Stupid pedal question
06-17-09, 11:35 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Stupid pedal question
Why is there a left-handed thread on the left pedal? To me, this would make sense on the right pedal, not the left.
If you were to fix the pedal to the shaft it's on, and pedal the bike, both pedals would loosen where they thread into the cranks - I always assumed that it would be desirable to have the pedalling action cause the pedals to tighten where they thread into the cranks.
What's going on here?
If you were to fix the pedal to the shaft it's on, and pedal the bike, both pedals would loosen where they thread into the cranks - I always assumed that it would be desirable to have the pedalling action cause the pedals to tighten where they thread into the cranks.
What's going on here?
06-17-09, 11:45 AM
#2
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06-17-09, 11:53 AM
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By being on the left side, both pedals tighten to the crank-arms by turning them in the direction of the front of the bike. This matches the direction of a forward pedal-stroke - so maybe the pedals will tighten on more by pedaling. Rather than unscrew and fall off as the bike is being ridden.
06-17-09, 12:17 PM
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I dont know the reasoning behind it all.. but once you figure that out... go and figure out the reasoning behind french threading...cuz it is the exact opposite of standard ISO or whatever it is called... IIRC a different axel width altogether.
06-17-09, 01:03 PM
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By being on the left side, both pedals tighten to the crank-arms by turning them in the direction of the front of the bike. This matches the direction of a forward pedal-stroke - so maybe the pedals will tighten on more by pedaling. Rather than unscrew and fall off as the bike is being ridden.
Your ignorance would have been quickly dispelled by looking at the Sheldon Brown link!
06-17-09, 01:03 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
That is awesome. Thanks very much for the link, the explanation makes perfect sense.
So, once again the answer comes from Sheldon. It's not hard to see why he remains such a beloved feature of the bicycle scene.
So, once again the answer comes from Sheldon. It's not hard to see why he remains such a beloved feature of the bicycle scene.
06-17-09, 02:16 PM
#8
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And maybe not. All that truly matters is to know which way to install or uninstall your pedals - if you're a home-mechanic. Tighten - towards front. Loosen - towards rear.
Regards the French...well a friend of mine bought a house he said was (it really was) "built by a Frenchman." I asked him what he meant. He told me to go into a dark bedroom and find the light-switch. I found it - behind the door that opened inwards into the room. Nearly bonked my head doing it. My friend sat there grinning.
Regards the French...well a friend of mine bought a house he said was (it really was) "built by a Frenchman." I asked him what he meant. He told me to go into a dark bedroom and find the light-switch. I found it - behind the door that opened inwards into the room. Nearly bonked my head doing it. My friend sat there grinning.
06-17-09, 09:09 PM
#10
Call me The Breeze
Regards the French...well a friend of mine bought a house he said was (it really was) "built by a Frenchman." I asked him what he meant. He told me to go into a dark bedroom and find the light-switch. I found it - behind the door that opened inwards into the room. Nearly bonked my head doing it. My friend sat there grinning.
06-17-09, 09:18 PM
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Not really. I put my pedal wrench on the pedal spindle and turn the crank backwards until the pedal tightens.
06-18-09, 06:01 PM
#13
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Hey, don't laugh. It works. 
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
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Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
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06-18-09, 06:04 PM
#14
Call me The Breeze
I'm not sure why you even would laugh as it's the fastest and easiest way to do it.
06-18-09, 06:26 PM
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Because it works is why I laugh. I find this adds more fun to, for some folks, the puzzle of why pedals screw on this way or that. Now I'm waiting for someone to ask about removing pedals by pedaling backwards! 
