Rich22

Im a bike newbie and im wondering if you guys would give me your opinion on putting them in. I have no idea how to but my question is, do you just stick em in? Or is there some fine art to putting them in and should i get the LBS to do it?

Thanks,
Rich

1955

Just put them on.

Kenal0

Do it yourself although you will need a pedal wrench. LBS should do it in about 2 minutes if you do not have the correct wrench.
KL

nobrainer440

Can you turn a wrench counterclockwise as well as clockwise? If so, do it yourself.

TheKillerPenguin

really easy to put on, all you need is a wrench to screw it in a bit, then spin the cranks backwards while keeping the wrench on it. Simple as that

Cromulent

That's one of those things that are easy to do if you have the right tool. Go to the LBS, and have them show you how to put them on while they put them on. You can look at buying the pedal wrench at that point.

mpd224

Just thread them onto the crank arms. One side is threaded regular and the other side is reverse threaded (at least mine is). Just don't get the threads cross threaded! My pedals have an 8mm hex head hole to put a hex head wrench in and tighten them.

Rich22

I got the shoes and cleats aswell...


Does the pedal need to be fitted to the shoe/cleat? Cuz if it does then maybe i should just have the LBS do it all?

-Rich

Tequila Joe

The pedals are easy enough to put on but, finding you correct cleat placement could be a bit teadious.
A good LBS could help you with the cleat placement with a bike fitting session. Otherwise, it can be trial and error on your own

T.J.

TheKillerPenguin

Cleat position should be centered over the ball of your foot. on my spd sl cleats, theres a little line on the cleat that the ball of your foot is supposed to line up with. How you angle the cleat is a matter of personal preference. I prefer the cleat to be at a neutral angle so that my knees won't be turned in or out.

Hill Climber

Does anyone put Loctite on the pedal threads?

DXchulo

Sounds like overkill to me. They get pretty well stuck on there on their own.

DocRay

1st: buy a pedal wrench, don't just "spin the crank backwards", pedals have to be tight or they will creak.
Lube the threads.

Do not use loctite, you may never get the pedals off, and they will creak. You should check pedal tightness (and most bolts) once a week, don't rely on thread glues.

Serpico

if your lbs has a fit guy, you might want help with cleat placement

just slight deviations can cause serious pain, or vis-versa

good luck

Hill Climber

Thanks.

steve_wmn

I think a set of Allen (Hex) wrenches is a better bet. Some of my pedals don't have the flat spots on the axles for a pedal wrench, and a pedal wrench is pretty expensive and a one purpose tool, while a good long handle Allen wrench has a lot of uses.

One thing you should do is to keep your pedals fairly tight. A loose pedal can eat up the threading in your crank and that's an expensive fix. There's a trick to getting the right leverage to get them on tight or off if they were torqued with an air wrench by some carpet smoker. What I do is put the wrench on so that it's sticking straight out from the front of the crank, then hold the wrench in one hand and reach through the front triangle of the bike and grab the opposite crank and bear down hard on both.

timmhaan

did they come with an instruction manual?

TheKillerPenguin

Well yeah, I thought it was obvious that you'd tighten em after spinning the cranks. Spinning the cranks is just easier and quicker than working the wrench around.

formulaben

Nobody has mentioned it, but you should PUT GREASE ON THE THREADS before you install them.

webist

I have always had the LBS install the pedals and set the cleats on my shoes. I have also always purchased all three from the LBS and had my bike with me when I did so. Installation has always been part of the sale at this shop, for everything including pedals, computer, bar tape - whatever. It's just normal. Maybe it differs elsewhere.

my58vw

Install is generally included in the price at my LBS too, unless it is something like bar tape, and generally they install it for no charge. It all really depends though on the LBS and what their policies are. Installing pedals is easy, expecially if you have the larger pedal wrenches that park tools sell.

SSC

Yes... please do. You'll have a hell of a time trying to remove them when the time comes.

SDRider

Just remember that they don't screw on clockwise like most bolts. You will need to screw them counterclockwise to tighten them and clockwise to loosen. It is really that simple.

brinstar

you will need the right tool

SDRider

Nah, any narrow 14mm wrench will do.