We often hear the question why is my bike creaking or why is it noisy?

More often than not, it's because the bike lacks grease and is filled with sand, or the screws aren't tight enough. When you ride, do you hear a creaking sound that seems to come from the front, at the saddle, or when you compress the rear suspension? Here are some tips to help you eliminate them:

At the front of the bike:

Most of the time it's the headset that isn't tight enough. Ideally, you can rely on the manufacturer's torque, but if it's not indicated, you can set it between 4.5 and 6 Nm.

To do this properly, don't forget to unscrew the two screws on the side of your stem before tightening the headset cap. Also take the opportunity to check the front screws of your stem. If you feel comfortable disassembling your stem and headset, you can add grease to your fork tube, which will reduce friction and help protect your bearings too! If after this check you still hear noise and also feel loose, check if your front wheel axle is tight. If the play seems to be coming from your suspension and you have screwed your headset cap properly, you are probably missing a "spacer" at the headset level, which prevents your screw from holding everything together!

Otherwise, if the noise seems to be a "flicker" and you have Shimano brakes with brake pads that have wings, look no further. If the noise bothers you, you can always buy brake pads without the cooling wings and that will solve your problem.

On the back of the bike:

Now the first place I look when a creaking seems to be coming further back is at my saddle. A lot of sand can build up between the seatpost and the saddle , which will cause noise. When this happens, remove the saddle and clean everything to remove as much sand as possible. If like me, it seems to build up a lot, you may very well have to do this quite often if the noise bothers you.

Another common place is the frame pivots near the rear shock and even the screws of your shock. To help your pivots, when you check them, remove the screws and re-grease. Again, this will reduce friction and your bearings will thank you. Then, ideally, have a torque wrench and tighten all your pivots to the torque recommended by your bike manufacturer. Take the opportunity to check if your rear wheel axle is also properly screwed in.

Does the noise appear when you pedal?

Check your pedals; if they have any play, your internal bearings are probably worn out and you should replace them. Often, you can buy a service kit, which is less expensive than replacing them. If the pedals seem fine, check that your bottom bracket is tight enough, but first, you can clean it to remove any sand and grease it.

If, on the other hand, your bike makes a grinding noise or you feel friction when turning your headset or bottom bracket, it's most likely a bearing replacement job. If you're comfortable doing it yourself, you can find the replacement kit directly from your manufacturer, or if you're not sure, visit your local bike shop to get the right bearings. Two quick tips to help you improve the life of your bearings:

• Avoid washing your bike with a hose, especially a pressure washer. Why? Because water removes all the grease from the pivots, headset, and bottom bracket. Instead, prioritize a dry wash with a product like Peaty's Loam Foam cleaner.

• Take the time to add a little grease to all parts that have bearings. If you're not comfortable with this, your local bike shop likely offers a full service that includes bearing lubrication.

If after these checks you still can't find the source of the noise, don't hesitate to come and see us!