Clang when hitting rough spots

Jorg Lueke said:

I definitely hear a loud clang when riding over rougher spots on
shoddy pavement. It sounds like it comes from right underneath me.
Would that be the stem bouncing a bit against the frame or some other
cause. It doesn't seem like it's coming chain.

It probably IS the chain, clanking off the chain stay. Other culprits
include your saddle bag, cleat/pedal noise (if unweighting), cyclometer
slightly loose in bracket, cables hitting the frame, etc. etc. etc.

It's the chain. :-P

Bill Sornson said:

Jorg Lueke said:

I definitely hear a loud clang when riding over rougher spots on
shoddy pavement. It sounds like it comes from right underneath me.
Would that be the stem bouncing a bit against the frame or some other
cause. It doesn't seem like it's coming chain.

It probably IS the chain, clanking off the chain stay. Other culprits
include your saddle bag, cleat/pedal noise (if unweighting), cyclometer
slightly loose in bracket, cables hitting the frame, etc. etc. etc.

It's the chain. :-P

I suppose that is easy enough to fix then. So I shoul stop being lazy
and put in a chain guard. THEN if I still here it move on to the next
set of causes.

Jorg Lueke said:

I definitely hear a loud clang when riding over rougher spots on
shoddy pavement. It sounds like it comes from right underneath me.
Would that be the stem bouncing a bit against the frame or some other
cause. It doesn't seem like it's coming chain.

Do you have those rubber donuts on the rear brake cable where it runs
along the top tube? That is also a common cause of clanking.

Jorg Lueke said:

Bill Sornson said:

Jorg Lueke said:

I definitely hear a loud clang when riding over rougher spots on
shoddy pavement. It sounds like it comes from right underneath me.
Would that be the stem bouncing a bit against the frame or some
other cause. It doesn't seem like it's coming chain.

It probably IS the chain, clanking off the chain stay. Other
culprits include your saddle bag, cleat/pedal noise (if
unweighting), cyclometer slightly loose in bracket, cables hitting
the frame, etc. etc. etc.

It's the chain. :-P

I suppose that is easy enough to fix then. So I shoul stop being lazy
and put in a chain guard. THEN if I still here it move on to the next
set of causes.

Nah, a chain guard will likely be louder! 🙂

Bounce the bike on your garage floor or driveway and listen for the clang.
Look carefully and do it again. Chains move/bounce around for a reason, of
course, but if it's way too slack you should take a link (or even two) out.
You might need a shop to help with this if you don't have a chain tool; have
them show you how to use one.

If it's not the chain, then you want to rule out anything mechanical like a
loose headset or bolt or front derailleur cage; like I said it could just be
your saddle bag bouncing around if you have one.

Let us know what you find!

Bill S.

Bill Sornson said:

Jorg Lueke said:

Bill Sornson said:

Jorg Lueke wrote:
> I definitely hear a loud clang when riding over rougher spots on
> shoddy pavement. It sounds like it comes from right underneath me.
> Would that be the stem bouncing a bit against the frame or some
> other cause. It doesn't seem like it's coming chain.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It probably IS the chain, clanking off the chain stay. Other
culprits include your saddle bag, cleat/pedal noise (if
unweighting), cyclometer slightly loose in bracket, cables hitting
the frame, etc. etc. etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's the chain. :-P

Quoted message said:

I suppose that is easy enough to fix then. So I shoul stop being lazy
and put in a chain guard. THEN if I still here it move on to the next
set of causes.

Nah, a chain guard will likely be louder! 🙂

Bounce the bike on your garage floor or driveway and listen for the clang.
Look carefully and do it again. Chains move/bounce around for a reason, of
course, but if it's way too slack you should take a link (or even two) out.
You might need a shop to help with this if you don't have a chain tool; have
them show you how to use one.

If it's not the chain, then you want to rule out anything mechanical like a
loose headset or bolt or front derailleur cage; like I said it could just be
your saddle bag bouncing around if you have one.

Let us know what you find!

Bill S.

I am ebarassed to report the actual cause. Last night I was doing the
monthly maintenance routine and suddenly I noticed that the end of my
hand pump was pretty loose. Loose enough to clang right against the
frame with a decent enough vibration. Duh! Today I fixed that issue
and the problem is gone. Funny how one can miss the obvious.

Jorg Lueke said:

Bill Sornson said:

Jorg Lueke said:

On Apr 30, 8:34 am, "Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote:
> Jorg Lueke wrote:
>> I definitely hear a loud clang when riding over rougher spots on
>> shoddy pavement. It sounds like it comes from right underneath
>> me. Would that be the stem bouncing a bit against the frame or
>> some other cause. It doesn't seem like it's coming chain.

Quoted message said:

> It probably IS the chain, clanking off the chain stay. Other
> culprits include your saddle bag, cleat/pedal noise (if
> unweighting), cyclometer slightly loose in bracket, cables hitting
> the frame, etc. etc. etc.

Quoted message said:

> It's the chain. :-P

Quoted message said:

I suppose that is easy enough to fix then. So I shoul stop being
lazy and put in a chain guard. THEN if I still here it move on to
the next set of causes.

Nah, a chain guard will likely be louder! 🙂

Bounce the bike on your garage floor or driveway and listen for the
clang. Look carefully and do it again. Chains move/bounce around
for a reason, of course, but if it's way too slack you should take a
link (or even two) out. You might need a shop to help with this if
you don't have a chain tool; have them show you how to use one.

If it's not the chain, then you want to rule out anything mechanical
like a loose headset or bolt or front derailleur cage; like I said
it could just be your saddle bag bouncing around if you have one.

Let us know what you find!

Bill S.

I am ebarassed to report the actual cause. Last night I was doing the
monthly maintenance routine and suddenly I noticed that the end of my
hand pump was pretty loose. Loose enough to clang right against the
frame with a decent enough vibration. Duh! Today I fixed that issue
and the problem is gone. Funny how one can miss the obvious.

AM/PM? Snooze? SEPARATE VOLUME CONTROLS!

Nice <eg>