Creak- losing the will to live!

[LotusMartin]

Bought an amazing bike last year but just can't seem to stop it creaking. it's a carbon frame with Ultegra 6700 cranks and Di2 mechs.

creak come when exerting on the left (non drive ) pedal. it's sort of a clicky click.

Selling bike shop has looked at twice now.

So far I have:

replaced BB
Replaced Pedals
New wheels (just an upgrade)
Losened and re tightened all crank bolts
Losened an re tightened all chainring bolts

I was convinced it was the pedals, but FAIL.

Any ideas?

[LotusMartin]

Forgot, it's also had a new chain and cassette, and I've tried peddling out of my spd cleats to eliminate them

[ShredderXLE]

Other areas worth checking where I have had creaks and clicks from;

Head set spacers (carbon ones on my mtb creaked like hell, replaced with aluminium ones and it went away)
Saddle rails in seat post clamp
Rear quick release skewer

[Rouleur]

Have a look around the seat post head, the seat tube for cracks, and check if the post is a tight fit in the frame when the collar is loosened as it may be moving around inside as you pedal. Also make sure the saddle's not broken around the rails.

Are you sure it's not your knee?

[Mister K]

I usually start by trying to narrow down the search a little.

Try these first:-

does it click while out of saddle?
if not could be seatpost moving or saddle rails, or seat.

Does it click while not holding the handle bars? If not could be stem or bars.

I've had carbon fibre mountain bike, that was the same, turned out to be seatpost, I used some carbon fibre grip paste on the post, also used on the bars between the stem.

[Vladimir]

As above; try and eliminate stuff and narrow it down.

A creak on my MTB cost me a fair bit to not fix; turned out I'd bent the end of the rear skewer so everything was wonky. Grease EVERYTHING including the skewer ends.

[LotusMartin]

great!! thanks guys

guess what I'm doing tomorrow ...

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Take both skewers out and stick a bit of grease on them. Solved my problem.

[LotusMartin]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Take both skewers out and stick a bit of grease on them. Solved my problem.

I'll try it - but I've just put brand new wheels and skewers on - certainly won't do any harm

I still think its chainring related - I'm reluctant to remove the crank arms and BB (although I do have the tool to fk it up with) I think I'll start with totally removing the chain rings. I'm guessing some anti-seize compound on the nuts?

I've bought some carbon compound so will try that on the seatpost, and have a ride in some different positions to see if I can narrow it down.

I'm off with the bike for 2 weeks to Houston on Sat - I'll be gutted if its still this bad. Its embarrassing cycling with such a bad creak - its really taking the enjoyment out of my riding :'(

[S10GTA]

I have had all sorts of creeks, narrowing them down is tricky. My Isaac used to creek, after changing everything it was still there. Narrowed it down to the bonding of the aluminium in the carbon bottom bracket. Replaced the frame in the end as it drove me mad.

You need to narrow this one down a bit. Does it happen seated and stood up?

[LotusMartin]

S10GTA said:

I have had all sorts of creeks, narrowing them down is tricky. My Isaac used to creek, after changing everything it was still there. Narrowed it down to the bonding of the aluminium in the carbon bottom bracket. Replaced the frame in the end as it drove me mad.

You need to narrow this one down a bit. Does it happen seated and stood up?

Seated and I think stood up, but I'm going to try a whole load of st tomorrow and see what happens - it'll probably end up in the hedge lol

[agentnomad]

Chain ring bolts
Saddle rails
Saddle clamp/clamp bolt
Shoe cleats
Stem and handlebars
Cable rub on the frame (long shot I know)

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

I used to work in a bicycle shop. I've had numerous bikes come in with this problem, and I've suffered it myself too.

Shall I tell you what it (probably) is?


It's usually the crank arm on the bottom bracket...

Pop both crank arms off the BB spindle. Grease the spindle where they fit on, with some copaslip.

Re-fit.

Problem solved I bet.

[LotusMartin]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

I used to work in a bicycle shop. I've had numerous bikes come in with this problem, and I've suffered it myself too.

Shall I tell you what it (probably) is?


It's usually the crank arm on the bottom bracket...

Pop both crank arms off the BB spindle. Grease the spindle where they fit on, with some copaslip.

Re-fit.

Problem solved I bet.

I have Park Anti-seize compound, will that be ok or should I get some copaslip?

[LotusMartin]

Spent most of the day fettling, tried nearly everything mentioned plus a few other things - no change.

I've removed the crank and cleaned and re-torqued all the chainring bolts, cleaned and re-lubed the splines and crank bolts. Applied liberal Park anti-seize on the splines and red teflon grease everywhere else. No difference - aarrgghhh

Definitely not cleats - just rode round in my sandles lol
Still does it hands off the bars and out of the saddle
New pedals went on yesterday - all threads cleaned and lubed
Chain is relatively new <500 miles - well cleaned and lubed
New wheels (Zipp 404s) went on this week so I doubt its them.
Brand new cassette went on yesterday
Greased Skewers
Applied Carbon compound to Headset and seatpost

BB is < 1 year old but I'm beginning to think that might be it or related

Spoke to bike shop and they are suggesting gluing in the BB as possibly recommended by Cervelo, My feeling is the frame is slightly off fitting around the BB causing the creak. I know the RS model is prone to cracking here and the outer shell near the left crank has weird ripples, but no cracks. My gut feeling is saying frame replacement - but all I know is I'm fed up . Will speak to 'the boss' and cervelo guru tomorrow and see what he recons.

Thanks for your help folks, it'll probably turn out to be my handlebar tape or something crazy lol

[Jimbo.]

BB30 by any chance?

[Magic919]

LotusMartin said:

Still does it hands off the bars and out of the saddle

Top skills!

[Vladimir]

Full marks for perseverance! Good luck with the BB; I used to kill Shimano ones (MTB) very quickly so got a Chris King; well worth it!

[ChrisMCoupe]

Are you sure it's not your left knee?

[S10GTA]

To me it sounds much like the problem I had. I'd change the bottom bracket, but if that doesn't make a difference I think you will find it's the frame.