Creaky Bottom Bracket?

Trek Domane
 
This is my long distance rando bike which is the all-carbon model, the Trek Domane, with a BB 90 bottom bracket. It used to creak a lot. With every pedal stroke.I repeatedly lubed the bottom bracket to no avail. Finally one mechanic told me to use Loctite between the bearings and the edge of the frame which I also did, but that also did not help.

Finally, another friend suggested that I simply tighten the skewers on both wheels very, very tight. I did not believe him, and  still took it to my mechanic, who finally found this simple technique as the solution. He and I were both dumbfounded– it worked and after several thousand miles it has not creaked  once.

Incidentally, the best way to check whether or not the noise is the bottom bracket and not your pedals, is to simply step on the crank arm itself against the direction of the chain, so the wheel does not turn. Press or bounce up and down with your full bodyweight and listen.

Unknown's avatar

Author: Rando Richard

I’m an old guy (age 69 in 2023) who enjoys aerobic, endurance sports. I call myself a cardio-junkie. Perhaps the more appropriate term would be “ultra” endurance sports. Since I was a teenager I have always enjoyed “slow twitch” outdoor sports like backpacking, ice climbing, running, mountaineering, hiking, alpine skiing and randonnée skiing (alpine touring, backcountry skiing or skimo). In 2005 I starting running with more regularity — except this time it was not for the intent of getting ready for a mountaineering trip, but as an end to itself. From 2005 to 2007 I managed to eek out two seasons of ultramarathons — that is competitive trail runs up to 50 or 100 miles. Due to a nagging ankle injury from the 80s (an accident while ice climbing in the 1980s where my lower tib and fib were badly broken), I had to cease that grueling, but rewarding activity. I then migrated into ultra distance road cycling or randonneuring. The rides are called brevets (pronounced bruh-VAY, it’s French) and are minimally supported — they are similar to ultrarunning and backpacking where one must be self reliant. Although brevets are non-competitive, they do have have cut off times to qualify as a finisher. They are usually are done in groups, which can have a competitive slant to them. Today, I continue to participate in long distance cycling including some ultra-racing, randonnée skiing (a blend of cross country and downhill disciplines) and still get out on an occasional mountaineering trip. Since 1996 I have been designing, manufacturing and selling camera bags. That is Kinesis Photo Gear (kgear.com). In 2005 I started selling cycling bags under the Kinesis label and eventually expanded it to including other sports like SUP (stand-up paddle boarding and some skimo). Consequently, it become eoGEAR — the “eo” stands for endurance outdoor. My wife and I are empty-nesters now and we live and work out in the boondocks of central Utah, half way between Salt Lake City (great powder) and Moab (great red rocks). Well, I guess that is all for now. Safe travels mate! Perhaps I’ll see you on the road or trail. — Richard Stum

One thought on “Creaky Bottom Bracket?”

Leave a comment