Shut Up Your Bike

The 5 most common noises you hear while riding and how to silence them.
By Jenny Skorcz, Shop Girl


A creaking and clicking bike isn't just annoying-your buddies will start making excuses to exclude you and your noisemaker from the Saturday ride-it could also put a hurtin' on your wallet if you choose to ignore it. Before your rackety rig costs you friends and money, listen closely and silence your ride with these simple steps.

You hear: Clicking

From the: Pedals

Most likely:Your bearings are dry or worn.

Do this: Following the instructions that came with your pedals, remove the spindle from the pedal body. Clean, dry and regrease all bearings (below). Reinstall the spindle into the pedal body.

If that doesn't work: You've probably ridden too long on loose or dry bearings, and now those surfaces are damaged beyond repair. Take your pedals to a shop and have the bearings and bearing hardware replaced by a professional.

Don't ignore it: The damage could extend to the pedal spindle or body, costing you a new set of pedals, not just new bearings.


You hear: Screaking

From the: Handlebar

Most likely: There's movement between the bar and stem.

Do this: Remove the stem binder bolt(s), slide the bar out from the stem, wipe the bar and stem with alcohol or a degreaser such as Clean Streak (below), grease the bolt(s), reinstall and torque to manufacturer specs.

If that doesn't work: The size of your bar may not be compatible with the size of your stem.

Don't ignore it: Your bar could slip mid-ride and hurl you over the front of your bike.


You hear: Creaking

From the: Bottom bracket

Most likely: A crank arm or the bot-tom bracket cup is loose.

Do this: Using a torque wrench, secure crank bolts to proper torque spec (below).

If that doesn't work: Remove cranks and bottom bracket cups. Apply a medium thread locker to cup threads, clean the crank and spindle interface with alcohol and a clean rag, grease bolts, and reinstall everything to proper torque specs.

Don't ignore it: Your next purchase will be a new set of cranks.


You hear: Squeaking

From the: Seat Area

Most likely: The saddle is loose or sus_pension pivots are dry.

Do this: Remove the seat from the clamp. Clean the rails and clamp with alcohol and a clean rag (below), then grease and resecure the bolt.

If that doesn't work: Remove the suspension pivot bolts and hardware, and clean them with alcohol and a clean rag. Then regrease and reinstall.

Don't ignore it: You'll be making a trip to Best Buy for a high-quality set of headphones.



You hear: Squealing

From the: Brakes

Most likely: Your rim and/or brake pads are cruddy.

Do this: Clean both sides of the rim or rotor with alcohol or a degreaser and a clean rag.

If that doesn't work: Generously sand rubber brake pads with 100-grit sandpaper (above) or lightly rub disc pads with a clean Scotch-Brite pad.

Don't ignore it: Your friends will never ride with you again.

March 2005

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