Some people wonder which way to turn nuts and bolts.
Most of these things on a bicycle, as well as on other household machines, turn like a jar lid. If you turn counter-clockwise, they loosen or come off, and like putting the lid back on a pickle jar, when you turn them clockwise, they tighten. There's no easy answer. Do be careful about breaking things. Practice with nuts and bolts around the house that are less critical than bike parts to get a feel for what's right.