My bicycle has been having real issues with making noises, cracking, clicking noises. It really makes me nervous when I ride, even if it's just to the store. And I can especially hear it when I don't have my earbuds in. At least when I'm listening to music I can ignore it.
I've been reading this website @ Mountain Bike World, they have an article all about the 6 most common problems and my problem is right in there. Yes there is a problem with the back tire not being true and it does make these clicking sounds but the cracking or creaking sound is coming from the crank, not the wheel.
I have edited 4 paragraphs to update this post. I have figured out what my bike problem is. I don't believe it is the crank at all. I think that the crank needed some lube really bad so I sprayed a lot of WD-40 in it and held a towel to the bottom of it because it was getting all this black stuff all over the cement floor in my back patio. I did that on both sides and it seems to be ok.
While I was holding the rag to the bottom of it on the side that has the chain and I was turning the crank I was looking at the cassette on the back wheel and noticed that it was moving up and down so I guess that just needs to be tightened and that should probably fix it. So all I need are the tools to tighten the cassette which shouldn't be a problem. So on Wednesday morning when I get my check I'll take the bus to the bike store and ask them for the tools to tighten it. It's good to have all the tools I need to do any/all maintenance on the bike to keep it in good working order at all times.
At least I don't have to pay hundreds of dollars to get it fixed now.
