A Little Elbow Grease & a Pedal Wrench

You know that feeling of accomplishment you get when you conquer something especially tasking? That something you weren't quite sure you could do yourself? Today I had one of those moments and I conquered the pedal wrench, or rather, the pedals.

I'm all for having someone work on my bike so I don't have to, but I always have the guilty voice in my head saying, "You really should learn how to do this. You CAN do this." On Big Bike Friday (last Friday) I decided the time had come that I transfer my own pedals from the old steed to the new one. I bought a pedal wrench, the wrench that Ray said I should get, albeit a bit overpriced (if you ask me).


I tried on Friday, rather unsuccessfully, to remove the pedals of the mountain bike. I gave up. All I could think was, "Man, I bought a stinkin' wrench and everything! Argh!"

Today I was in the mood to give green machine a whirl. I decided I better suck it up and give the pedal installation another try. I did a little research online and wouldn't allow myself to give up when the pedal just wouldn't budge. Guess what? I won. I installed my own pedals and realized that pedal installation is pretty darn easy!

So, long story short, here's how you do it . . .

What you'll need:

*15mm pedal wrench (OR a crescent wrench, or a long-handled allen wrench)
*bike grease (I used Pedro's Syn Grease)
*bike stand (or you can turn the bike upside down so the seat and handlebars are supporting it, allowing you to move the wheels freely)
*paper towels/rag to wipe excess grease away

What you need to know:
Both pedals screw into the crank arm, but they are threaded differently. This means they will screw into the crank arm in different directions. The right pedal is threaded to tighten when turned clockwise and to loosen when turned counter-clockwise. The left pedal is turned counter-clockwise to tighten and clockwise to loosen.


Removal
As you can see in the photo above, you slide the pedal wrench between the crank arm and the pedal itself. I found it was easiest to align the pedals horizontally then I could get a bit of leverage by holding the pedal while I cranked it in the opposite direction. Sometimes they are buggers to loosen initially, but once they give, it is smooth sailing. If they are really stuck you can hammer the wrench a bit, you guessed it, with a hammer.

Installation
Due to the unique threading of each pedal they are labeled with either an L (left) or R (right) to aid in installation. Wipe off any old grease on the threads and apply new, fresh grease. This facilitates easier removal in the future. Then, just screw them in and tightened with the pedal wrench. Piece of cake. You'll be on your way to cruisin' in no time!

Hopefully you find this to be helpful. I recommend checking out YouTube if you're looking for additional resources on the subject. They have some great videos out there!

REI Seminar: Preparing for Touring Rides

Bike touring . . . what does that mean? It sounds like a lot of sweating, blisters, and Gu. Could it really be fun? The STP Gang wanted to know, so we took a trek over to the Boise REI to learn more about touring.

The free seminar lasted about an hour and 20 minutes and proved to be another fabulously informative class. (Did we mention it was free?) Representatives from the YMCA, Ride Idaho, and Boise Bike Wrench were present to cover topics such as: training, gear, nutrition, and bike mechanics.

Emily Williams with the YMCA covered what to expect of a bike tour and used Ride Idaho as an example. Ride Idaho is an annual event that explores the wonders of Idaho. It is described on their website as, ". . . seven days of great food, outrageous fun, awesome entertainment, and some riding that will curl your spokes." Two hundred and forty participants are expected for this year's race scheduled for Sunday, August 9 - Saturday, August 15, 2009.

How do you TRAIN for a bike tour?
Brett Tinker talked about the importance of proper training. Items he covered were:

• Community Bicycle Rides - Get some mileage in. Join a local cycling club.


• Cycling is an Ageless Sport - You will find riders of all ages on the road. You are never too old or too young to start.


• Commute - Commuting is an easy way to increase your mileage.


• Hills - You will have to climb a hill at some point in your cycling career. You CAN do it. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and you will be successful. Oh, and remember, you have to come down that hill, too.


• Nutrition - Hydration + Nutrition are KEY!



• Train - The YMCA provides a great training guide here.


• Spin - Spinning class is good!


• Two Days - You will need to work up to trainings that happen two days in a row.

What kind of GEAR are you going to need?

• Air Pumps - You will need a floor pump with a gauge + a small, mini pump to carry on your ride.


• Tube - Tuck this bad boy into your seat pack. You will need it at some point.


• Polyester - Clothing made for wicking away sweat can be a life saver (or comfort saver).


• Sunscreen


• Helmet


• Bike Shoes - Stiff shoes transfer more power to the pedals. No need to lose all that energy--use it!


• Bike Fit - Make sure your ride is properly fitted for you (the recommendation was to look into GFIt).


• Water Bottle or Hydration Pack - Drink, drink, drink, drink!


• Chamois Butt'r or Body Glide - Keep your parts chafe free (hopefully).


• headband or beanie


• Arm Warmers


• Leg Warmers


• Booties


• Cycling Socks


• Bike Shorts - You know, the spandex kind with the padding in the center. It will save your . . .


• Jacket - The dayglo variety adds a safety factor and keeps you warm.


• Sunglasses

What about NUTRITION?

• Eat Breakfast. Eat it every day. It is the fuel that makes you successful. Make sure to add protein for additional sustained energy.


• Steer clear of artificial flavors and colors.


• Drink water and juice (you don't need no stinkin' Gatorade). If you do use a specific sports drink bring it with you on tour. If you start drinking Gatorade on a tour and you never drink it, you may wind up with diarrhea--not cool!


• Eating Nuts + fruit on a tour will keep you from tanking.


• If you eat energy bars make sure they have pretty equal parts of protein and sugar. You also want to make sure you are getting potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium in these foods.

Basic Bike MECHANICS to know.


The Boise Bike Wrench, David Seamons, gave tips on basic bike maintenance to make your riding easier and more efficient. Here are a few tidbits from his presentation:

• Proper Bike Fit - Your legs need to clear the tube and you want to make sure the distance from seat to handlebars is fitted for you correctly.


• A Clean Bike - A clean bike is a happy bike. If you keep a clean bike you will have less issues with parts later on.


• Nix the Wax Lubes - Just don't use wax lubes. They collect dirt and are not as effective as other kinds.


• Service Your Ride - Service your bike before you go on a long tour.


• The Seat - An uncomfortable seat is just that, uncomfortable. Find one that works for you.


• Air in the Tires - Air up those tires every time you ride.


• Secret Stash - Carry a tire tube + a bike tool (allen wrench #5 is pretty universal) with you in your seat pack.


• Flat Tires - Know how to change a flat tire. No one escapes one of these, especially in Idaho.


• Lube Your Chain - Lube your chain AFTER you get back from a ride. This way you're ready to go out of the gate.

We would like to thank REI for hosting these great seminars. We learned a lot and hoped you did, too. Check out the links below for information from the seminar.

Links
The Bob Lebow Ride
Lost River Cycling Club
Community Bicycle Rides (Nice website!)
Boise Bike Wrench
YMCA Idaho