So I decided to find out why my best bike was creaking in the BB. I had bought a new BB and had a tub of grease ready to use. But unfortunately, this wasn’t the problem. I took the cranks off. Hidden behind the rings, I saw this
In case the photo isn’t clear, there is a large area of damage to the carbon fibre. The reason the bike has started creaking over the past few weeks is probably due to this!
Repairing this is, I am told, not such a big task. But I only have a few weeks now until PBP. Rather than stripping the frame, shipping it to a carbon fibre repair place or alternatively, obtaining all the things to do it myself (I think I need a heatgun and some special tape) I have decided to switch to my spare bike
The spare bike is a 2010 Specialized Roubaix with rim brakes. It is in a fairly good state and won’t need much doing to it. So I got cracking
First, remove the tribars. Tribars are allowed now on PBP but only short ones and I don’t have these on the Specialized. Besides, I want to use a bar bag. Next the old chain comes off, clean various things. Check the gear cables ( they are ok ) check the brake blocks. Replace the rear brake blocks. Add a shiney new chain. Remove the mudguards and fit new 28mm tyres. Put the bar bag on. Put the Carradice bag support on. Swap the Luxos from the other bike.
I went for a test ride and the BB on this bike was also creaking! Also, the new chain was slippy in the small ring – probably too long. Back at base, I did the same as on the other bike and removed the cranks. Fortunately, I didn’t find the same issue. The Specialized has a kind of metal armour plate where the damage was on the other bike. I tightened up the Hope cups on the BB to the max and took a link out of the chain. While I was at it, I replaced the rear skewer with an Ultegra one instead of the pretty-but-useless Hope red skewer.
No creaking, nice smooth ride. Should be ok
Audaxing 
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