How to loosen bike pedals for maintenance or replacement?

To loosen bike pedals for maintenance or replacement, you will need a pedal wrench or an adjustable wrench. Place the wrench on the pedal axle and turn it counterclockwise to loosen the pedal. Make sure to turn the wrench in the direction that matches the pedal thread direction (usually left pedal is reverse threaded). Once the pedal is loose, you can remove it from the crank arm.