How to Change Bike Pedals

Bikes come equipped from the factory with an assortment of pedals. A particular style may not suit your tastes, but that should not be a reason for choosing a different bicycle. One of the most common upgrades a cyclist makes is from toe-clips to clipless pedals. Regardless of the reason for changing bike pedals, the steps remain the same and the effort is minimal.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle pedal wrench
  • Penetrating lubricant
  • Grease
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Instructions

  1. Removing the Pedals

    • 1

      Shift your bicycle into its largest chainring and smallest rear cog so as to create the greatest possible chain tension. This puts tension on your pedals, which keeps them from spinning freely when you apply pressure during the pedal removal and installation process.

    • 2

      Spray a little penetrating lubricant onto the bolt where the pedal meets the crank. Allow this to set for a few moments and wipe away any excess. This process allows the lubricant time to seep into the threads and makes the removal process a little easier, especially if the bicycle has been exposed to inclement weather conditions.

    • 3

      Grab the left crank (the non-gear side) and use your other arm to place the pedal wrench around the bolt between the pedal and the crank on the gear side of the bicycle. When loosening the gear-side pedal, turn counter-clockwise, as this pedal bears a right-handed thread pattern. When removing the the left pedal, or non-gear-side pedal, it is important to remember that this pedal is threaded in the other direction, so you will want to twist the pedal wrench clockwise to loosen it.

    Installing Replacement Pedals

    • 4

      Apply grease to the threads in the crank arms where the pedals are attached. This preparation allows for the threads to go in smoothly and helps prevent stripping the pattern if the thread of the pedal slips during the installation process.

    • 5

      Identify the gear-side pedal by finding the one with an "R" engraved onto the bolt. Use your hand to slowly turn the bolt into the crank arm using a clockwise motion. You will want to use your hand to turn it most of the way in to prevent applying a lot of torque before it gets in the right groove, thus preventing any stripping of the pedal or crank arm.

    • 6

      Install the left pedal by slowly turning in a counter-clockwise motion. Once the pedal bolt is nearly flush with the crank arm, you can use your pedal wrench to tighten the bolt completely in the same motion you used with your hands.