Tips Archive:

Hot Tip of the Month- March 2003: "Bike Noises- What are your bikes saying?"
Over time your bikes will produce a number of noises and sounds. Some of these noises will be normal and some will be indicative of upcoming issues that you can take care of BEFORE they become problems. Please understand that this is not a concrete guideline to follow, but merely what I find in the field on a regular basis. First off, squealing; if this is coming from the resistance pads, it usually means that you have pad build-up that needs to be removed. If the squealing comes from the area of a Smart Release equipped bike, this could simply indicate a dormant clutch. Popping from the crank area will usually mean a possibility of several situations; check the pedals to see if the spindle bearings are fried OR; check for side to side play in the crank arms, which is indicative of a blown bottom bracket cartridge. Understanding what your bikes are saying to you; in the long run will eliminate down time and unhappy clients.