I bought the pads to eliminate this problem. I thought the same thing right out of the box and was disappointed; however, slap some wd40 in the pulley and it’s working smooth and quiet. Also, the chest straps are too long, and dangle. Thank you very much. zero stars . Original review: Im starting at lower stars with this review, but I will update at 1 month, 6 months and a year depending on performance. I still enjoy them. The outside is exactly as described. No excuse for that. This one moves with ease & is perfect for our 7 year old, which gives her more independence and control over her bike.