grashelm

So I bought a new bike and need to get some pedals for it. I'd go to the LBS where I bought the bike, but I see I can buy the pedals online for less. How difficult is it to put pedals on....I only ask because I read about torquing them when you put them on etc. How necessary is it to torque them? I dont have a torque wrench so was figuring that I'd just tighten them till......well.....they're tight! Thoughts?

johnny99

I don't use a torque wrench on pedals. You can read the torque spec and calibrate your arm. With a little experience, that is pretty easy to do. Torques on bicycle components are not real exact.

jyossarian

Don't forget to order a pedal wrench while you're at it.

Hanzo

And make sure to remember that the left is reverse thread.

blandin

And remember to grease the threads if you'd like to remove them someday!

nateted4

Pedals are designed to tighten as they are ridden, and to take insane forces. This being the case, just make sure the left goes on the left and the right goes on the right and tighten away.

Machka 

I ever-so-gently screw them in with my hands (not any tools) until they are almost tight. They'll tighten while you ride.

Sometimes I'll put a little grease on the threads to make them easier to unscrew at the airport when I'm taking my bicycle apart to box it up for yet another trip.

And yes, do not forget that the left pedal is left-hand thread.

urbanknight

+1 I saw a bike on ebay that had the pedals on the wrong sides. I emailed the seller, who edited his listing to say that the bike would be needing new cranks. I didn't bid on it, afraid of what else might have been negleced.

Also +1 *squeaky squeaky* I can't tell you know many times I have installed pedals and then did a full ride squeaking like a mouse, fixing the problem when I got home. It's always after you get 10 miles from home that the squeak presents itself too.