Bike pegs were generally intended for BMX bikers to perform tricks and moves that show a flair to the audience. But now, pegs are being used for many purposes, including holding passengers in the back of the bike.
But how to put pegs on a bike? Installing pegs on a bike is relatively easy, but you need all the right tools and materials to secure and attach the pegs to the bike properly. Please check the step-by-step process below.
Contents
How to Put Pegs on a Bike
What to Prepare:
- 2 sets of pegs (One in front and one at the rear)
- Socket Wrench
Step 1: Preparing the Bike
The initial step is to prepare the bike in a suitable working place. You can find a place that should offer plenty of space to work. Then, you can turn and let the bike stand upside-down for you to install the pegs easily.
Step 2: Installing the Pegs at the Front Wheel
Once the bike is prepared, you can start working on the front wheel. Start by loosening and removing the nuts of the front wheel using the appropriate tool, which is the socket wrench.
Once you remove the nuts and notice washers, you can discard them or keep them aside because this small part will no longer be needed. The peg will serve as the washer, so you can discard it or set it aside.
Then, you can now put the peg in line but make sure to do it slowly so as not to cross-thread the axle. Make sure that everything is going on nice and smoothly while tightening the nut with the peg.
The moment you feel it is threading nicely, you can tighten it down but make sure to make it very tight. Use extra leverage to tighten the nut. Then, you can repeat a similar process on the other side of the front wheel.
Step 3: Installing the Pegs at the Back Wheel
Start by removing the nuts on one side of the back wheel. Again, if you find any washers, you can discard them because they will not be used. Then, you can insert the peg into the dropout and return the nut inside the peg.
When tightening the nut, make sure to do it nice and slow while ensuring that the threads are going on nicely. Start slow until it is tightened. However, this process is different from the front wheel since you want to ensure that the brake is unaffected and still lined up.
You will need to make sure that there is still a good amount of space in the brake pads. You can take your other hand to ensure that the wheel is still in place while tightening. Make sure that it is nice and tight. You do not want the back wheel slipping while you are biking.
Making and Installing a DIY Bike Pegs
The process above is all about installing actual BMX bike pegs. But when trying to learn how to put pegs on a mountain bike, you can also install pegs made by you. The concept of this DIY project is to cut a piece of wheel axle while screwing it on a nut halfway. After that, you can screw the nut, which is now connected to the axle to the rear of the bicycle.
What to Prepare:
- A Round file
- A Bicycle Wheel Axle
- A Thick Stick
- A Drill
- A Hammer
- 2 pcs of Extra Nuts
Step 1: Finding a Finger Thick Branch
The initial step in this DIY project is to find a reliable finger thick stick or branch. You will need to look for a good thick piece of a stick. You can use a saw to cut 2 pieces of this thick stick. The measurement should be from 6 to 6.5 cm.
Step 2: Cutting Two Pieces from a Wheel Axle
After finding the right thick stick, you can now do the same with the axle. The measurement should be the length of the stick. But, you need to make sure that the axle comes with a rounded end.
Step 3: Drilling Holes on Two Sticks
The next step is to make a hole on the two thick sticks. But in doing so, you will need to make sure that the drill bit being used is slightly thinner than that of the axle. You can start by drilling half the distance from one side while the other half is on the other side. This action will allow you to quickly hammer the axle inside the peg without splitting the wood.
Step 4: Making the Hole Bigger in the Improvised Pegs
By using a file, you can make the hole bigger in the two improvised pegs. The hole should be big enough for the axle to be hammered inside so that it can fit snuggly. Make sure that the round end of the axle should be on the outside, approximately half a centimeter of the peg.
However, when you feel that the axle is not moving when hammering inside the peg, it means that the hole is still tiny. You can take it out and make the hole a lot bigger. Then repeat the process.
Step 5: Screwing on the Nut
Get the nut you have prepared and start screwing it on the axle end. Then, you can now begin installing it on your bicycle.
Conclusion
Learning how to put pegs on a bike is excellent knowledge if you want to have pegs on your bike. If you like to know how to do exhibition tricks and moves to impress an audience, start by learning to put pegs on your bike. This accessory may not be as popular as other bike parts but can be helpful to every biker when on the road.