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Questions and answers about sports

Pedals won’t turn normally following strange noises

5 min read

Asked by: Ken Kingsley

Why are my bicycle pedals clicking?

A bent derailleur hanger, or one that is out of alignment, can cause a constant clicking sound while pedaling. The derailleur hanger might be visibly bent or off if it’s bad enough. Otherwise, you’ll need a hanger alignment gauge to be able to tell for certain.

Why is my bike making a weird noise?

Squeaks and Creaks:



These super common sounds are usually due to DIRTY or DRY bearings. You’ll often find that after riding your bike for a while or in harsh conditions these noises start to creep in. Areas to check if you’re hearing these noises would be: Crankset/ Bottom Bracket.

How do I fix creaky pedals?

Place a drop of lube on your pedal springs and at the joint in the spindle. Wipe off excess lube. If your pedals are grinding or stiff, you may need your bearings serviced at your local bike shop. If lubing the pedal springs doesn’t eliminate the creaking, check to make sure the cleats on your bike shoes are tight.

How do I fix my bike pedals not moving?

If the pedals on a bicycle won’t turn, it likely means the pedals or cleats are too worn to function properly. Fixing this particular problem typically means needing to completely replace the pedals and or cleats. However, it could also mean that the gears simply need oiling or cleaning.

Can you put wd40 on bike chain?

WD-40 is a great bike chain lube water based lubricant and will not only lubricate the chain well, but will also keep it rust and corrosion free. It also minimizes the accumulation of dirt which reduces the wear and tear of the chain.

Why are my pedals creaking?

Creaking pedals



Chances are that whatever grease was originally applied to the threads is long gone. Simply remove the pedals, clean the threads on both the pedals and crankarm, and reinstall with a fresh coating of grease. You can also get creaking from cleats.

How long does a bottom bracket last?

They are still in use and come stock on many bicycles, especially lower end ones. These bottom bracket units can actually be pretty sturdy and can last for years or decades and the user pretty tosses in a new one when it seizes up in a rainstorm.

Why is my bike making a high pitched noise?

If you hear a sharp, high-pitched popping sound from your cockpit when climbing or sprinting, it is something that should be tended to as soon as possible as it could be a sign of a loose bolt. Usually a quick fix is to do a quick torque check on all of the bolts on your stem.

Where do you put wd40 on a bike?


Quote from video: When finished if you have disc brakes make sure not to over spray onto your rotor or brake caliper. The oil penetrates. Directly into the links of the chain. It's unique blend with added PTFE.

How do you fix a noisy bike pedal?

Quote from video: If those measures don't work let's turn our attention to the cleat of the shoe. Make sure they're nice and clean check the bolts. Make sure they're nice and tight. Some suggest that if the bolts are

How do you stop a bicycle crank creaking?

The most common cause of creaking is the crank being loose on the spindle. Remove the crank bolts, lubricate the threads and under the bolt head, and reinstall. Tighten the bolts to the manufacturer recommended torque. Use a torque wrench if possible.

What is creaking sound?

: to make a prolonged grating or squeaking sound often as a result of being worn-out also : to proceed slowly with or as if with creaking wheels the story creaks along to a dull conclusion. creak. noun. Definition of creak (Entry 2 of 2) : a rasping or grating noise.

Is silicone spray good for bike chains?

Yes. It is not optimal for use on chains though. It washes away rather easily leaving your chain unprotected and un-lubricated. It would work in a pinch but a light oil or something specifically made for the application will work much better and last a lot longer.

What is best lubricant for bike chain?

Best bike chain lubes

  • Squirt chain lube. …
  • Purple Harry’s Purple Extreme. …
  • Fenwicks Wet Weather. …
  • Muc-Off Hydrodynamic. …
  • Finish Line Wet. …
  • Morgan Blue Syn Lube Course. …
  • Rock ‘N’ Roll Gold. Impressively fast running and super clean membrane lube. …
  • Smoove chain lube. Very durable high-performance wax lube for extended clean efficiency.

How often should you oil your bike chain?

Quote from video:

Why is my electric bike making a clicking noise?

Misaligned Derailleur



If you’re riding in a gear that doesn’t agree with the bike motor, notably if you installed an eBike kit onto a standard bike, you could hear a clicking sound. This is especially likely to happen if you ride in too high or low gear.

Why does my BMX bike click when I pedal?

Your axle might be cracked. The chainstay could also be debilitated. The hub bearing might have gone bad. There is a problem with the front wheel.

Why does my crank click?

There are multiple components that can contribute to a clicking or grinding sound in your drive train in addition to the bottom bracket, including the chain, the pedals, the derailleur and the rear hub. That said, the symptoms you describe seem to indicate a problem with the pedal bearings or the bottom bracket.

Why does my bottom bracket click?

Most of the time, the true cause is a loose chainring bolt—tighten them up and that’ll quiet most creaks. After you check the chainring bolts and if you still hear the noise, look at your pedals, crank bolts, seatpost, and seat. By checking these first, you’ll save an hour of digging into your bottom bracket.

How do I know if my bottom bracket needs replacing?

Quote from video: It's usually something that's not just down to noise. So if you can move your crank arm. Again you know slide it side to side and there is actually a bit of play.

How do I know if my bike bottom bracket needs replacing?

To check if your BB needs replacing, drop the chain off of the smallest chainring and spin the cranks. If there’s a side-to-side wobble, or feeling of grittiness, it’s time for a new one.