Straightbangin

Hey guys. I have a cheap Kent Ridgeline hybrid bicycle that I love. It started making a creeking noise that I believe is coming from the front wheel. It will make the sound randomly even just coasting. I made sure all the spokes are at the right tension and none are broken. I soaked a good amount of bike oil into the hub by laying it on its side for awhile on each side so it really soaked in. It still makes the noise. It sounds like the rim is just like " annoyed with me & grumpy " I really can't explain it. It's just an annoying sound. Any idea what it could be or how to fix it? Thanks.

Rolla

Since most front wheels share a common fork spacing, the first thing I'd do is swap the wheel out with another one to verify the source of the noise. Also, make sure the front brake pads aren't rubbing the rim or tire.

Soaking a hub in oil isn't the same thing as properly greasing the bearings, which I assume are loose-ball. So while you're doing that, inspect the cups, cones, axle, and the bearings themselves.

Iride01 

Rim brakes? Open them up wider. Just flip the release if it has one. If the sound goes away then your rim is not true enough or your brakes are adjusted a tad too close to the rim. But don't do this on a hill with a twisty turn or where traffic is.

If the sound is an actual creak, then I still favor spokes. Though they may all feel tensioned correctly how do you know they are the right tension? Also, if you shift your weight rearward or forward, does that have an affect on the creak?

Creaks and clicks can be hard to find sometimes. I don't get immediately worried about them other than just look at the bike and make certain everything appears to be okay. I'll live with a creak or click for months on end till they finally make themselves known. Usually they are a "Duh" moment. Seldom are they any real safety concerns. And those that are a mechanical issue won't cost any more to fix when they do finally show their damage than it will cost you now.

Bmach

Try oiling the spoke nipples.

Iride01 

And also rub some paraffin or wax of some sort at the point where the spokes intersect and touch another.

ThermionicScott 

Might be time to clean and repack the front hub. Dirty bearings sometimes manifest as creaks and pings in the spokes.

sweeks

I had a squeak from the rear wheel of my folding commuter bike for several months. I looked into most the possibilities mentioned above, and others such as the possibility of a cracked rim. The noise went away when the tire pressure was increased. I was trying to think of a way the noise could come from the hub, an Alfine-11. The actual cause of the noise was much less exotic.
It was a rusted spot on the wire bead of the tire, which was rubbing on the inside of the rim. The rubber had been rubbed off the bead by repeated removal and remounting of the tire. I eliminated the noise by dripping a small amount of silicone lubricant along the bead in the rusted area.