pliers worked for me, and lots of elbow grease (which is just laughable, since i have little to no strength whatsoever.) it's probably one of the worst and most frustrating things to play with on the bike. seems like it should be easy and you just get all huffy and puffy doing it. what i messed up on after putting a set on my pedals was i didnt twist them when i threaded them through the bottom part of the pedals, you know, so i had to remove them (almost worse than putting them on) and then re-insert them. brand new ones, at least, are easier to work with. playing with a set that has been on and off more than once? forget it! i sent a pair of pedals with the straps still on and told the buyer "if you can get these off you are a saint!" he was a saint, and stronger than me, he sent them back with a bunch of other cool stuff. now i just tacked them to my wall because i sure aint putting them back on...