So you got a shiny new set of pedals. Now you face the challenge of installation. No worries, installing new pedals yourself is quick and easy and will save you the additional cost of a bike shop. We’ve outline the steps required for first timers or those needing a refresher course.
You will need the following
Pedal Wrench and/or Allen key (depending on your pedals)
An old shop towel (paper towel will do too)
Cotton Swabs
Grease
Removing the old pedals:
Put the old shop towel (or paper towel) under your workspace just in case. Place your bike on the ground over the shop towel, or if you have a work stand, all the better. If you’re using a work stand, place your hand on the rear wheel or grab the brake to stop the wheel from spinning. Yeah, I know, no brainer, but sometimes you forget!
Be sure to shift the chain on to the big ring before you remove the pedals so you don’t cut yourself on the chain ring teeth. They are sharp.
Now you can remove the pedals. Your right pedal will come off just like any other bolt system you’ve used. Turning the spindle counter-clockwise (left) will loosen the pedal. No problem.
However, the left pedal is reversed threaded and will need to be turned clockwise (right) to loosen. This is so you don’t inadvertently unscrew your pedal while riding. It makes sense, but can get frustrating if you don’t remember that the old rule of lefty loosy righty tighty DOES NOT apply when you are dealing with the left side pedal. Too many have made the mistake of not reading that part and then get frustrated when they tighten the left side so tight it requires a hammer to remove it.
(Even if you are turning the correct way, don’t be surprised if you need to put your shoulder into it; water and time may have removed the grease which will cause those pesky pedals to stick.)
Side Note: With pedals like the Look Keo Carbons you won’t use a pedal wrench. These pedals require an Allen key that you place in the spindle from the back side. If you have a cadence magnet in there, be sure to remove it before you attempt to remove the pedal.
Installing the new pedals:
So now that the old pedals are off, it’s time to clean out the threads on your crank arm to remove any dirt or old grease. This is where the Cotton Swabs come in handy.
Once it’s clean, you get to muck it up again with the new grease! Place a strip of grease on both threads of the pedals. After they are greased, put them on, but only use your fingers to catch the threads and tighten them up to your crank arm. Don’t use the tools until they are sufficiently finger tightened. And again, remember, the left pedal is reverse threaded. Take your time and you won’t strip your crank.
After the pedals are finger tightened, take out the pedal wrench (or Allen key if that’s what is needed). Snug the pedals up to your crank arm (typically ¼ to ½ of a turn is tight enough). Once firmly in place, use your old rag to wipe up the excess grease and you are ready to ride.
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