Re: Creaking Cannondale CAAD3 ?

Steve Sr. said:

I have a 2000 Cannondale CAAD3 touring frame with a Shimano 952 XTR
tripple crank and bottom bracket. The bike has about 13,000 miles on
it and this crank and BB has about 6-8,000 miles of the total.

During a recent 500 mile week long tour it has developed a creaking
sound that is synchronous with pedal rotation. The sound is really
nasty sounding and is obviously resonating in the frame tubing which
gives it the annoying "tinny" sound

The sound is much more pronounced with light spinning pedal pressure
when I am seated on the saddle. With no pedal pressure the sound is
gone. It is also greatly reduced or eliminated by standing on the
pedals.

At first I thought that this was a problem with the seatpost or seat
since the sound seemed to go away when standing on the pedals. I have
since disassembled and greased the post, frame clamp, and saddle rails
and the creaking sound is still there.

My thoughts now are turning to the bottom bracket as a source of the
noise. While on the tour I had the support staff tighten the BB which
made no difference at all. So now I am begining to wonder if it is the
BB or something else. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?

A cycling buddy that works at a bike shop suggested reinstalling the
BB with teflon tape to solve the problem. Does this sound like a good
idea? I would appreciate some feedback before tearing everything
apart.

The only cure is to take everything apart, check it for cracks, and
reassemble with grease (anti-seize is good for threads). Sod's Law
dictated that the similar creak on my touring bike was the BB moving
against the frame shell, which is the last and most difficult thing to
disassemble!