Creaking Left Pedal

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with a couple of wee, related problems?

I ride fixed and for a while now I have been getting an increasingly loud creak coming from my left crank / pedal. The creaking is worst when starting cycling from a stop, when speeding up or when going up hill. Basically whenever I'm putting more weight on the left pedal / crank.

I thought it might be the BB that was having problems, but the noise doesn't seem to be coming from the BB and it only creaks when I apply pressure to the left pedal (if it was the BB I would assume it would be creaking when I applied pressure on either pedal / crank?).

I've taken off the pedal, cleaned and regreased the threads and then put it back into the crank nice and tight. No effect.

I tried to tighten the crank at the base, but the allen key hole has worn and the key just turns freely in the hole.

SO, could anyone guide me a bit on:

a) Where the creaking might be coming from
b) How I can fix it
c) How I can tighten the crank at the base if the allen key hole has worn away

?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

chainring bolts.

I tried to tighten the crank at the base, but the allen key hole has worn and the key just turns freely in the hole.

Sounds like it could do with some investigation. I guess you'll have to drill the bolt out and stick a new one in. Are the extraction threads OK?

check out sheldon..
http://sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html

Cheers guys - gonna run down to TFG this morning, who said they would help me get the crank bolt out. Hoping it's just a case of putting in a new one and a little grease.

I'll check the chainring bolts, too, but I doubt that's it as they're on the right side, not the left? But Probably worth tightening anyway. :)

Thanks for all the advice. And yeah, the immortal Sheldon Brown was my first port of call before LFGSS. Cheers!

Hi guys,

Turns out it was a small crack in the crank, so that's been temporarily replaced with a non-matching one, which makes my OCD scream but does the job nicely. Will have to get some new cranks at some point but at least the bike doesn't squeal when I go uphill now. Cheers for the assistance.

FWIW, I got it fixed at Lock 7 on Broadway Market - nice guys.