tell me i’m not going mad!

I guess it’s right if you look from the rim bed. But it’s a crap description.
I always think of it as being anti clockwise as I do it with the apple at the bottom of the rotation.

It’s not wrong enough to get bent out of shape about. In broad terms it’s correct . But technically it’s wrong.

How ever it’s been written for people who don’t do technical and who will probably never actually try and do it.

I always think of it as clockwise, as you are essentially putting a nut on a very (very!) long and thin bolt. But, if I was explaining it to someone else, I would either make that clear or describe it as anticlockwise if looking at it from the hub. Or the apple, if that helps

Not bent out of shape, just thinking, if I was describing tightening spokes to someone who hadn’t done it, would I say ‘turn it clockwise’ and I’m damn sure I wouldn’t! Just badly worded then…
No point being pedantic about page filler then eh? 😊

Yep, clockwise here as it’s a nut on a bolt

But I’d never think clockwise. If I needed a reminder I’d point my right thumb in the direction I wanted the nipple to move and then turn the spoke key in the direction my right fingers are pointing

As it’s the nipple (nut) that is rotating I can’t see how it can be anything but clockwise to tighten.

I have a problem with the photo, in which the pressure is clearly being applied to loosen the tension?

+1 The picture is misleading. If you wanted to illustrate the text then you’d use a pic looking into the rim bed without the tyre, etc

My road wheels have to be tightened through the rim bed and clockwise it is. Or to use the technical term, righty tighty.

I can’t see how it can be anything but clockwise to tighten.

Because if turning a spoke key looking from the hub side, as shown in the picture, it’s anticlockwise to tighten.

Instructions like that should be written unambiguously. If it’s unclear it’s no better than being plain wrong. I’m not sure which this is.

I don’t think the first thing I’d say about tensioning a spoke would be about shortening the distance between hub and rim. I could smack the rim with a brick to bring it closer to the hub but I don’t think it would have the desired outcome 😆

Or to use the technical term, righty tighty.

Finally!

An arrow on the diagram would have helped – from the back, forwards rounds the right as you look at the picture and across & back on the left

e.g.

↩️

I’d say (ie. 🔄 ) on that photo 🙃

Are there any instructions for tightening pedals?

Or to use the technical term, righty tighty.

or “lefty loosey”

Are there any instructions for tightening pedals?

I seem to remember that you always turn towards the rear wheel, assuming the bike is standing up the correct way

Clockwise to tighten is correct in so much as it’s a conventional right hand thread, it’s just the perspective that mucks it up.

If you were tightening from the spoke bed it’s obviously correct but from the outside it depends on the wheels orientation. With the nipple at the top of the wheel the description makes sense, at the bottom not so much.

I seem to remember that you always turn towards the rear wheel, assuming the bike is standing up the correct way

Driveside facing user?

It’s correct in so much as that’s what you’re doing. I guess if you ddn’t know that you’re doing it the from the “other” perspective, you find out pretty soon anyway.

Are there any instructions for tightening pedals?

You’re asking the wrong question, as when you’re tightening you can see the thread and that is a big clue.

The correct question is “Are there any instructions for loosening / removing pedals?”

You’re asking the wrong question, as when you’re tightening you can see the thread and that is a big clue.

You would think so wouldn’t you?

Sadly a steel axle + aluminium crank = knackered crank with the right application of brute force and ignorance.

Pedals (I didn’t think nickjb was serious) are simple – put the spanner on or allen key in the hole. Pull the tool – if it freewheels that’s the way to undo. If it drives the back wheel, you’re tightening. Works for both sides, if the bike is upside down, right way up or lying on it’s side 😀

My objection with the wording is it speaks of screwing the spoke into the nipple, which would make one think that the spoke has to be turned somehow, as a screw being screwed into a static nut.

I can imagine an inexperienced mechanic trying to twist a bladed, straight-pull spoke…

Would have been clearer to say that the nipple has to be screwed further onto the spoke.

Agree that the picture shows the nipple being loosened. I always deal with nipples looking from the outside of the rim, so clockwise from that perspective tightens the nipple.

I like the zip-tie-on-the-seatstay as wheel jig though.