Troubleshooting › Noises

Clicking or ticking when pedaling: causes and fixes

A click that matches each pedal stroke usually comes from the pedals, cranks or chain. One that matches wheel turns is in the wheel or brake.

Check it on your own bike

1. Dry or dirty chain · Most likely

   Backpedal and listen: a dry chain squeaks and ticks. Wipe a finger along it: grey grit means clean and lube.

   Fix: Clean and lube chain

2. Gears slightly out of adjustment · Most likely

   Ticking in some gears only means the chain is brushing the next cog. A quarter turn of the barrel adjuster usually fixes it.

   Fix: Adjust rear derailleur (limits + indexing)

3. Loose or dry pedals · Most likely

   Grab each pedal and wiggle it. Any knock, or a click that stops when you pedal with your heel, points at the pedal threads or bearings.

   Fix: Remove and install pedals

4. Loose crank arm or worn bottom bracket · Sometimes

   Hold both crank arms and push them sideways against each other. A knock means a loose crank bolt or worn bearings.

   Fix: Remove and install square-taper cranks · Remove/install two-piece cranks · Remove, install and remove play from 3-piece cranks

5. Loose chainring bolts · Sometimes

   Try each chainring bolt with a hex key. A loose one clicks once per crank turn.

   Fix: Change chainring size · 2x shifting and chainring care · 3x shifting and chainring care

6. Saddle or seatpost creaking · Sometimes

   Pedal standing up. If the noise stops, it is the seat area: clean and grease the post and saddle rails.

   Fix: Pull, clean and grease seatpost

7. Worn chain · Sometimes

   Measure it with a chain checker. A worn chain rides up the teeth and clicks.

   Fix: Measure chain wear