How To Tighten Peloton Pedals: A Step-By-Step Guide!

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Peloton bikes are more than just ordinary indoor cycling machines. They have become a lifestyle. Once you start using a Peloton bike, it’s very difficult to switch to some other indoor exercise equipment.

However, to take out maximum benefit from a Peloton, you would need to make sure that you know the functions of the bike inside out. And one of the most important components to get yourself familiar with are the pedals.

With this guide, you will consider yourself lucky enough to know how the pedals work and how they can be tightened. Too loose or too tight pedals may cause injury while you’re working out.

To prevent any injuries and to make sure you are able to clip into the bike effortlessly, you need to make sure that the pedals are in check. Peloton recommends replacing the bike’s pedals yearly and tightening with once a month.

Let’s see how to tighten Peloton pedals in this guide so you can easily perform this important maintenance step at home without having to rely on professional help.

So, let’s get started!

Also Read: Best Pedals for Peloton Bike: Everything you Need for Spinning!

Contents show

Peloton Pedals Maintenance

We often neglect the pedals of a bike, be it a road bike or an indoor bike. In both cases, regular maintenance is important to ensure that the bike keeps running smoothly and there are very few chances of a breakdown.

You need to inspect the Peloton pedals at least once a month to look out for any damages. One way to tell if your pedals need maintenance is a squeaking sound that starts coming from the pedal area and distracts you from your exercise.

With the passage of time, the condition of the pedals might deteriorate if you don’t take the necessary action to get rid of the annoying sound. They would either need a replacement or you would have to fix the old ones.

Peloton pedals are not regular pedals. These are clipless and need the cleats to click with them. Sometimes the cleats are loose and they easily stick to the pedals. In this case, you would need to tighten the cleats with a 3mm Hex key which comes with the Peloton kit.

At times the cleats are working fine but the pedals tend to loosen up. That could be due to excessive pressure exerted while exercising. The pressure on the pedals makes them loose and you need to tighten the pedal tension.

Let’s see how these pedals can be tightened up with just a few easy and simple steps.

Also Read: Peloton Bike Pedals: Best Answers to Your Questions

How to Tighten Peloton Pedals?

Tightening the pedals is sometimes confused with adjusting the pedal tension or bike tension. Although this is also an important step, Peloton recommends this step when you find it difficult to clip into the pedals. If the pedal tension is too tight, you can’t get the cleats to click in.

However, tightening the pedals means tightening the bolts that connect the pedals to the crank arm. If you haven’t yet replaced your Peloton pedals, you wouldn’t have performed this step and may not be familiar with its technicalities.

It’s not very difficult once you have the right tools to do it. These step-by-step instructions would assist you in the tightening of Peloton pedals.

Step #1 – Check Pedal Tension

To start off, you first need to turn the resistance knob to the full right and this would lock the flywheel and crank arm.

You would need to check the pedal tension which is tension screws at the bottom of each pedal. This is the area where the cleats attach themselves to the pedal. These tension screws could loosen up with time and your foot would not properly hold itself.

Step #2 – Adjust the Tension Screws

Turn the pedal and you can see the tension screw having a plus and minus sign above it. Turn the Allen key clockwise towards the plus sign for a quarter of a turn at a time till the screws are tight. You should not turn them too much as it would damage the pedals.

If the cleats attach to the screws too easily, it means that you have not tightened them well. It should take some force to get the cleats attached to the pedal screws.

Step #3 – Tighten the Pedals

To tighten the Peloton pedals, you need a 15mm wrench. This is to ensure that the job can be finished without damaging the pedal.

Tighten the bolt of the right pedal that connects the pedal to the right crank arm. You will turn the wrench in a clockwise direction when tightening the pedal for the right side.

The left pedal has a reverse thread. This ensures that when you pedal forward or backward, the pedals of either side don’t loosen themselves. For the left pedal, you need to turn the wrench in a counterclockwise direction

Turn till you can’t turn it anymore. In this way, you would know that the pedal is securely tightened.

The pedals could wear out with time. They do have a 12-month warranty but after that, you would need to look out for any wear and tear. If the damage is more, you would have to replace them using an Allen key and a 15mm wrench.

Also Read: Clipping Into Peloton Bike: The Ultimate Guide!

Some Tips and Tricks for Easy Pedal Maintenance

Here are a few tips to make sure your bike’s maintenance does not become burdensome.

Always check your bike pedals at least once a month. This would help in fixing it a lot earlier before the pedal collapses.
Too loose or too tight a pedal would put unnecessary pressure on your toes and heels which could cause injury. To prevent this, you need to make sure that the pedals are inspected regularly and fixed as needed.
Always use a 15mm wrench that is not adjustable. An adjustable wrench is not suitable for tightening the pedals.
To check whether tension screws need tightening, you need to see if the shoes are easily clipped in and out of the pedal or if the shoes are loose in the pedal then the screws need to be tightened up.
Pedals need to be replaced after at least a year. If they are not replaced, they might break down which could cause injury.
Try not to put too much pressure on your toes or heels while pedaling. It could cause injury to your feet.
To clip into a pedal, align your cleat bolts with the pedal screws so that they make a clicking sound and your shoes would properly attach to the pedal.
You should pedal at a regular allowed speed. If you try to overdo it, it could loosen the pedals. Due to excessive wear and tear, the pedals might break.
You can also replace your Peloton bike pedals with your regular cycling pedals. You just need to detach the peloton pedals and attach the cycling ones using a wrench.

Also Read: Best Method on How to Clip in Peloton Shoes

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do the Peloton pedals last?

Although they can last for a couple of years if there is less wear and tear, Peloton recommends replacing the pedals every year in order to ensure smooth and trouble-free rides.
If your pedals are worn-out and old, you might get injured during a workout. It is therefore an important maintenance step that you should perform every year.

Why can’t I clip out of the pedal easily?

If you are finding it very difficult to clip out of the pedals, then you need to loosen the pedal tension. For that, you would need a 3mm Hex key and turn the screw towards the minus sign in a counterclockwise direction and a quarter of a turn till it loosens a bit.
It is then recommended to hop onto the bike with your shoes on to check if you can clip in and clip out easily. Only loosen more if you still find it difficult to clip out. It’s not recommended to loosen the pedal tension too much at once.

What kind of pedals would fit in a Peloton?

For Peloton consumer bikes, Look Delta pedals are installed. You would need to buy 3- bolt LOOK Delta cleats for the shoes to clip in.

Why does my Peloton give a clicking sound?

The clicking sound is produced by the cleats when they interact with the pedals. They are loose enough to give out this sound. You would need to tighten the cleat bolts to make this sound disappear.
However, sometimes the pedals also start creating a squeaking sound especially when they are old and worn out. Adjust the pedal tension to see if the sound goes away. If it doesn’t then it might be time to replace the pedals.

How tight should the Peloton pedals be?

If you are tightening the pedals at the place where they attach to the crank arm, then make sure you tighten them as much as the wrench turns.
However, if you are adjusting pedal tension, tightening the tension screw is recommended only when you find it too easy to clip into the pedals. If it is the other way around, you would need to loosen the tension a little bit.
In this case, it is recommended only to loosen or tighten one-quarter of a turn at a time. Get onto the bike after this and see if your problem was solved. If it is still too easy to clip in, tighten a little bit more and then test again.

How often should you tighten the Peloton pedals?

It is recommended to tighten the pedals after you complete three to five rides. A 15mm wrench is included with the Peloton kit that should be used to tighten the pedal bolts. Pedals are supposed to be tightened to 25 lb-ft of torque.

Is it possible to swap out Peloton pedals for SPD pedals?

Yes, it’s possible to replace the factory-fitted LOOK Delta pedals for any other pedal system you feel comfortable with. Many people go for SPD pedals because they are easy to clip in and you can also walk around wearing the cycling shoes that come with SPD cleats.
However, Delta pedals are more useful performance-wise because they allow the use of rigid-soled Peloton shoes with a three-hole assembly on their back. These shoes are made to enhance your cycling experience by offering maximum power transfer.
Replace the pedals only if you find Delta pedals to be difficult to clip into. Otherwise, just buy the regular Peloton pedals when you need to replace them annually as a maintenance step.

What are clipless pedals?

Clipless pedals are so-called because they are designed to have the shoes attached to them using cleats on the back of the shoes. Since they don’t involve the toe clip or toe cage, they are called “clipless”.
These types of pedals have been found to be better for sprinting and spinning because they allow maximum power transfer and serve to improve your cycling experience. Beginners may find it difficult to get used to clipless pedals at first but once they master the art of clipping in and out, they start enjoying their workouts.

Can regular cycling shoes be worn for a Peloton workout?

Yes, any regular cycling shoes can be worn for a Peloton workout but it is not recommended. You would need toe cages to use with these shoes to make sure they stay in place and don’t slip off while you exercise.
Exercising without the cleats on would put pressure on your feet which could cause problems later on. It is best to purchase proper Peloton shoes with cleats and attach them to the Peloton pedals so that you can secure your feet while exercising.

Your turn…

Tightening Peloton pedals may seem simple and straightforward but it is a step that many people overlook only to get into trouble later on. Problems that can start arising if you don’t tighten your bike’s pedals periodically include squeaking sounds and having difficulty clipping in and out.

A loose pedal may also break off and cause injury while you’re working out. To avoid these problems, it is recommended to tighten your pedals after every 3 to 5 rides. I hope you found this guide helpful and are now fully equipped to tighten or even replace the pedals altogether.

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