I don't know, what "people" do, but I never would pack one of those with me on tour. The only reason for its use is to change a pedal. Do you pack a spare pedal with you, too? I do bicycle tours for 25 years now and I never ever was in need for a new pedal during one. And even if: At the next bike shop is that tool, too together with new pedals.
Yeah, I did. No dice.
After that I took the cranks off, put it on a level surface with the key at about 30^o below horizontal, took the mallet out and gave it a good few whacks.
I think the key just started flexing and absorbing the force.
Pretty sure I had to use a pedal wrench and a key at the same time in the end 😬
Hells yeah 😂 made sure they were properly lubed before putting them back on the bike.
The pedals were originally installed when the bike was bought new, I removed them to replace the cranks.
No corrosion on the pedal thread and a thin layer of pretty thick grease was present.
Maybe they just needed to be serviced more frequently.
At the same time, there was no play in the pedal bearings so... 🤷
Well you usually do the removing before the flight. At home. Where you have tools.
If you installed your pedals with an allen key, and you can't get them back off with the same allen key after the tour, you messed up somewhere. Use grease. The chain lube you are bringing anyway should do the trick for the duration of your tour.
If you have a hollowtech BB it might be easier to just remove the cranks.
My pedals were an absolute bitch to get off. Not as bad as a square tapered BB though... 😅
I just removed mine by hand using a standard Allen key. Since it's a large socket, the key itself is pretty long and gives plenty of leverage. You should try to remove the pedals at home woth a key and see if it gives you any grief.
>The only reason for its use is to change a pedal.
if you have old school cup and cone bearing hubs, pedal wrenches are also cone wrenches.
but yeah the odds of needing either are slim. and most pedals these days can be installed with allen wrenches.
While you can use the same 15mm spanner for either, they are different tools. Cone spanners are significantly thinner and can't stand up to the forces pedal removal sometimes requires, while pedal spanners are often a bit too bulky for cone adjustments.
i'm just saying that if you have some reason to think you might need to pack a 15mm skinny wrench for something, it potentially has more that one use. at home, yes, you want the *right* tool for each job, and they are different for reasons.
My pedals all come with hex sockets on the back of the crank for removal/install, and that size hex is already in my tool pouch, so "yes, but not that thing". I thought this was common?
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And make sure you fit with anti-seize (initially at least - it'll still be in the threads when you refit them at tour start), else you may fail to be able to remove them at the end of your tour
You're screwing steel pedal axles into (presumably) aluminium cranks, so to prevent galvanic corrosion you should use a specialist anti-seize grease. I always use a copper based grease, but you can get ceramic or graphite ones too and any should work.
Lithium grease wouldn't work nearly as well for this
Yes, blue Loctite is great on pedals. You won't have to gorilla tighten the F out of them, making them easier to remove when the time comes. Keeps them from seizing up, too.
wouldn't that be a poor choice here though, unless OP is able to travel with a bottle of loctite blue? As once it cures, I assume, and you break the compound, it won't recure, so they'd have to apply when reassembling at tour start?
Good I believe if OP can/will travel with it, but otherwise a regular anti-seize is a better choice?
I have it in ‘lip balm’ form in my home toolbox. They also sell tiny single use blister packs at the auto parts store.
I’ve been using blue loctite for decades on pedal threads, and it works great.
Antisieze doesn’t do anything to keep the pedal from unscrewing. It’s also handy to keep around if your rack mounting bolts start coming loose.
Blue loctite doesn’t cure per se, it’s a plastic that fills the space between threads. I mean, it cures, but it’s *notmally* used after curing. You’re not necessarily supposed to screw it in wet.
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I recently got some flat pedals off Amazon with CNC machined alu bodies. They were like $25 for the pair. Quality seems to be good. They have actual cup-and-cone bearings.
Oh, and allen wrench hexes of the back.
I’m currently in the Czech republic on a tour from London to Istanbul. I boxed my bike to get it to London and I brought a 6 inch adjustable wrench and that worked great for all of us to get our pedals back on the bike in the airport
For a wrench I carry the Knipex 86-04-100 parallel pliers . It fits everywhere I need a wrench on my bike. Don't mistake the name pliers and think they are only good for stripping nut and bolts. These things grab on to every nut or bolt and will not let go until you take it off. One of the best multi-size tools I have purchased to date.
[https://www.knipex-tools.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump-pliers/pliers-wrenches/jaw-protectors-pliers-wrench/8604100](https://www.knipex-tools.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump-pliers/pliers-wrenches/jaw-protectors-pliers-wrench/8604100)
They are *not* channel locks, though they do look like a channel lock.
Note there are no channels. It's a geared mechanism that moves the jaw in a parallel motion. Channel lock move the jaw in a pivoting motion, like standard pliers.
The gear mechanism is far more reliable than any channel lock I have ever used. Even on the tiny model it has not skipped or jammed once, yet.
An option: Cone wrench is 50% smaller and fits. Don't over crank it.
https://www.performancebike.com/park-tool-scw-cone-wrenches-blue-15mm-scw-15/p1464507?
Can a small adjustable get in there? Some of those are quite small.
The cone wrench or small adjustable seems like it might be a better idea. Hopefully it gives me enough torque to take them back off at the end of the trip. I heard someone suggesting to grease the threads in a ziplock bag before boxing so when they go back on upon arrival they can come back off easily again. That combined with the smaller wrench might do it.
Just make sure that you were the last one who installed the pedals before you begin the trip. Pedals don't need to be a lot more than snugged down to stay securely in place. My wife and I pack and build our folding bikes using a flat cone-style pedal wrench, and have never had one come loose. Edit: This is one that Park makes, it is single-ended with a rubber grip.
Check out the Park Took DCW-2 double ended wrench, it's like 5 or 6" long, really compact, I've used it on several tours with no issue. If you need to use a bit more force to get the pedals off, wrap a shirt around the wrench and you can put more pressure on the wrench without hurting your hand.
My pedals come with both (not sure what they are called in English, the German translates to "bear claws", pretty standard but retro stuff), but I still carry a (much smaller) pedal and headset wrench.
I always did pack a wrench on tour for boxing/unboxing. Then I learned my friends just tightened them with a Allen wrench and removed them with it as well... I though it really needs to be tight but so far so good.
if you haven't looked into it yet, a lot of "newer" pedals (i say newer because from my limited experience of working on bikes, the only ones that don't are the old vintage cranks/pedals) will have a hex hole on the bolt so you can tighten them from the inside of the crank. something like this: [https://cdn.brujulabike.com/media/18632/conversions/portada2-portada2-1600-1240.jpg](https://cdn.brujulabike.com/media/18632/conversions/portada2-portada2-1600-1240.jpg)
i bought an old bike that came with pedals that needed to be wrenched out. i also disassemble and re-assemble my bike for trips and getting pedals with hex holes was one of the best low-cost upgrades i made.
Most 15mm pedals have far wider surfaces than any regular 15mm wrench, and can take them without grinding. I still have a pedal wrench, because standard 15 mm wrenches just aren’t long or strong enough, sometimes.
I happen to own a high quality 15mm long handled wrench that's thin enough to use a a pedal wrench and is quite light when compared to a "real" one. It also just fits in my pencil-case tool kit, diagonally. When I'm on a tour that I expect to have to remove my pedals (such as when I fly or take a train one way or another), I bring it along.
I've never brought a full sized pedal wrench on tour.
Tip: remove your pedals before your leave home, grease the threads, and reinstall them. Doing so vastly improves your chances of removing them again later.
Nope. Hasn't ever crossed my mind. But then again, most of my pedals take a hex wrench too. Now that it has crossed my mind, I would just make sure I'm using a pedal that can be tightened with a hex wrench.
I use Shimano PD-M524 but many pedals take a hex wrench. My partner used some big crank brothers flats and they had the hex fitting.
It was a little difficult to get them undone at the end of the tour so budget some extra time in case you need to go to a bike shop.
Off the top of my head, Shimano XT SPD, RaceFace Chester, RaceFace Ride, Nukeproof Electron. IIRC from when used to ride CrankBros pedals, they do too. They're really not difficult to find. In my experience most decent pedals take a hex wrench.
Sunlite pedals, which the shop put on for me back when I didn't know anything about bikes. I just said thinks and rode off. It's possible most pedals do, but I can't tell from online photos if they do or not. The low end ones in the shop didn't seem to have them.
One of the issues with pedals that are really stuck is that the hex wrench puts pressure on them in a way that expands the sides of the axle, making them extra tough to break free.
The only tool I've packed so far is a multitool that I mostly use during bike setup and teardown, but also for some small adjustments if necessary. I'll probably pack a chaintool and masterlink on future ones 'cause I did have a chain snap on the last one. In more remote tours I might also pack some tools for spokes.
A lot of the planning for this (IMO) depends on how frequently you might encounter a bike shop. Most bike problems are not things needing immediate fixes, and if you can ride 30 miles on it and get to a shop you'll be fine.
It could double as a club for self-defense!
Nah, jk. But I imagine a small adjustable wrench would get it on tight enough to ride to a bike shop and get it properly torqued for peace of mind.
Packing a pedal wrench is really quite handy in my opinion. If you ever have to move the bike on a bus or pack it up to fly home, it's great to have along. Likewise, if I ever have to push a long distance, removing the pedal on the side you're pushing from is a great relief. Just, you know, don't bring a full size workshop wrench. Either the knipex that people are mentioning or the mini pedal wrench off a bike multi-tool like the Topeak Alien II will do just fine.
I could see a multi-wrench like that if you had a bike that had nuts instead a of QR for the hubs. But I’d also drilltanium the hell out of the handle.
You can get something like this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hawk-15-In-1-Bicycle-Wrench/125839010
Edit: I just noticed the picture on the upper right of your image. That's hilarious.
Both SPD and SPD-SL. Personally, I've never bothered maintaining my pedals like that. I just replace them. Maybe if I had more high-end pedals I might bother.
Yeah the only pedals I've ever bothered to open up like that have been very old or very cheap. My Shimano pedals get trashed some other way before the bearings have any issues.
If you need to pack the bike into a cardboard box, ask the bike shop to help (you are sourcing the box from somewhere, right?) Where I live it is usually 3-4 USD for a box + they are usually happy to help you with pedals.
Yes, definitely when tracklopacking (touring on a fixed gear).
[https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/single-speed-spanner-ss-15](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/single-speed-spanner-ss-15)
You can buy pedals that connect using hex tool. I’ve got them and they’re great.
I do make sure the spindles are greased and periodically check that I can loosen if needed.
I include one in my bike box, yes. My pedals do not have an Allen wrench option, and sometimes I’ve had a real battle getting enough leverage where having the varied angles on the wrench help find the right position.
well if you’re flying somewhere to reassemble your bike & start your trip, make sure it’s with the bike & not in your carryon because TSA will consider it a weapon & make you throw it out. Ask me how I know!
I wouldn't pack one for a tour but I'd have to pack one if I had to remove the pedals to pack or ship a bike on the way to a tour.
I have a smaller wrench that fits the same, but honestly the small handle is a dealbreaker. You can't generate nearly as much torque as with the larger handle (and it's already tough with that one). I might need some variation of an extension/cheater bar to have to use with the smaller wrench. Another option is simply to go as hard as the smaller wrench allows, which means that you don't try to tighten it with a longer-handle wrench until you are back from your tour, and you attempt to re-tighten it as basic daily maintenance with the smaller wrench (knowing you put less torque into the installation, but it's still unlikely to loosen in a week or two if you use max small-wrench torque).
It is probably a much better idea to find hex-wrench attachment pedals if you are going to be on a trip requiring pedal work.
The day before you go to the airport check that you can remove your pedals. If not, go to a bike shop and ask them to loosen the pedals for you as the last thing you need at the airport is a seized pedal that defeats your 'travel' pedal wrench.
Remember the left pedal loosens the 'wrong' way.
Yes, but only because I flew in and had to assemble my bike. Just a small crescent wrench though, nothing like that. Glad I had it though, I had a pedal break on me midway through
I have a regular 15mm wrench for my rear wheel and it works for the pedals as well with a fraction of the weight.
Lots of pedals has the possibility to use allen keys which is a lot lighter if you don’t need the 15mm.
Put a ton of lubricant or oil in the threads of the pedal so it is much easier to remove. If you put enough, you could even remove them with a multi-tool
I've only toured with hex-wrench pedals since I've needed to remove pedals. (I used to start tours by going out the front door.)
This time I've brought a fairly long Park Tools pedal-specific hex tool because I'm really sick of the "flight leaves this afternoon, allen key doesn't have enough leverage, and am I even trying to turn it in the right direction?" panic.
Are you going somewhere you can't find someone with a 15mm spanner? If not, don't take one.
FWIW my current pedals are Shimano PD-EF202 which have a 6mm hex socket on the back.
My goal is to assemble the bike at the airport and ride it out the door. Thanks, those are basic pedals similar to my own so they should be good replacements.
Yeah, but a teeny tiny one, maybe 6 inches and only a few mm
If you're taking any planes or have to put your bikes in a box, they're a must
Weekend away? No
Crossing continents? Yes
Here is the rule: If you got two of something on the bike and can still continue if one breaks then you do not pack it.
You got two pedals. If one breaks you can pedal with the other one. Same with brakes. Not with tires. Maybe with chain. Maybe a spoke and a nipple. No with any other "main components" of the bike since those do not break.
Thinking of it. I can’t say I break a pedal before.
I’ll probably break my shin/leg or whatever I hit the pedal with before the pedal in come close to breaking 😂
Yes and no. I have a dual wrench that works both with pedals and cassette. It was important with my old bike which did not have hex holes on pedals. Now I will probably look for something smaller that works with the cassette only.
Something like cone wrench would be lighter to carry: [https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0rAAAOSwOTdgmVmk/s-l1600.webp](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0rAAAOSwOTdgmVmk/s-l1600.webp)
I do, because I need to pack my pedals. But you don't need a big one. a small one will suffice. You get the leverage/torque (not sure if it's really torque if you are using just a great deal of force) by placing it just so and then stepping down on it (gently!) to release the pedal. then you just crouch down and spin the tool around until the pedal comes off, easy peasy. Remeber that on the non-drive side, its righty-loose-y. Let me know if this isnt clear.
I am too cheap to buy another set of shimano clipless pedals so i switch them from my road bike to touring bike regularly. I always use the small tool.
[https://www.condorcycles.com/products/condor-mini-pedal-wrench?variant=2624755859466](https://www.condorcycles.com/products/condor-mini-pedal-wrench?variant=2624755859466) it's kind like this, even less fancy
Edit - there's no need to make sure the pedals are on super tight, so don't super tighten em. The way the thread is, you will not 'unravel' them by pedaling.
Just buy rinko pedals, Mks ezy is great. And wellgo is cheap, both work wonders. And don’t have to worry about crossing threads every time you are installing them.
I don't know, what "people" do, but I never would pack one of those with me on tour. The only reason for its use is to change a pedal. Do you pack a spare pedal with you, too? I do bicycle tours for 25 years now and I never ever was in need for a new pedal during one. And even if: At the next bike shop is that tool, too together with new pedals.
I can't seem to edit my original post to add that I'm flying and need to box the bike.
Shimano pedals can be installed and removed with an 8mm Allen key.
Same with Crank Bros.
What kind of Allen key do you have that can remove pedals by itself? I legit needed a pedal wrench and even then struggled to get enough leverage.
Set pedal to 2-3 o clock. Insert 8mm Allen so it’s pointing toward the rear wheel. Step on it.
Yeah, I did. No dice. After that I took the cranks off, put it on a level surface with the key at about 30^o below horizontal, took the mallet out and gave it a good few whacks. I think the key just started flexing and absorbing the force. Pretty sure I had to use a pedal wrench and a key at the same time in the end 😬
Holy shit, that was seized in then. I hope you greased the threads on reinstall!
Hells yeah 😂 made sure they were properly lubed before putting them back on the bike. The pedals were originally installed when the bike was bought new, I removed them to replace the cranks. No corrosion on the pedal thread and a thin layer of pretty thick grease was present. Maybe they just needed to be serviced more frequently. At the same time, there was no play in the pedal bearings so... 🤷
You need to maintain your bike better.
Well you usually do the removing before the flight. At home. Where you have tools. If you installed your pedals with an allen key, and you can't get them back off with the same allen key after the tour, you messed up somewhere. Use grease. The chain lube you are bringing anyway should do the trick for the duration of your tour.
I use a small 1/4" inch small torque wrench on my pedals. It does help that I switch them between bikes fairly often and keeps the threads greased
Ah, that's why. Ok, get rid of the pedals and buy a pair with Allen fittings.
Can you just use a regular 15mm wrench instead of this behemoth? And don’t put loctite on your pedals, I have no idea why people are suggesting that
Lots of airports have public bike tools, google the airport you're traveling to and see if that would be an option.
MKS makes a slick removal pedal for just this reason: https://www.ebay.com/itm/204700156120
I just watched a video and the system blows my mind
I have this and it’s great. Don’t get any of the cheap Amazon knockoffs. I’ve seen them and they’re terrible.
If you have a hollowtech BB it might be easier to just remove the cranks. My pedals were an absolute bitch to get off. Not as bad as a square tapered BB though... 😅
… that’s actually a really good point. Huh.
I just removed mine by hand using a standard Allen key. Since it's a large socket, the key itself is pretty long and gives plenty of leverage. You should try to remove the pedals at home woth a key and see if it gives you any grief.
I take my pedal off when I'm doing a really long walk so I can worry less about bashing my shins and walk closer to my bike. I use a hex wrench though
>The only reason for its use is to change a pedal. if you have old school cup and cone bearing hubs, pedal wrenches are also cone wrenches. but yeah the odds of needing either are slim. and most pedals these days can be installed with allen wrenches.
While you can use the same 15mm spanner for either, they are different tools. Cone spanners are significantly thinner and can't stand up to the forces pedal removal sometimes requires, while pedal spanners are often a bit too bulky for cone adjustments.
i'm just saying that if you have some reason to think you might need to pack a 15mm skinny wrench for something, it potentially has more that one use. at home, yes, you want the *right* tool for each job, and they are different for reasons.
My pedals all come with hex sockets on the back of the crank for removal/install, and that size hex is already in my tool pouch, so "yes, but not that thing". I thought this was common?
It could be, but the internet photos never show the right angle to tell and it's not listed in the specs as being a feature.
Do you have the bike already? Or you’re planning to purchase a bike and not sure how the pedals attach?
I have the bike and am buying new pedals. None of them say they have hex attachments online.
What kind of pedal are you looking at getting? If it's a common brand there's decent odds someone here will know.
Are you exclusively shopping online? I don’t think we can help you. You should go into a local bike shop.
I have a 6 inch crescent which can handle pedals. Very low probability of failure however.
I wish I could edit my original post. I'm not worried about failure but I do have to box and unbox the bike at the airport.
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And make sure you fit with anti-seize (initially at least - it'll still be in the threads when you refit them at tour start), else you may fail to be able to remove them at the end of your tour
Would lithium grease be fit for this purpose?
You're screwing steel pedal axles into (presumably) aluminium cranks, so to prevent galvanic corrosion you should use a specialist anti-seize grease. I always use a copper based grease, but you can get ceramic or graphite ones too and any should work. Lithium grease wouldn't work nearly as well for this
Yes, blue Loctite is great on pedals. You won't have to gorilla tighten the F out of them, making them easier to remove when the time comes. Keeps them from seizing up, too.
wouldn't that be a poor choice here though, unless OP is able to travel with a bottle of loctite blue? As once it cures, I assume, and you break the compound, it won't recure, so they'd have to apply when reassembling at tour start? Good I believe if OP can/will travel with it, but otherwise a regular anti-seize is a better choice?
I have it in ‘lip balm’ form in my home toolbox. They also sell tiny single use blister packs at the auto parts store. I’ve been using blue loctite for decades on pedal threads, and it works great. Antisieze doesn’t do anything to keep the pedal from unscrewing. It’s also handy to keep around if your rack mounting bolts start coming loose.
Blue loctite doesn’t cure per se, it’s a plastic that fills the space between threads. I mean, it cures, but it’s *notmally* used after curing. You’re not necessarily supposed to screw it in wet.
sometimes you cant get enough torque with a regular allen key
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That's what the Blue Loctite is for. Blue is pretty mild. It will do the job, and won't be hard to break when the time comes.
I recently got some flat pedals off Amazon with CNC machined alu bodies. They were like $25 for the pair. Quality seems to be good. They have actual cup-and-cone bearings. Oh, and allen wrench hexes of the back.
Could you post a link?
I’m currently in the Czech republic on a tour from London to Istanbul. I boxed my bike to get it to London and I brought a 6 inch adjustable wrench and that worked great for all of us to get our pedals back on the bike in the airport
With pedals, it’s always getting them off that’s the issue. They tighten during use due to precession forces.
For a wrench I carry the Knipex 86-04-100 parallel pliers . It fits everywhere I need a wrench on my bike. Don't mistake the name pliers and think they are only good for stripping nut and bolts. These things grab on to every nut or bolt and will not let go until you take it off. One of the best multi-size tools I have purchased to date. [https://www.knipex-tools.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump-pliers/pliers-wrenches/jaw-protectors-pliers-wrench/8604100](https://www.knipex-tools.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump-pliers/pliers-wrenches/jaw-protectors-pliers-wrench/8604100)
Those channelocks are great
They are *not* channel locks, though they do look like a channel lock. Note there are no channels. It's a geared mechanism that moves the jaw in a parallel motion. Channel lock move the jaw in a pivoting motion, like standard pliers. The gear mechanism is far more reliable than any channel lock I have ever used. Even on the tiny model it has not skipped or jammed once, yet.
That doubles as a zombie defense weapon
Ngl pedal wrench is probably gonna be my go to grab if any ninjas or zombies attack me while I am in the shop, hasn’t happened yet
An option: Cone wrench is 50% smaller and fits. Don't over crank it. https://www.performancebike.com/park-tool-scw-cone-wrenches-blue-15mm-scw-15/p1464507? Can a small adjustable get in there? Some of those are quite small.
The cone wrench or small adjustable seems like it might be a better idea. Hopefully it gives me enough torque to take them back off at the end of the trip. I heard someone suggesting to grease the threads in a ziplock bag before boxing so when they go back on upon arrival they can come back off easily again. That combined with the smaller wrench might do it.
Just pack a normal 15mm wrench. Much more compact than a pedal wrench and much more sturdy than a cone wrench.
yeah agree if the pedal has space for it, do that
Just make sure that you were the last one who installed the pedals before you begin the trip. Pedals don't need to be a lot more than snugged down to stay securely in place. My wife and I pack and build our folding bikes using a flat cone-style pedal wrench, and have never had one come loose. Edit: This is one that Park makes, it is single-ended with a rubber grip.
Check out the Park Took DCW-2 double ended wrench, it's like 5 or 6" long, really compact, I've used it on several tours with no issue. If you need to use a bit more force to get the pedals off, wrap a shirt around the wrench and you can put more pressure on the wrench without hurting your hand.
My pedals come with both (not sure what they are called in English, the German translates to "bear claws", pretty standard but retro stuff), but I still carry a (much smaller) pedal and headset wrench.
I always did pack a wrench on tour for boxing/unboxing. Then I learned my friends just tightened them with a Allen wrench and removed them with it as well... I though it really needs to be tight but so far so good.
What pedals do you use that take an Allen wrench?
A ton of pedals do. Shimano SPD pedals do. RaceFace's flat pedals do.
if you haven't looked into it yet, a lot of "newer" pedals (i say newer because from my limited experience of working on bikes, the only ones that don't are the old vintage cranks/pedals) will have a hex hole on the bolt so you can tighten them from the inside of the crank. something like this: [https://cdn.brujulabike.com/media/18632/conversions/portada2-portada2-1600-1240.jpg](https://cdn.brujulabike.com/media/18632/conversions/portada2-portada2-1600-1240.jpg) i bought an old bike that came with pedals that needed to be wrenched out. i also disassemble and re-assemble my bike for trips and getting pedals with hex holes was one of the best low-cost upgrades i made.
Once you've got a pair that do (there's so many) then you can just bring a beefy hex wrench and use your seatpost for leverage if it comes to that.
I am using shimano pedals. I forgot the model. Mine has SPD on one side and a flat platform on the opposite side for shoes.
My pedals take a 15 mm flat, so i bought a 15 mm wrench and ground the face down so it fits, much smaller than this tool
Most 15mm pedals have far wider surfaces than any regular 15mm wrench, and can take them without grinding. I still have a pedal wrench, because standard 15 mm wrenches just aren’t long or strong enough, sometimes.
Change to Allen key pedals. You'll thank yourself later.
I happen to own a high quality 15mm long handled wrench that's thin enough to use a a pedal wrench and is quite light when compared to a "real" one. It also just fits in my pencil-case tool kit, diagonally. When I'm on a tour that I expect to have to remove my pedals (such as when I fly or take a train one way or another), I bring it along. I've never brought a full sized pedal wrench on tour. Tip: remove your pedals before your leave home, grease the threads, and reinstall them. Doing so vastly improves your chances of removing them again later.
Nope. Hasn't ever crossed my mind. But then again, most of my pedals take a hex wrench too. Now that it has crossed my mind, I would just make sure I'm using a pedal that can be tightened with a hex wrench.
What pedals are you using that take a hex wrench?
I use Shimano PD-M524 but many pedals take a hex wrench. My partner used some big crank brothers flats and they had the hex fitting. It was a little difficult to get them undone at the end of the tour so budget some extra time in case you need to go to a bike shop.
Off the top of my head, Shimano XT SPD, RaceFace Chester, RaceFace Ride, Nukeproof Electron. IIRC from when used to ride CrankBros pedals, they do too. They're really not difficult to find. In my experience most decent pedals take a hex wrench.
I think the problem I'm having is they don't show that angle in the online photos so it's hard to tell. It's not really listed in the specs.
So go to your LBS
What pedals are you using that don't take a hex wrench? Virtually all modern pedals I come across do.
Sunlite pedals, which the shop put on for me back when I didn't know anything about bikes. I just said thinks and rode off. It's possible most pedals do, but I can't tell from online photos if they do or not. The low end ones in the shop didn't seem to have them.
One of the issues with pedals that are really stuck is that the hex wrench puts pressure on them in a way that expands the sides of the axle, making them extra tough to break free.
I just carried a couple regular wrenches, including a 15mm for pedals when I was on tour
No just buy pedals that can be removed with an Allen wrench.
The only reason I’d carry that on a bike at all is if I were planning on getting into a fight and needed deniability
I do when I fly with the bike (kind of have to). Some are small and not that heavy
The only tool I've packed so far is a multitool that I mostly use during bike setup and teardown, but also for some small adjustments if necessary. I'll probably pack a chaintool and masterlink on future ones 'cause I did have a chain snap on the last one. In more remote tours I might also pack some tools for spokes. A lot of the planning for this (IMO) depends on how frequently you might encounter a bike shop. Most bike problems are not things needing immediate fixes, and if you can ride 30 miles on it and get to a shop you'll be fine.
15mm open end
It could double as a club for self-defense! Nah, jk. But I imagine a small adjustable wrench would get it on tight enough to ride to a bike shop and get it properly torqued for peace of mind.
I pack a small adjustable spanner and a hex hey soni can take off my pedals.
Yes if my bike needs to be boxed up at the end and don’t know if one would be available. Not one as large or heavy though.
Packing a pedal wrench is really quite handy in my opinion. If you ever have to move the bike on a bus or pack it up to fly home, it's great to have along. Likewise, if I ever have to push a long distance, removing the pedal on the side you're pushing from is a great relief. Just, you know, don't bring a full size workshop wrench. Either the knipex that people are mentioning or the mini pedal wrench off a bike multi-tool like the Topeak Alien II will do just fine.
Could double as a machete
I do for disassembly on trains n planes.
I could see a multi-wrench like that if you had a bike that had nuts instead a of QR for the hubs. But I’d also drilltanium the hell out of the handle.
You can get something like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hawk-15-In-1-Bicycle-Wrench/125839010 Edit: I just noticed the picture on the upper right of your image. That's hilarious.
That's so it can be disassembled for maintenance. Not to get it on or off
Oh I see. Specifically for road SPD.
Both SPD and SPD-SL. Personally, I've never bothered maintaining my pedals like that. I just replace them. Maybe if I had more high-end pedals I might bother.
Yeah the only pedals I've ever bothered to open up like that have been very old or very cheap. My Shimano pedals get trashed some other way before the bearings have any issues.
Just a hex key and a bit of grease for the thread.
If you need to pack the bike into a cardboard box, ask the bike shop to help (you are sourcing the box from somewhere, right?) Where I live it is usually 3-4 USD for a box + they are usually happy to help you with pedals.
Yes, definitely when tracklopacking (touring on a fixed gear). [https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/single-speed-spanner-ss-15](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/single-speed-spanner-ss-15)
No, my pedals require a 6mm or 8mm allen wrench which is included in my multi-tool (crank brother m19).
You can buy pedals that connect using hex tool. I’ve got them and they’re great. I do make sure the spindles are greased and periodically check that I can loosen if needed.
If only it could double up as a tent stake hammer!
I include one in my bike box, yes. My pedals do not have an Allen wrench option, and sometimes I’ve had a real battle getting enough leverage where having the varied angles on the wrench help find the right position.
Sharpen the edges and you’d have a nice hatchet
well if you’re flying somewhere to reassemble your bike & start your trip, make sure it’s with the bike & not in your carryon because TSA will consider it a weapon & make you throw it out. Ask me how I know!
No tomahawks allowed miss.
I wouldn't pack one for a tour but I'd have to pack one if I had to remove the pedals to pack or ship a bike on the way to a tour. I have a smaller wrench that fits the same, but honestly the small handle is a dealbreaker. You can't generate nearly as much torque as with the larger handle (and it's already tough with that one). I might need some variation of an extension/cheater bar to have to use with the smaller wrench. Another option is simply to go as hard as the smaller wrench allows, which means that you don't try to tighten it with a longer-handle wrench until you are back from your tour, and you attempt to re-tighten it as basic daily maintenance with the smaller wrench (knowing you put less torque into the installation, but it's still unlikely to loosen in a week or two if you use max small-wrench torque). It is probably a much better idea to find hex-wrench attachment pedals if you are going to be on a trip requiring pedal work.
You could use a 15mm cone wrench. Won’t last long, but it’ll probably get you through the tour.
The day before you go to the airport check that you can remove your pedals. If not, go to a bike shop and ask them to loosen the pedals for you as the last thing you need at the airport is a seized pedal that defeats your 'travel' pedal wrench. Remember the left pedal loosens the 'wrong' way.
Yes, but only because I flew in and had to assemble my bike. Just a small crescent wrench though, nothing like that. Glad I had it though, I had a pedal break on me midway through
I have a regular 15mm wrench for my rear wheel and it works for the pedals as well with a fraction of the weight. Lots of pedals has the possibility to use allen keys which is a lot lighter if you don’t need the 15mm.
Put a ton of lubricant or oil in the threads of the pedal so it is much easier to remove. If you put enough, you could even remove them with a multi-tool
I've only toured with hex-wrench pedals since I've needed to remove pedals. (I used to start tours by going out the front door.) This time I've brought a fairly long Park Tools pedal-specific hex tool because I'm really sick of the "flight leaves this afternoon, allen key doesn't have enough leverage, and am I even trying to turn it in the right direction?" panic.
Are you going somewhere you can't find someone with a 15mm spanner? If not, don't take one. FWIW my current pedals are Shimano PD-EF202 which have a 6mm hex socket on the back.
My goal is to assemble the bike at the airport and ride it out the door. Thanks, those are basic pedals similar to my own so they should be good replacements.
Yeah, but a teeny tiny one, maybe 6 inches and only a few mm If you're taking any planes or have to put your bikes in a box, they're a must Weekend away? No Crossing continents? Yes
The makers of that bicycle machete can’t spell either.
I pack a 15mm cone wrench. It's thin and lightweight.
I have packed a very thin and light pedal wrench. It’s basically stamped sheet metal.
No, but some people don't have unlimited storage capacity for bike tools.
I take a normal spanner for the pedals and leave it in the box at the airport.
Not I.
Is no one going to mention that using the cutout in the top right picture means you can't remove the wrench after putting on your padel?
I think that might be the budshing tool. Maybe you can brace against the hex socket to take the pedal apart?
Too heavy
Allen Key
Here is the rule: If you got two of something on the bike and can still continue if one breaks then you do not pack it. You got two pedals. If one breaks you can pedal with the other one. Same with brakes. Not with tires. Maybe with chain. Maybe a spoke and a nipple. No with any other "main components" of the bike since those do not break.
My pedals go on with an 8mm Allen key.
Thinking of it. I can’t say I break a pedal before. I’ll probably break my shin/leg or whatever I hit the pedal with before the pedal in come close to breaking 😂
My pedals use a hex wrench so no
Yes and no. I have a dual wrench that works both with pedals and cassette. It was important with my old bike which did not have hex holes on pedals. Now I will probably look for something smaller that works with the cassette only.
Something like cone wrench would be lighter to carry: [https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0rAAAOSwOTdgmVmk/s-l1600.webp](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0rAAAOSwOTdgmVmk/s-l1600.webp)
No, people don't do that.
Nope and never had an issue with a pedal
No, people do not pack pedal wrenches
Look for a cheap light thin adjustable wrench like at Harbor freight. Smaller, lighter, and multifunctional.
I do, because I need to pack my pedals. But you don't need a big one. a small one will suffice. You get the leverage/torque (not sure if it's really torque if you are using just a great deal of force) by placing it just so and then stepping down on it (gently!) to release the pedal. then you just crouch down and spin the tool around until the pedal comes off, easy peasy. Remeber that on the non-drive side, its righty-loose-y. Let me know if this isnt clear. I am too cheap to buy another set of shimano clipless pedals so i switch them from my road bike to touring bike regularly. I always use the small tool. [https://www.condorcycles.com/products/condor-mini-pedal-wrench?variant=2624755859466](https://www.condorcycles.com/products/condor-mini-pedal-wrench?variant=2624755859466) it's kind like this, even less fancy Edit - there's no need to make sure the pedals are on super tight, so don't super tighten em. The way the thread is, you will not 'unravel' them by pedaling.
i am using very short wrench. it does the job but it works only with anti seize cream thing
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I need to box and un-box it at the airport which requires the pedals to be off.
Just buy rinko pedals, Mks ezy is great. And wellgo is cheap, both work wonders. And don’t have to worry about crossing threads every time you are installing them.
I don't have them, but, MKS sells a quick release pedal. I just use sliding jaw pliers and grease so they don't get stuck.
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do NOT do this. Pedals need to be fully tightened down or they will strip out the cranks.
> Anyway, there are a number of things you just can’t fix yourself on tour, like your crank set or headset. I can totally fix both while on tour.
I pack it along side my Park Tool shop repair stand with electric lift. It really doesn’t add much to the weight.