YOUR BOTTOM BRACKET IS NOT CREAKING!!

[@GCPerformance18]

Let me know if you like these types of videos and want more of them, I can give more of this type of content if you find it useful, remember not all of it means it will be the solution but it can always help to check and maintained these things to help be proactive to keep the bike lasting longer

[@eto2352]

0:18 No SPD clogs? Your game is slipping GC!

[@mruedar]

This one was great!! You need a nomination for the Oscars man.

[@That.Guy.]

The chain ring itself creaks against the spider

[@augu5t1n]

It happened to me. A customer came complaining of a ticking sound, I checked everything mentioned in the video, plus headset, stem, even cv lesned and greased the rear derailleur.. I didn't change the bottom bracket, it was new, as was the crankset, sram gx with 3 bolt direct mount. I spent a lot of time searching for the cause of the ticking, but I finally found the cause. I checked if the bolts for the chainring were at torque spec, and they were, but that wasn't enough, i had to push the chainring towards the rear while retightening the 3 bolts, and that solved the problem.. yeeey....

[@That.Guy.]

@ there is a product that I bought that helped with this. It is called Loc tite 609 retaining compound that fills in microscopic voids and spaces so that the chain ring can’t shift around underload. It seemed to have made it 100% silent now

[@asiantrick24]

this is why I recommend to lubricate your entire body before going on a ride.

[@doctorscoot]

there's a reason for it? i was just slathering myself in oil because I can?

[@dylan-5287]

Definitely do more of these videos with mechanic tips, common problems and fixes, tips and tricks, etc. I've had problems with saddle rails before.

[@GCPerformance18]

awesome sounds great

[@SyLens1]

For the people that are 99% its the BB. Check your chainring bolts or if you have a direct mount chainring, the ring to tighten that down. Also possibly your crank comes loose because you dont have the correct amount of spacers on.

[@kalilebron007]

Love this video! Every cyclist neeeds to see this. It's NOT always your BB. Many times, I've heard creaks and squeaks, took my seat post out, cleaned it, applied Aluminium Anti Seize paste (yes, I have an alloy bike), and voila, no creaks! BB was fine.

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

Love the intro with the backwards helmet with the tags still on. Add that if you find corrosion or are still experiencing headset noise is to remove, clean, and reset the expander plug. I had a really noisy headset that a repair shop could get it to go away for a week or two. I completely disassembled the headset and cleaned all the surfaces and made sure sufficient grease remained. Still noisy. Removed the "bung" and it was dirty and so was the steerer. Wiped it with a clean rag and reassembled. Tightened everything to spec and no more noise.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea these are the process of diagnosing an integrated bike lol gotta love it

[@Radelbande]

Indeed it WAS the bottom bracket a couple of days ago! The right shell of the square taper BB came loose and it made the worst of sounds 😅

[@manabiker]

A guy I met on the trail said once he learned I worked at a bike shop, "I have a question for you?, I have a squeak I can't find" I told him, "I know what it is already,, your wallet is squeaking cuz' you're too cheap to take it to the bike shop" !!!!

[@michaelmechex]

The best first step I've found to diagnose a creak is to ride and listen. If it's consistent, is it synced with your cranks turning or wheel turning? Is it still there when you're not pedalling? Does it change when you're out of the saddle? One time I had a click that happened exactly when my right crank was at 10 o'clock, turns out front derailleur was hitting the crank 😂

[@andrewmcalister3462]

I thought Dylan had copyright on the backwards hat, but the tags still on was a nice touch. 😂

[@DG-tf9rp]

Also check Wheel bearings.

[@nzane54]

Don’t forget to check the torque on the chain ring bolts… This was the issue on my 24 tarmac sl8 pro.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea that is also true

[@prof_writer]

Excellent how to video. Most all of us have had the phantom creaking noise. And so hard to isolate the problem. Mr GC you know all the big moves. Watching the part about seat post and seat always good to get just an inch off the saddle and see if the creaking or clicking continues.

[@GCPerformance18]

Yea, it is a very common problem and there are always things you can try and do. Glad it helped!

[@prof_writer]

​@@GCPerformance18 just went through this on my Marin headlands 1 with my LBS magic cycles in Boone North Carolina. Had done the new bottom bracket and chain install. Creaking noise came back. Just had it back in the shop they did an excellent job going through all the trouble points like you did.

[@dipdip7250]

Your customer persona was not snobby enough! 😂 If you keep doing those skits, his name should be Fred and he gets greeted by name when he enters the bike shop, lol.

[@ronradmer3573]

Super true. My front thru axle was dry and creaking. A little lube and quiet as a mouse.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea it makes a world of difference

[@repo4]

So true. On my HT, Marin bobcat trail I used to get this creaking and clicking while pedalling. I immediately removed the BB (square taper at the time), re-greased the threads and re-tightened it. Same sounds. In the end I realised it was the dirt and sand between seatpost and frame that was thrown in by back wheel through the slit in the seat tube that allows the seatpost to be tightened. Bit of a bad design if you ask me. I now have a piece of old innertube over the clamp and it works.

[@WallahiProd]

This. For me it's nearly always the seat post And always on bikes that have a open slit at the back of the seat stay. Every time I have a creak, seat post is the first thing I check

[@justsomedude7556]

Man I hate chasing creaking. One time I found loose chainring bolts were the issue. Never had that happen before, so don't forget chainring bolts.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea it is crap especially when you need to figure it out in a customers bike that doesnt want to pay lol

[@tofadeisastart]

I love this haha. I recently had a Roubaix come in about a creak under load. No noise out of saddle I noticed. Checked the seat wedge. Dirty AF and loose. Noise was gone 😂

[@GCPerformance18]

I love it when you get that one!!

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Yeah, little clues like in/out of the saddle, does the frequency change with gears, can help narrow it down a bit.

[@fabianmolyneux2308]

Thanks. This is so helpful. I only recently went through this very thing

[@GCPerformance18]

I'm glad I could help!

[@themaestro7922]

Also consider if the noise happens with any kind of regularity. I had click that could be heard every time my right knee came up and the pedal was around 1 o' clock. Right there you can rule out the chain they are not going to be so in sync that they click when your knee is in that position. Same for the saddle. Which narrowed it down to the chain rings and a few other possibilities. Turned out to be a ball bearing in an ultegra spd-sl pedal. The tiniest amount of play is how I knew.

[@alainpfammatter8224]

great video with very useful tipps. Thank you.

[@GCPerformance18]

thanks so much for watching

[@alfkh]

wrt pedals, around 5:15 mark, i 1ce had a very cheap bike, doubtless it came with very cheap components & (flat) pedals, the bearings on the pedal wore out. Symptopms were similar to watt u showed. Bike shop recommended that i changed the pedals for a more exp, better quality set of pedals. i sprang for it. I hv since given the bike to a friend & he has not complained abt it. headset, around 10:30 mark, 1 might hv drunk water / isotonic fm bike bottle while on the ride. some might hv dripped on the headset. its a good idea to take a piece of damp cloth & wipe down the seat, seat post & handlebars after every ride, barely takes 2min but saves a lot of worry in the long run. I 1ce serviced my disc brake pads. That required me to take out the rear wheel & put it back. it seems that it was not sitting the same way as before but i did not hear any noise until i got off the bike & wheeled it around. i took it to the shop. The mech tolde me he jus loosened the rear brake position & tightened it back. 😳 fixes like these can b easier than u think!

[@jayobannon5359]

I actually had a brand new Felt that had a bottom bracket creek. Replaced the PF with a Wheels Mfc BB and all has been good for the last 12 years

[@GCPerformance18]

yea those are great bb

[@PatrickLino]

8:01 mark - Where can I find some of your ball sweat? Asking for a friend.

[@GCPerformance18]

Hahahaha I got it for you by the gallons

[@ronb9901]

Excellent video & content. My experience has been at least 70% of the time it’s my quick release/dropouts.

[@GCPerformance18]

I think that is about right!

[@andrewmcalister3462]

I’ve had that one from reinstalling the wheel on the work stand. Reinstalling on the ground helps, as the weight of the bike itself should ensure the QR is properly seated into the dropouts.

[@ronb9901]

@@andrewmcalister3462 agreed 👍

[@jmaxson150]

Mine was the seatpost clamp assembly.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea that is very common, so many people get it set up one time right when they buy the bike and neevr touch it again because of fit but there is so much sweat and also moisture that penetrates in there and drys it out

[@justinofboulder]

My new HT MTB made a creaking sound that I thought was the BB. Took it back to the shop and they couldn't diagnose it. Went to another shop and they couldn't either. I just lived with it for almost a year before I decided to try anti-seize on the pedal threads and that fixed it. Around the same time, my gravel bike (one year old, about 3000 miles) started making a noise that sounded like the BB. One shop insisted it was the chain, (which only had 500 miles on it). Another shop diagnosed it as a bearing in the rear (Chris King) hub needing service and fixed it.

[@WallahiProd]

I'm pretty sure half these bike mechanics used to be car mechanics and are just used to ripping people off whilst doing nothing to fix problems. Again, half the bike mechanics. I tend to listen to mechanics, after all, it is their job. But some, straight thieves

[@tonygenovese6239]

Great info keep it up thanks

[@peterhoelzel2448]

Don't forget Chainring screws, it took me quite a while to figure it out 😅

[@GCPerformance18]

yea this is very common I see this so many times, I should have mentioned this because they take so much torque over time and people never check them

[@HardmanKnott]

The ticking on my 2012 Pinarello Paris turned out to be the original headset, after I checked all the things mentioned in the video, as well as the chainring bolts. The BB was the second to last thing I checked, as it is a PITA.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea headset are a lot of the times the culprit but people dont believe it

[@HardmanKnott]

Headset had approx 30,000 miles and had been rough for years. Finally got up the nerve to replace bearings without the proper tools. Managed to not damage anything. 😀 How common is creaking with old style skewers, and how to remedy?

[@Cycleplayer117]

That helps a lot thanks 🇬🇧

[@GCPerformance18]

jur welcome

[@roymendez6615]

I had a out of round rear hub bearing that made a squeak that everyone thought was the bottom bracket

[@ryankemp3602]

I’ve had ticking that was fixed by re-greasing my Dt Swiss hub ratchet rings

[@GCPerformance18]

That’s a good idea I’ve never thought of that.

[@escgoogle3865]

The two times it was not the BB. Cracked rear dropout on an alu bike and f'd cheap vintage wellgo SPD pedal. My commuter square taper gets a new BB every two winters.

[@shirtlessGraveler305]

My creaking on my giant carbon cross country mountain bike ended up becoming the Front through axle. I thought it was the bottom bracket nope in fact it had to be replaced with a Maxle standard thru axle . It seemed the 2015 through Axle that came with my rock shocks , wasn’t playing too nicely with my stands carbon wheel hub something about the end caps anyway, it’s very quiet now no issues.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea people have no idea how often it happens in the axles

[@U.s.e.r.3493]

Great work bruh

[@GCPerformance18]

Thanks bro!

[@nationsnumber1chump]

I have a weird click on my Wahoo kicker move. its only when i push down like in a sprint on the left side. I think its the cassette or skewer or something but it almost seems like a bb. I have noticed when I'm riding really hard its almost like there is a notchyness in the bearing but at the bottom of the stroke. if i spin by hand its smooth as butter. I've ruled out pedals as they are much newer but can't figure it out.

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

Hard not to laugh at making fun of the guy who "did research online" about his problem - on a video about his problem. OTOH I'll agree that lots of noises are not caused by BB issues. I remember chasing what the client thought was a creak from his stem that turned out to be caused by a cheapo Q/R on the front wheel. Sadly, I only found it AFTER going through the bar/stem/steerer tube/headset and finding nothing. My suggestion is always to try the simple/cheap/easy things first before moving on to more involved stuff...no matter what the customer says.

[@xanderfw]

Had this once. Everytime I’d put pressure on the pedals during climbs and intervals I’d hear this cracking. Turned out that my rear wheel hub bearings were just worn out. BB was perfectly fine.

[@MrShannonmcneil]

What’s (t - handle ) tool you was using ?

[@GCPerformance18]

it is from park tool

[@sraufstok]

But it was. Changed it and now no creaking.

[@davidnicholson6680]

I've never seen anyone cook a set of SPD pedals as badly as the ones in this video. I have absolutely abused those pedals for years, done nothing to maintain them and they are fine.

[@black7987echo]

It’s Florida so probably corrosion.

[@GCPerformance18]

it actually happens more then often, a lot of people jsut hammer down here and abuse

[@michaelmechex]

I have. The kicker is, they were 2 months old and barely 300 kms in 😂 Their bearing system is so absurdly convoluted, that when I tried to repair it (with the proper tool!) the pedal went into the trash. I'm not buying Shimano pedals ever again

[@joefenech6839]

I had a creak on my Aethos. I checked every thing you mentioned. The bike had 6000 miles on the dub BSA BB, so changed I it. The threads were clean and lubed. I cleaned it and installed a new BB. No joy 😢. I took it back Mikes Bikes where a bought it. God bless the mechanics at Sausalito Mike’s, they retraced all my steps while I watched and collaborated with them. No joy 🥹. They didn’t charge me.. great guys and service. After some though and a month later, I disassembled the free hub and found 1 of the pauls was stuck in the flat position. I cleaned the hub and reassembled it with new hub oil….. and finally…creak was gone for good. I learned a big lesson.🎉

[@shortzProductions]

had the problem several times on my bikes, most of the time it was just the seatpost.

[@coreyallert1482]

Sick helmet usage

[@GCPerformance18]

its the proper way lol

[@chovekotb]

A few months ago I came along a chain creaking! 🤯

[@GCPerformance18]

yea people are suprised when I tell them this creaks as well lol

[@jbrc1322]

Loose chainring bolts bolts will do it, too. Easy one to cross off the list.

[@lloydhlavac6807]

I thought the bottom bracket on my bike was creaking, but when I went to take it apart to check it out, I unfortunately discovered the creaking was instead caused by a crack in the weld (aluminum frame) where the seat tube connects to the BB shell. 🙁

[@meitou6174]

what bottle cages are you using on that bike

[@GCPerformance18]

Bjorn carbon bottle cages

[@blackjackpinoko]

Check the cassette.

[@__marshie]

Nasty ball sweat!

[@GCPerformance18]

gotta love my job

[@bleigh6562]

Great video 🎉

[@GCPerformance18]

thanks so much

[@Slowjo1221]

My “bottom bracket creaking” turned out to be my rear wheel hub 🤦‍♂️

[@GCPerformance18]

usually how it goes

[@K41]

I have this one creak, everytime on the right pedal downstroke on a brand new bike. Its loud af and I cant seem to figure it out. We tried regreasing the bottom bracket, tightening all the bolts on the bike to spec, new cleats, reinstalling the cranks, now one thing someone suggested I do is add a washer to the crankset so going to try it next week. Any other suggestions would be appreciated

[@justinofboulder]

I put some anti-seize on my pedal threads and that took care of a creak I had

[@doctorscoot]

I found some of my cables would rattle inside the frame. man, that was annoying.

[@GCPerformance18]

yea it needs to have the carbon churro in there

[@doctorscoot]

@ lmao, great name for it! I also had an issue once with a bottle cage and a particular bottle - a camel back insulated steel bottle. The bottle would rattle in the cage ever so slightly. Not very loud, but the thin-walled large-diameter carbon downtube just amplified it like hell. I only figured it out when I took the bottle out to drink from it! That bottle now only does duty as my desk duty drink bottle. The bottle cage got replaced

[@zaphod_beeblerox]

i own a cannondale, it is my bb!🤣

[@charnestours1948]

I wouldn't make a video where you adjust the stem pinch bolts without a torque wrench. People will see your video and think they don't need a torque wrench. In your case I assume you either have an aluminum steerer tube or you have done this so many times you have a good feel for the torque. Many people have no idea how much to torque those pinch bolts and could get into trouble if they have a carbon steerer.

[@jimbo9030]

Hambini has a lot to answer for 🤦

[@LaurentGloaguen]

Unless if it’s a Cannondale with a BB30…

[@DISCOhooch]

0:10 Jesus

[@GCPerformance18]

hahahha I use to play ice hockey

[@joshuasosa5168]

Save your breath, their sport! Lmao.

[@GCPerformance18]

hahahha

[@joshuahoover]

But I'm SURE it's the bottom bracket!

[@GCPerformance18]

hahahaha

[@WallahiProd]

60% of the time its the seat post 100% of the time 🤷‍♂️

[@JayLato]

SL8 is endurance geometry. Change my mind.

[@Cycle.every.day.]

Top tube is too long for it to be under the Endurance umbrella , Endurance are always shortish on the top tube to get rider more upright.

[@0-60.tests.with.Passengers]

Top tube is too long & headtube is too shallow for SL8 to fall within Endurance category.

[@Local.hero.1983]

Top-tube too long on SL8 to consider that frame Endurance surely...and don't call me Shirley😂

[@GCPerformance18]

I love the geo

[@JayLato]

8:04

[@GCPerformance18]

isss good

[@HanDron1]

You forgot about mine case :D Had a creaking bike since last week straight after replacing the chainrings on the S-Works SL6 carbon cranks, used even thread locker but anyway got ended with creaking, thought damn it's the stupid BB! But after taking it off and re-building everything with grease to try a new method - one of the BCD bolts just crashed into two pieces, now ordering a new BCD bolts set since this one has already 15k on em. Art is long, life is short, live and learn