WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PRECONDITIONS: You will need a pedal spanner to remove your pedals

TIME: 15 mins.

DIFFICULTY: Easy, with enough leverage.


STEPS

1. Remove pedals

2. Fit pedals

 



Step 1. Remove pedals


remove pedal
To unscrew the pedal, turn it to the rear using a pedal spanner
  • Get a pedal spanner: In principle, pedals are easy to remove - just unscrew them from the crank. But, in practice, the nut on the pedal spindle is impossible to access with ordinary spanners, and the nuts often get very stiff. You may need a special narrow spanner with good leverage, and to spray the thread beforehand with penetrating oil, to remove the pedal.

  • Unscrew towards the rear wheel: Facing the bike on the same side as the pedal, turn the nut towards the back wheel.

  • On the rider's right-hand side (with the chainrings), this means unscrewing anti-clockwise - the conventional direction (as shown). Trouble is, the rider's left-hand side is different - the pedal unscrews clockwise - how confusing!

    But when you think that pedalling naturally tightens the pedals, unscrewing towards the rear wheel kind of makes sense.



Step 2. Fit pedals


  • Select the correct pedal: Right and left pedals look similar, but are threaded differently. Look for identifying marks e.g. 'L' (left) and 'R' (right).


 
grease the thread
Grease is used to make it easier to remove a pedal in the future


  • Grease the thread.

fit pedals
To screw in a pedal, turn it to the front


  • Screw in the correct direction: Facing the bike on the same side as the pedal, turn the nut towards the front wheel i.e. on the right-hand side clockwise, on the left hand side, anticlockwise.

    Make it more than finger tight, but no need to over do it - pedaling tightens the nut further.

 


Results

new pedals

Feel secure riding with new pedals