With few exceptions, bike pedals don't come off unless you take them off or a spill dislodges one from a crank arm. You might take the pedals off to install a different type or change the crank arms. If a spill dislodges a pedal, it's likely the crank arm is damaged and both parts must be replaced. Some riders and racers consider pedals as important as other accessories on a bike.
Pedal Designs
Bike pedals come in three types: flat, clip and clipless that have fittings for shoe clips. Looking at the platforms on both flat pedals, you might notice that the right and left are the same in terms of design. In essence, the platforms do not have a front or rear edge. But looking at clip pedals and clipless pedals, you'll notice that the right and left pedals are not similar. Clip pedals have slots at the front edge of the platform where you attach toe clips, and when you change one, you have to make sure it's correct for the particular side of the bike. This is also the case with many clipless pedals found on a large number of racing bikes. The clipless mechanism is designed so you slide the clip on your shoe onto the pedal from the back edge until it locks into place.
Construction
Bike pedals have spindles, or axles, that thread into the ends of the crank arms. Some spindles are steel and others are composite plastic. Each type has an integral nut at the base of the spindle where it meets the foot platform. With all bikes, the right spindle on the chain side of the bike has regular threads, and the left spindle has opposite threads. This is a self-tightening feature that prevents the spindles from loosening as you pedal.
Damages
Before you can install a new pedal, you have to take one off. This is not difficult, unless the threads of a spindle are badly rusted or were cross-threaded when the pedal was installed. In that case, you could attempt to cut off the spindle where it meets the crank arm with a reciprocating saw and metal cutting blade. After drilling a hole in the portion of the spindle that's inside the crank arm, you might be able to remove it using a reverse tap. In most cases, if a pedal or crank is damaged or rusted, it's best to replace the part. When the spindles are not rusted or threaded incorrectly, bike mechanics and experienced riders use a proven method to take pedals off of bikes.
Removal
Logic might suggest that, whenever possible, using leverage is better than using brute force. Crank arms are levers that reduce the force needed to pedal your bike. In addition, a bicycle pedal wrench has a long handle that provides leverage. Remembering that the right pedal has regular threads that loosen counterclockwise, you attach the pedal wrench on the right spindle nut so the handle is pointing upward toward the back of the bike. Grip the end of the crank arm just above the pedal with your other hand and push down on handle of the wrench. Remembering the right pedal has reverse threads that loosen clockwise, you attach the pedal wrench so the hand is upward toward the front of the bike. Grip the crank arm with your other hand and push down of the handle of the wrench to take the left pedal off.
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