Bicycle clicking popping sound felt in the pedals usually when pedalling hard

Question

Bicycle is a year old fairly cheap road bike with ~1000 miles.
Transmission is 2x7 speed-derailleur design, so 14 gears total.
Clicking noise somewhere near the drivetrain-ish area when pedaling uphill or somewhat aggressively.
Started happening recently after I changed my rear inner tube.
Clicking/popping is periodic but much more than one crank rotation.
At worst, there is a loud pop felt in the pedals and the chain seems to skip.
Worst in gear 4-5.
Not very noticeable in gear 1 or 7.
Not noticeable when freewheeling or pedaling backwards.
Still pops/clicks when pedaling standing instead of on the seat.
I took the rear wheel off and put it back on to make sure the axle is seated properly.

I'm now out of ideas for what it could be. I'd really appreciate ideas.

Argenti Apparatus · Answer

That sounds like something wrong with the chain. You may just have a worn chain that is skipping over the rear sprocket. I'd do a check of the whole drive train to rule all potential issues out.

Check for play or roughness in the pedal bearings
Check for play or roughness in the bottom bracket bearings
Check chainring bolts are tight, chainrings don't have any play
Check cassette / freewheel / rear sprocket for any play
Check sprocket and ring teeth for damage or wear
Check rear wheel axle for play or roughness.
Check chain for stiff links
Check chain for wear and elongation with a chain wear gauge

David Richerby · Answer

Sounds like your rear derailleur has come out of adjustment, to me. Not sure how removing and reinstalling the rear wheel would cause that, unless you'd misaligned it when reinstalling it, and you say you already checked that. Maybe it's just a coincidence that it happened around the same time.

Bicycle clicking popping sound felt in the pedals usually when pedalling hard

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