Towards the end of my last ride, I head that dreadful creaking sound. It happened only when I pedaled hard and only when my right crank reached the 6 o'clock position. When I got home, I took out the chain and started to pedal standing up and stationary — and the creaking keeps coming back. It has to be the bottom bracket, right? I was not sitting on the seat and the wheels were not even spinning.
I started to Googling all posts and videos about BB creaking, and every single one of them said the creaking does not necessary come from the BB. I thought, bah, not in my case. So I took out the crank — but the BB felt pretty smooth. Nevertheless, I took out the BB, cleaned everything, graced everything, and reassembled everything — yet the creaking was still there, more faithful than the Old Faithful in Yellowstone. I was about to give up and order a new BB but suddenly noticed that there is a tiny play on my right pedal. No Way! I thought. So I switched the right pedal from another bike and sure, the creaking is gone. I guess the internet is always right.
by bzhang02
4 Comments
lol, nice catch. Make sure the threads in the crank are ok, they can strip if they’re ridden when loose. Pedal falling off is no fun…ask me how I know lmao
It’s sometimes the bottom bracket.
Good on you for figuring it out!
Next time start with the easy things, like the pedal that you discovered, or a loose seat post clamp, or loose saddle rails, etc.
I’m a lazy bastard, so I always go from easy to hard.
Cheers!
I had this happen last Sunday. More of a squeaking sound but same deal otherwise.