'll agree with a lot of the above. Stem bolts, chainring bolts are both likely, is add the cranks might be coming lose (some are notorious for it) but if it's not that then press fit bottom brackets are also known for it.

Avatar
FastFreddyFresseline | 8 years ago
0 likes

It is a known problem by Windwave. They are:-

1. Dry fitted threaded cups from the factory is one easy remedy, but you need the Colago dealer tool.

2. Setting the cups to the correct torque, again you need a Colnago delaer tool.

3. There are also sadly a couple of faulty BB issues.

I speak as an owner and victim all of the above points.

Your Colnago dealer should now be aware of these issues, but mine wasn't and still in denial  3

Avatar
dazzle | 9 years ago
1 like

I know that's one of the reasons I choose colnago with their threaded bb design...

Avatar
dazzle | 9 years ago
0 likes

I've had the headsets looked at and it's definitely not that causing the clicking noise out the saddle, must be the frame flexing and this aluminium sleeve insert working loose on both bikes inside the bb area, surprised more colnago c60 or v1-r users haven't reported this issue. Starting to wish I'd just purchased a press fit style bb bike instead of this threaded sleeve design. Hopefully there is a longer term solution to this instead of constant trips to my lbs.

Avatar
CXR94Di2 replied to dazzle | 9 years ago
0 likes
dazzle wrote:

I've had the headsets looked at and it's definitely not that causing the clicking noise out the saddle, must be the frame flexing and this aluminium sleeve insert working loose on both bikes inside the bb area, surprised more colnago c60 or v1-r users haven't reported this issue. Starting to wish I'd just purchased a press fit style bb bike instead of this threaded sleeve design. Hopefully there is a longer term solution to this instead of constant trips to my lbs.

Press fit bottom brackets are notorious for creaking clicking and generally pain in the arse , just look how many threads are about it

Avatar
tomaszosz | 9 years ago
0 likes

I have had the same issue with my V1-r. Our of the saddle clicking. Ripped apart the bottom bracket and put some grease on the threads of the inserts. The delivered frame had the sleeves monted dry. When the fame flexed the alu sleeves moved inside the steel threads and made noise. Fixed.

Lately I have had another issue with noise. The bike was noisy when riding uphill. A little carbon mounting paste on the contact area of the wheel/frame and problem solved. Silent and fast now!

Avatar
rjfrussell | 9 years ago
1 like

Knees

Avatar
dazzle | 9 years ago
0 likes

Strange when both colnago's are threaded bb's? my lbs are pretty helpful and i'm sure we'll get to the root of it eliminating things as we go, shame these annoying noises keep appearing regular for me

Avatar
Velo Care replied to dazzle | 9 years ago
0 likes
dazzle wrote:

Strange when both colnago's are threaded bb's? my lbs are pretty helpful and i'm sure we'll get to the root of it eliminating things as we go, shame these annoying noises keep appearing regular for me

Oh the joys of owning a carbon frame......

Avatar
Velo Care | 9 years ago
0 likes

I had the exact issue on mine, was driving me insane!
It was a combination of ill fitting QRs (as said make sure these are greased) and BB. I have a BB71 press fit, I removed and re fitted with loctite 641 between the shell and BB and for the time being at least I am noise free.  36

Avatar
Anthony.C | 9 years ago
0 likes

Try a bit of grease on your QRs.

Avatar
Batchy | 9 years ago
0 likes

Sometimes my PX RT58 used to do this though not always . I have recently replaced my shifters and all the internally routed cables ,inners and outers, and the silence is golden. I think that sometimes, for some unexplained reason, the internally routed cables don't seat properly and can cause an annoying creak as they move/flex inside the frame. Carbon fibre produces a distinctive high pitched sound compared to more traditional materials. So if all else fails maybe this could be the cause.

Avatar
Lee170 | 9 years ago
1 like

I had this with my new bike. Only clicking when out of the saddle, when I took my bike back for its first service at my lbs I mentioned this, the result was the headset, grease added and tightened, noise gone.
It's a bloody annoying noise.
Check the headset

Avatar
notfastenough | 9 years ago
2 likes

I suffered with this recently on my carbon trek after a crash. I took it to servicing-only place (popup bikes in Manchester, fab place) and they confirmed the drive side clicking when under load (and as it only happened when your right foot was between 3 and 6 o clock "definitely" drivetrain-related) They spent all day on it, stripped the BB, rear hub, all sorts. Eventually someone says "he crashed it, let's tighten the bars!" Sorted!

The trick, apparently, was in how sound resonates through carbon. Under certain circumstances the vibration moves through the frame and emerges as sound somewhere else entirely.

Food for thought, good luck!

Avatar
Sniffer | 9 years ago
1 like

Might be something else entirely, but symptoms are very similar to my road bike. Slightly loose headset creaks (sounds like a click). Only notice it when out of the saddle. Tighten headset, problem goes a away for a few weeks then returns.

As it seemed to be linked with pedal stroke I thought it might be the crank, BB, pedals everything. It is the headset though.

Avatar
dazzle | 9 years ago
0 likes

Some good tips there, thanks, I think my dura ace pedals could do with a service they feel horrible, loose, popping, especially bad in the little ring not under much load, my lbs reckons there is nothing to service in them? The clicking phenomena is most noticeable when your first get out the saddle and start sprinting, both bikes the same issue, different wheels, can only be the bb or headsets surely?

Avatar
crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes

Everyone will have their own, here's mine;
1) Check under the headtube/downtube junction.
I had a creak for two weeks after winning a mountain bike race. Frame had cracked.
2) Headset bearings.
Drop the forks out and check the bearings, when they get wet then rusted they creak.
3) Got low spoke count wheels?
Try a drop of oil on each spoke nipple. Then leave wheels by a radiator and rotate them every couple of hours. High tension wheels don't like getting cleaned too much, and they creak when the nipple/rim junction dries out.

Avatar
Woldsman | 9 years ago
0 likes

Check the front QR is tightened as much as possible, but still usable?

Avatar
mike the bike | 9 years ago
0 likes

One of the few benefits of my increasing deafness is that I no longer hear the little creaks and clicks that once drove me mad. If you can hang on until your sixties the problem will go away.

But, if you are determined to fix the noise, try tightening your chainring bolts. It's amazing how often they work loose. Or the pedals might need servicing?

As a rule of thumb, never believe a word spoken by a bike-shop mechanic, it's nothing to do with dust. Unless it's fairy dust of course.

Best of luck.

Latest Comments