Clicking with hard pedalling...

jj said:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started
about a week ago.

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise
does not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the
pressure of the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke,
stroke - click'. Often it seems to happen in between the pressure
stroke in pedalling, and seems slightly associated with the right
side stroke.

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner
flange would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested
it in the small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that
setting.

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such
as when I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the
start of the ride. The bike has only 500miles on it.

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How
would I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

Is your foot hitting the FD cable end by any chance?

Next, I'd check / snug up all the chainring bolts and the BB (and then the
crank bolts, of course). If it still keeps clicking, I'd take it in to the
shop and see what they have to say.

I hate clicks 'n creaks... BS (really do)

I spent some time trying to figure out a "click" and finally discovered
I was hitting the heel of my shoe on the bike at each stroke!

Quoted message said:

Next, I'd check / snug up all the chainring bolts and the BB (and then the
crank bolts, of course). If it still keeps clicking, I'd take it in to the
shop and see what they have to say.

Assuming you're riding clipless, also check the bolts which attach the
cleats to your shoe.

Chris Neary
[email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

Check your bottom bracket to see if it may have come loose and is
screwing out. I have had that happen.

Colorado Bicycler said:

I spent some time trying to figure out a "click" and finally discovered
I was hitting the heel of my shoe on the bike at each stroke!

I'm riding clipless and I'll check for that, but I doubt it because it just
started happening. I've got pretty good clearance between my cycling shoes
(Diadora) and the frame. Thanks.

jj

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 08:22:55 -0800, Chris Neary <[email hidden] >

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Next, I'd check / snug up all the chainring bolts and the BB (and then the
crank bolts, of course). If it still keeps clicking, I'd take it in to the
shop and see what they have to say.

Assuming you're riding clipless, also check the bolts which attach the
cleats to your shoe.

Chris Neary
[email hidden]

Done. Tight. Thanks.

jj

Quoted message said:

Check your bottom bracket to see if it may have come loose and is
screwing out. I have had that happen.

How do I do that?

jj

jj said:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise does
not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the pressure of
the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke, stroke - click'. Often
it seems to happen in between the pressure stroke in pedalling, and seems
slightly associated with the right side stroke.

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner flange
would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested it in the
small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that setting.

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such as when
I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the start of the ride.
The bike has only 500miles on it.

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How would
I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

TIA

jj

You've gotten a lot of good suggestions. One really low-tech thing I
might suggest: can you put it on a stand (or can somebody hold the
bike up while you pedal) to see if you can duplicate the problem with
you off the bike? You can put a surprising amount of force on a
pedal--even with the wheels off the ground--in a 53/2x combo.

Certainly, it's not the same as riding, but--if you get lucky and can
duplicate it while you're nose-to-cranks--it'll make diagnosis (or at
least elimination) easier.

Good luck!

jj said:

Quoted message said:

Check your bottom bracket to see if it may have come loose and is
screwing out. I have had that happen.

How do I do that?

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml#bottom%20bracket

jj said:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

My wild guesses are:

loose pedal
loose chainring bolt
gimpy spd mechanism.

677
"Neil Brooks" wrote: (clip)can duplicate it while you're nose-to-cranks
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If it's caused by something flexing, you may be able to make the sound by
standing on the pedals with the brakes locked. If it's caused by something
clicking by something else, they I would put the bike on a trainer, so you
can ride it while someone else is nose-to-cranks.

If you can get the click to happen while you are not moving down the road, I
would suggest a stethoscope to help isolate it. Harbor Freight sells a
mechanic's stethoscope pretty cheap, and I have found it very useful around
all kinds of machines for locating squeaks and clicks.

jj said:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during

harder

Quoted message said:

pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started

about a

Quoted message said:

week ago.

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise

does

Quoted message said:

not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the

pressure of

Quoted message said:

the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke, stroke - click'.

Often

Quoted message said:

it seems to happen in between the pressure stroke in pedalling, and

seems

Quoted message said:

slightly associated with the right side stroke.

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner

flange

Quoted message said:

would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested it in

the

Quoted message said:

small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that setting.

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such

as when

Quoted message said:

I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the start of the

ride.

Quoted message said:

The bike has only 500miles on it.

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How

would

Quoted message said:

I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

Clicks are notoriously hard to track down, it's a process of
elimination. Some things to try:

Pedal standing up -- eliminate seat/clamp, seatpost/clamp
Pedal one legged -- eliminate cleat, pedal bearings
See if you can get the noise in all gear combo's.
Push/pull on bars try to get click.

Make sure chainring bolts are tight.
Make sure the cassette lockring is tight (also, no play in cassette).

Often this click comes from the BB/BB shell threaded interface. The
only way to quiet this is to remove and lubricate -- some say use
plumber's teflon tape.

In article <[email hidden]>,

jj said:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

It's aperiodic

Maybe a stiff chain link, causing the rear der
to flick when it passes through?

Stiff links can often be detected by, with the bike
stationary, turning the cranks backward and watching
the rear derailer for any sudden lurches.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Check the crank bolts. If they are coming loose the clicking
indicates some wear is occuring and it needs to be stopped fast or
you'll end up replacing your crank/bb.

jj said:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

Quoted message said:

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise does
not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the pressure of
the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke, stroke - click'. Often
it seems to happen in between the pressure stroke in pedalling, and seems
slightly associated with the right side stroke.

Quoted message said:

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner flange
would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested it in the
small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that setting.

Quoted message said:

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such as when
I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the start of the ride.
The bike has only 500miles on it.

Quoted message said:

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How would
I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

I regularly experience this kind of clicking under the circumstances
you describe, and it seems to be associated with a loose and/or
drying pedal axle/bearing assembly. I don't know what kind of pedals
you use, but I've had this problem ever since I started riding with
SPD pedals. (I also get it with WTB's "SPD-compatible" pedals.)
I've quieted the pedals by removing the axle and bearing assembly
from the pedal body--you'll need a special tool for SPD pedals--and
adding grease to the assembly, especially between the large plastic
sleeve and the axle where the clearance seems to increase as the
pedals age.

I doubt it's a serious problem, but it is annoying.

--
Bill Bushnell
http://pobox.com/~bushnell/

Bill Bushnell said:

jj said:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

Quoted message said:

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise does
not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the pressure of
the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke, stroke - click'. Often
it seems to happen in between the pressure stroke in pedalling, and seems
slightly associated with the right side stroke.

Quoted message said:

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner flange
would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested it in the
small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that setting.

Quoted message said:

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such as when
I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the start of the ride.
The bike has only 500miles on it.

Quoted message said:

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How would
I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

I regularly experience this kind of clicking under the circumstances
you describe, and it seems to be associated with a loose and/or
drying pedal axle/bearing assembly. I don't know what kind of pedals
you use, but I've had this problem ever since I started riding with
SPD pedals. (I also get it with WTB's "SPD-compatible" pedals.)
I've quieted the pedals by removing the axle and bearing assembly
from the pedal body--you'll need a special tool for SPD pedals--and
adding grease to the assembly, especially between the large plastic
sleeve and the axle where the clearance seems to increase as the
pedals age.

I doubt it's a serious problem, but it is annoying.

They are SPD, Shimano 520s. I'll copy this info when I take it in to the
LBS for its 4 month initial maintenence. Thanks!

jj

Try tightening cranks or bottom bracket.
Ride on
Kim