WTB: beginner mountain bike

It gets worse... My wife doesn't even question all the purchases anymore. In her eyes, they're non-stop. And, I don't question where all the purses come from. It's a balance.

 

That snowball is gaining speed and growing...:

 

Excellent!

For field repair you’ll want a couple of quick-links. I recommend the Wolf Tooth mini chain pliers to make installing easier until you’ve worked with QLs a bit. It holds quick-links and is also a tire lever/tool.

https://bikerumor.com/2018/01/09/wo...er-link-combo-pliers-6-in-1-kinds-of-awesome/

You can pop open a new chain and borrow the QL that comes with it until you can get to the shop for a spare or two. You must buy the right link for a 10-sp (or whatever) chain you have.

 

Now I must find a creak in my bike! I believe it's coming from my bottom bracket, the noise is only audible when I'm in my lowest front gear.

 

If the creek is the one coming down along Maple Springs/Silverado Canyon, it's easy to find.

 

Edit to the rescue.

 

With it only in your granny front, you may want to check your chain clearance on your derailleur cage. I'm assuming from "lowest front gear" that you have a front derailleur. Chain rub there can be misinterpreted for other things.

 

Derailleur has been ruled out, adjusted and no rub whatsoever.

 

Bike ownership is a never ending stream of creaks...

Bottom brackets are often a creaky culprit, but you can also check the chainring bolts, seat post and the saddle rails to start.

My rule is that if I’m 100% certain the noise is coming from the bottom bracket, it will be somewhere else- like the rear skewer.

 

+1 on the old school rear skewers. Notorious for creaking.