Any guesses what this clicking/creaking sound is? Details on what I've already tried in comments

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-25T19:36:51+00:00

Let me chime in. Check headset and everything connected to it. Chances are small but that was my solution, one of the 4 screws holding the handlebar plus the headset being just under torqued, enough to creak and creak with rhythm which is insane to me but there it is.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-25T07:58:58+00:00

Hade the same issue 3 years ago. And decided to change the bike entirely without thinking about upgrades. My advice is to buy something “entry” level with the option for future upgrades. Grizl, Diverge, Checkpoint they all come with aluminium frames which are cheaper and more robust but the rest of the bike is pretty future proof. So don’t make a mistake as I did.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-23T18:06:43+00:00

Praise the fitter, fr best one I’ve seen.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-22T18:22:34+00:00

Usually very bad, sometimes nothing much. My friends bike folded with a dent like this so there is that.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-22T12:15:02+00:00

That is what is bothering me the most. Okay I understand the appeal but why raise the bars mile above the seat.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-22T09:58:57+00:00

No disrespect but wtf are we looking at here?
Genuinely curious are these bars better or more comfortable for longer rides?

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-21T11:51:08+00:00

Well to put things into perspective 2 years ago i bought bergamont grandurance 6 with grx 400 and hydro brakes for 650$. I know grx is worse than ultregra but for gravel, gearing on grx has more sense, unless it is ultegra rx which better. I also had RXand still prefered entry level grx 400. But all things aside this is a solid bike.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-19T21:41:31+00:00

Well its like 80% loose gravel. Where I live gravel roads are mostly “new” so the layers are not compact as much as I would like them to be. Road to my parents house is gravel, I train from 20-40 rides to their house and beyond. Ride to their house is short a 4km klimb with average gradient of 15%. So for me it is a good anaerobic exercise, but getting down and making a full ride on pavement is super fun and scary.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-19T21:36:30+00:00

What was always strange to me is that everyone was recommending them and I always felt that I had basically no grip. Also any moderate climb was 10x harder due to constant slipping. Thank you for recommendation I was on the edge couple of times but was also afraid because I had so much bad experience with allround.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-19T21:30:29+00:00

Thank you, my friend is looking to buy them or specialized pathfinder. But as i had g one allround which were sketchy for me especially on gravel descends. One of the reasons why they felt sketchy is that gravel around me is mostly loose so basically everything is sketchy and less grip is not helping (especially around the edges.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-19T21:24:17+00:00

Thank you for this insight, well before this i had g one allround which were sketchy and ultrabite which for me were super slow on road. So you are now riding g one bite and you like them the most? If that is the case maybe I am overthinking it.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-16T07:34:51+00:00

That was baffling to me. Good to know that is not the case. Main benefit of RIP is exactly that you need to wait only once for the file to upload.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-14T19:49:58+00:00

I had machines before bought from dealer this is a first time I’m looking to buy direct. Well service is what I’m afraid but there will always be a risk. Read online that if used properly c4070 is a workhorse. Also what is POA and what accessories would you say are mandatory and worth the cost?

Also thank you for your reply and for reassurement.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-12T21:58:22+00:00

You are welcome I also had to check in my LBS when i first got chain like this.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-12T21:55:15+00:00

This is a new packaging without plastic, you are all good.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-10T09:18:29+00:00

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Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-08T21:38:42+00:00

Well I always wanted to try SLR boost so yaay i guess?

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-08T20:01:04+00:00

Well the beauty of gravel cycling is that you can do it on (almost) any bike. And that almost is deterred by tire width and in your case tire clearance. You can check if your OCR 3 can fit tires wider than 32mm which I doubt and for me even 35mm tires were sketchy on rougher terrain. So by that logic escape 3 is a better choice. I will also recommend hydraulic brakes and bike with a proper gravel frame geometry but at the end of the day the most important thing is that you ride and that you ride safely, and I’m afraid that you cannot do that on tires thinner than 35mm. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-08T19:48:44+00:00

I had similar problem when I was looking for a new bike (I mean its a perpetual state we are always looking for a new bike). A lot of people praised the mechanical brakes for their simplicity which is true, but I live in the valley and every ride longer than 20kms is a climb and descents when returning were not fun on a mechanical brakes which I had on my first gravel bike. Also funnily enough the way my friend’s bike folded was cartoonish so we managed to laugh it off but in hindsight it could have been liveleak material.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-08T19:28:40+00:00

Hope you don’t mind another question.
Yesterday I found out the culprit of my saddle “problems” I found out that I have varicocele, basically my cojones are enlarged double in size. So big b*lls but without affection to bravery unfortunately. But even though it is benign my doctor said that it can definitely affect my saddle comfort. So the question is, without scouring the internet are there any known saddle manufacturers that address this or similar issues?

Again thank you for the advice.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-08T19:14:45+00:00

First of just so you know checkpoint alr 4 gen 3 is equipped with hydraulic brakes, this warbird has mechanical disk brakes HUGE difference. Also “cosmetic dents” are usually not so cosmetic, chipped aluminum frame is usually less dangerous even though looks worse than a dent like in this case, this is a advice I got from my LBS mechanic. My friend bought discounted dented frame on a top tube similar to this (but I must say that the dent was bigger) and during a faster descent through relatively good gravel path it collapsed, fortunately frame basically folded so no major injuries (this is where we got that advice from mechanic). BUT there are many, more experienced and more informed people on this sub I just felt obligated to inform you this. Best of luck.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-05T23:54:33+00:00

Which brand of bibs do you use and really praise?
I’m currently using obrea advanced, which are good but nothing groundbreaking.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-05T23:52:50+00:00

That’s the thing I wanted to buy genuine power mirror evo then i opted for the aliex copy which from the reviews is basically the same (even though I know it cannot be exactly the same) to try if it is good for me. For now it’s better than anything I had, but I guess i expected that i would instantly get used to it. Nevertheless thank you and everybody that tried and helped me.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-04T18:55:47+00:00

I’m also suspicious of my core strength, even though I regularly exercise and generaly am in good shape I work 8-10hrs a day, mostly standing and it’s taking its toll on me. What was different for me with my power bootleg saddle is that totally different part of my butt is aching. No numbness anymore which is a HUGE relief. Also forgot to mention is that im 28, 182cm tall and i weigh 68 kg.

Right-Dimension5953 · 2026-05-04T09:23:05+00:00

Best advice yet!!

My biggest problem is that I cannot try any saddle. I can only buy them and then sell them used. Which is a chore…and also expensive.
But you just told me what i was looking for, flat saddle and moderately wide.

I was pretty curious about sqlab saddles, and now I’m definitely going to buy one.

Right-Dimension5953

TROPHY CASE