Tick, tick, tick...

Zark · Jan 20, 2011

Pull off the replaceable hanger and grease the interface. I'd also check the chainring bolts.

jonKranked · Jan 20, 2011

sounds flexy.

chainring contacting the f/d?

jonKranked · Jan 20, 2011

golgiaparatus said:
It's not a chain noise, that's for sure. But it's definitely not contacting the front der... it's in my parts bin collecting dust.

could be a rogue length chainring bolt contacting your chainguide? i've had that happen before

binary visions · Jan 20, 2011

Check the headset, because usually when you're cranking down, you're also putting weight on the bars. Had a buddy whose ticking drove him nuts until the end of the season when he replaced his headset because the bearings were shot.

My ticking is virtually always my bottom bracket, though. Usually just needs to be tightened, or sometimes pulled out and re-greased.

w00dy · Jan 20, 2011

Check rear quick release. Check stem.

Knuckleslammer · Jan 20, 2011

Nothing can be done. It's a sound generated by your bike and you riding it in a parallel universe.

Unless you can convince your other self to grease the BB, you might as well get a new bike.

jonKranked · Jan 20, 2011

golgiaparatus said:
Probably wouldn't be in exactly the same spot in my pedal stroke every time for a week straight though.

It would though. If its contact between the spider/chainring/cr bolt and the chainguide, it would occur in EXACTLY the same spot. I know this from misaligning a chainguide or 2 before.

jonKranked · Jan 20, 2011

golgiaparatus said:
I see what you're saying... I highly doubt that this is what it is as I can only get the tick when high torque is applied, but I'll check it tonight anyway.

my situation was the same. wouldn't happen unless i was really torquing. the clearance was close normally, but the bit of flex that occurred at high torque was enough to create contact.

also, refer to BV's suggestion.

are you using non single speed cranks? what chainguide are you using?

-BB- · Jan 20, 2011

I had a similar issue... it was driving me crazy. Some rides it was there, others it wasn't. And I could never get it to happen when the bike was in the stand!

After checking everything multiple times I figured it out. The little plastic bit on the end of my SHOELACE was sticking out and hitting the crank arm or chainstay on every revolution.

Another cause might be your heel contacting a derailer cable and causing it to smack something.

LOL... it is the little things that can drive you crazy.

SkaredShtles · Jan 20, 2011

Ignore it.

C.P. · Jan 20, 2011

does the noise only occur in one chainring, or all? bent/nicked tooth on ring?

Pedals?

4130biker · Jan 20, 2011

Second though was that it was from the frame flexing and maybe I had a suspension bushing going out... so I pulled the rear triangle... nope, everything is kosher.

Reading comprehension- who needs it?

I was suggesting the main pivot, but sounds like you covered it!

4130biker · Jan 20, 2011

Have you swapped out pedals, just to be sure?

edit: I'm having a hell of a time here, someone suggested it, but I think its good!

Quo Fan · Jan 20, 2011

Put in earplugs.
Turn up volume on iPod.

Just a couple of suggestions.

eaterofdog · Jan 20, 2011

Tack weld anything that moves, then grind them off one at a time. When the noise starts, you know what it is.

-BB- · Jan 20, 2011

Knuckleslammer said:
Nothing can be done. It's a sound generated by your bike and you riding it in a parallel universe.

Unless you can convince your other self to grease the BB, you might as well get a new bike.

NO ONE is gonna grease me up... that's for sure!

Nick · Jan 20, 2011

-BB- said:
After checking everything multiple times I figured it out. The little plastic bit on the end of my SHOELACE was sticking out and hitting the crank arm or chainstay on every revolution.

Another cause might be your heel contacting a derailer cable and causing it to smack something.

Uncle Cliffy · Jan 20, 2011

Ya know, whenever I have a glitch like this, I try and hear if it's coming from the front or back of the bike. Then I over-maintain that area.

Front? I tear the fork out, grease everything, re-install. Rear end? Same thing. Remove wheel, derailleur, brakes, grease and rebuild. Same thing with your cranks. Whatever it is, it goes away every time. Trying to pinpoint little things like that can take forever...

Or like someone else said, start riding with tunes...

jasride · Jan 20, 2011

if you checked all these suggestions already could it just be the beginning of the end of your chain? your chain could start to creek very slightly as it starts to fatigue until it starts to creek for at least half of your crank revolution. That's how mine sounds right now!

IH8Rice · Jan 20, 2011

from all the suggestions, you might as well just take the whole bike apart and clean everything

lovebunny · Jan 20, 2011

we had one bike in the shop the other day who had shimano cranks and the crank was starting to come loose from the spindle. it wasnt enough to where you could feel it move but you could hear it when you really cranked on it. im sure the chances of it being that are slim to none but check it out anyways. unfortunately if it is that then there isnt much you can do

SuzyCreamcheese · Jan 20, 2011

I had a similar noise and it was the BB. I used a wrap of teflon tape on the threads when I re-installed. No more noise

denjen · Jan 20, 2011

Recheck the chainring bolts. Had the same problem once, pulled the whole drive train off twice. When I was going through everything one of the chain ring bolts turned another 1/4 turn and the sound disappeared.

eaterofdog · Jan 20, 2011

golgiaparatus said:
I can hear where the sound is coming from... and it's definitely not from the cockpit.

Noises can travel down the tubes and seem to come from a completely different area.

jonKranked · Jan 20, 2011

golgiaparatus said:
Yes these are non SS cranks, Raceface Deus with an E13 chainguide.

make sure your granny tabs aren't hitting the backplate.

rockofullr · Jan 20, 2011

Last time I had a phantom creek like this I tore the whole bike down and re-lubed/tightened everything I could think of. The sound persisted for another few days until I figured out that I had some dead bearings in my pedal.

zdubyadubya · Jan 20, 2011

Take it to your LBS.

Rip · Jan 20, 2011

cassette lockring.

nelsonjm · Jan 20, 2011

Echoing pedals.

IH8Rice · Jan 20, 2011

try it now

pnj · Jan 21, 2011

I've had a ticking noise as well, ALWAYS in the same place when I pedaled. It was also my shoelace clicking on my frame/downtube. Tuck your shoelaces into your shoe on your next ride and see what happens.

Tick, tick, tick...

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