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Help!
I bought a Boardman Sport road bike from Halfords a month ago, and it's started making an odd noise I can't really pinpoint in the last few days. I'm hoping for a bit of advice and things to check, as it's an 80 mile drive back to Halfords to get it checked, and if it likely to be faulty, I'd like to give them a heads up as I need it to commute on really.
Basically, there's a "tick" sort of noise from the drivetrain, but only under load. If I'm just peddling along without any real effort, it's silent and great, but if I put any real pressure on, I get a "tick" noise once every full rotation of the front crank. This to me would suggest the front crankset, but I can't see anything untoward? I've cleaned the bike once a week, and degreased the chain etc, but I've been careful to re-oil it all afterwards, and I've used spray lube in addition to cycle oil to keep things lubricated / protected.
The bike has done 450 miles since purchase, as I've logged every ride on Strava, and I'm no record breaker, so I don't think I'll have broke anything, I'm just wondering if it's worth checking anything obvious before I head back to Halfords, as it would save me time and travel!
Ta!
I bought a Boardman Sport road bike from Halfords a month ago, and it's started making an odd noise I can't really pinpoint in the last few days. I'm hoping for a bit of advice and things to check, as it's an 80 mile drive back to Halfords to get it checked, and if it likely to be faulty, I'd like to give them a heads up as I need it to commute on really.
Basically, there's a "tick" sort of noise from the drivetrain, but only under load. If I'm just peddling along without any real effort, it's silent and great, but if I put any real pressure on, I get a "tick" noise once every full rotation of the front crank. This to me would suggest the front crankset, but I can't see anything untoward? I've cleaned the bike once a week, and degreased the chain etc, but I've been careful to re-oil it all afterwards, and I've used spray lube in addition to cycle oil to keep things lubricated / protected.
The bike has done 450 miles since purchase, as I've logged every ride on Strava, and I'm no record breaker, so I don't think I'll have broke anything, I'm just wondering if it's worth checking anything obvious before I head back to Halfords, as it would save me time and travel!
Ta!
80sMatchbox said:
It's worth removing the pedals, greasing/oiling the thread and re-fitting. It cured a similar problem that I had last year...worth a try as relatively easy to do. Just remember that the left hand pedal has reverse threading!
That's a good shout, as I changed them immediately for Shimano SPD pedals when I got the bike, so I'll try that tonight!Any other things to try gratefully appreciated!
Steve vRS said:
My Giant Defy 1 does exactly the same. It is especially noticeable when standing up on the pedals during a climb or sprint.
Mine is at the LBS on Thursday so I'll let you know if they find anything.
Steve
Thanks! It would be the weekend before I get to Halfrauds anyway so that would be great.Mine is at the LBS on Thursday so I'll let you know if they find anything.
Steve
My LBS has a service depot so I just rang them asking if they would mind taking a quick look and giving me their opinion, as I could do with picking up some tubes and levers anyway. They said take it back to where I got it from lol
yellowjack said:
Check/tighten the chainring bolts? Just an (idle) thought.
I'm ok with a car, however a bike is a whole new world!Are the chainring bolts the bolts that hold the outer toothed gear to the circular part the pedal arm is connected to?
Oh aye, I've got all the technical terms!
Whilst boardman make decent bikes, remember they are put together by monkeys. With that in mind, go over the bike and check for loose bolts. I have 3 halfords bikes in the stable and none of them were put together safely or properly.
A starting point of things to particularly check
chainring bolts
brake caliper alignment
spoke tension (wheels still true?)
front mech mounting
bottom bracket
pinch bolts on the crank arms
A starting point of things to particularly check
chainring bolts
brake caliper alignment
spoke tension (wheels still true?)
front mech mounting
bottom bracket
pinch bolts on the crank arms
Apart from the more obvious potential causes for this noise which have been mentioned already, is to check is the saddle / seatpost area.
Check the clamp is tight that holds the post in the frame (while you're at it, blob a bit of grease on the section of the post which sits inside the tube, assuming you have a metal frame and metal seatpost) and the bolts holding the saddle rails onto the top of the seatpost are tight.
Also, check it isn't the saddle itself making a noise. I've got a bike with a 'ticking' saddle! Only audible when putting the power down while seated and is caused by flexing where the seat rails fit into the rear of the saddle.
Jump on the bike and bob up-and-down (while stationery - hold onto a wall or something) as if you were going over bumps / putting some power down.
This technique might narrow down the noise from somewhere else as well. Could it be caused from loose bots on the stem / handlebar perhaps. Again, get on the bike and pull up / push down on the bars as if you were giving it the beans up a hill.
Check the clamp is tight that holds the post in the frame (while you're at it, blob a bit of grease on the section of the post which sits inside the tube, assuming you have a metal frame and metal seatpost) and the bolts holding the saddle rails onto the top of the seatpost are tight.
Also, check it isn't the saddle itself making a noise. I've got a bike with a 'ticking' saddle! Only audible when putting the power down while seated and is caused by flexing where the seat rails fit into the rear of the saddle.
Jump on the bike and bob up-and-down (while stationery - hold onto a wall or something) as if you were going over bumps / putting some power down.
This technique might narrow down the noise from somewhere else as well. Could it be caused from loose bots on the stem / handlebar perhaps. Again, get on the bike and pull up / push down on the bars as if you were giving it the beans up a hill.
counterofbeans said:
I would guess it has an FSA chainset and bottom bracket in which case it's likely to be the latter, I speak from bitter experience of crap FSA bottom brackets.
A regrease *may* cure it, otherwise it's an early replacement, preferably with something better.
CofB
Basically, I have no idea! However, it's downstairs, so gimme 5 minutes!A regrease *may* cure it, otherwise it's an early replacement, preferably with something better.
CofB
Right then, it's an FSA Tempo Compact 50/34t chainset, with an FSA Cartridge bearing bottom bracket, whatever that is.
Interesting bit.
If I hold the bike still, and using my hand apply force to the right hand pedal, there's a click / crack from the chainset area, you can't get it to happen twice, so you need to release pressure and rotate the pedal slightly before you can get it to happen again.
Interesting bit.
If I hold the bike still, and using my hand apply force to the right hand pedal, there's a click / crack from the chainset area, you can't get it to happen twice, so you need to release pressure and rotate the pedal slightly before you can get it to happen again.
littleandy0410 said:
From that description, and previous experience, that sounds like a bottom bracket related noise. Probably just needs tightening up. (Which requires a specialist tool.)
Argh!Forgive my daft questions, is the bottom bracket effective the bearing between the pedal arms?
D4MJT said:
Argh!
Forgive my daft questions, is the bottom bracket effective the bearing between the pedal arms?
Yeah, it's the bearing set that goes through the frame that the pedal cranks attach onto. Forgive my daft questions, is the bottom bracket effective the bearing between the pedal arms?
Here's a (terrible, annoying 'merican) video describing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9y3RlVRGz8
littleandy0410 said:
Yeah, it's the bearing set that goes through the frame that the pedal cranks attach onto.
Here's a (terrible, annoying 'merican) video describing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9y3RlVRGz8
Fantastic, thanks mate!Here's a (terrible, annoying 'merican) video describing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9y3RlVRGz8
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