by Joe Buckley
Joe grew up biking in Ridgecrest, California and worked many years at TJ Frisbee Bicycles.
Joe now works for Specialized in the research and development group.
Every race I've been to, I hear a lot of riders complaining about mysterious bike squeaks and creaks. Well, be gone squeaks and creaks, because with a simple turn of the wrench or squirt of lube, the lurking annoyance will soon be silenced.
The creaks often originate from something not being tight or not being lubed properly. If you wash your bike often with water, or you cycle in wet or muddy conditions, then there's a good chance the lube is being dried out. Moisture, over time, will cause the lube to become dry and lose its effectiveness, which in turn invites the creaks. It's always good practice to avoid high pressure water when washing your bikes. Use a damp rag rather than the pressurized water.
A good starting point in your hunt for the mysterious creaks is to check the bottom bracket or the headset. Make sure the bottom bracket threads are covered with a thin film of grease and properly tightened. With the headset, make sure the bearings, unless the headset has sealed bearings, are well packed with grease. Also, make sure the headset is properly tightened. For you off road riders with dual suspension bikes, the pivot points on the rear suspension often need cleaning and re-greasing. If not, it will sound like little squirrels are nibbling away at your tail end.
With aging aluminum frames, the aluminum begins to fatigue over time. This fatigue is nothing to lose sleep over. It just means you've been out hammering the miles. The fatigue will cause the frame to be a little "flexy." This "flexiness" will also be an open invitation to the unwanted creaks. It's even more important with older frames to make sure the components are properly lubed and tightened.
Well, that's all for now from Joe Buck. A well-tuned ride is a fun ride. Stay tuned for more tech tips.
© Copyright, TJ Frisbee Bicycles