Installing and using pop-off pedals

If you’ve ordered a CHANGE bike, you’re about to get pop-off pedals, which come standard with all CHANGE bike models. The latches will already be installed on the bike, while the pedals are stored in the complimentary Flatbike seat bag.

As you unfold your new bike, you’ll be installing pop-off pedals for the first time. It takes just five seconds in the videos; how difficult can it be?

Well… easy enough to install in five seconds, once you know exactly what to do with your thumb. It’s worth spending 90 seconds on a good overview of pop-off pedals.

Basic facts about pop-off pedals.

Like most pedals, pop-off pedals thread onto the pedal crank with standard threading–right threaded on the right side crank, and reverse threaded on the left. (This is important only if you are installing pop-off pedals–and their latches–on your own bike).

But these pedals are in two parts: a pedal (flat, SPD, or MTB) with a hexagonal shaft and a latch with hexagonal hollow part that stays attached to the crank arm. Knowing how to fit a hexagonal shaft quickly into a hexagonal hole is an important skill. Once you’ve got your thumb placement down, it’s a snap. Literally.

New developments in pop-off pedals

OK, pop-off pedals themselves are a new development, but there’s something even newer. SPD pop-off pedals come with a second-generation latch that has no protruding part that can catch on shoes.

The second-generation latch takes a couple of seconds more to release, but especially if you ride tight to the bike, this can keep your tread from grinding.

Here we show how the latch works, and the lock that keeps it from unlatching when in use.

All CHANGE bikes continue to come with the newer pop-off pedal latches, while supplies last. 

In the meantime, we’ve got a few older latches available for anyone who wants to use their pop-off pedals across more bikes. I’m still using my original latches successfully after two years, and they’re rock solid, as long as you don’t ride with feet super-tight into the bike.

Happy riding!

Bob Forgrave is president of Flatbike, an
ecommerce company offering full-size folding bikes
and kits to make any bike take up half the space.

425-985-6219