Crank Brothers Candy SL Pedals - Outdoor Gear Review

Although not as ubiquitous as SPD pedals, the functionally elegant design of Crank Brother’s 4-way entry pedal system has many fans, this reviewer among them.

The Candy SL pedals are the mid-range pedal in the Crank Brothers Candy series, which ranges from the entry level “C” model to the titanium everything “4ti” model. The series is impressive, and this pedal is a great blend of sturdy materials and thoughtful design.

The four-sided entry is easy to use, and can be used with either a forward or backwards motion of the foot. I had some initial trouble clipping into these, but after shimming up the cleat (shims included) the pedals worked like a charm and I have never had an issue getting clipped in quickly. Getting out of these pedals is both intuitive and effortless; a quick twist of the foot and the spring action of the pedal ejects your cleat. Despite the minimal effort required to unclip, I have yet to accidentally unclip from these pedals. Once clipped in, the pedals feel very secure and allow for a small amount of lateral slide, as well as generous float. The composite body adds to the feeling of having something substantial under your feet and can provide a pedaling surface when uncleated. The generous clearance between the outer body and the inner mechanism of the pedal allows these pedals to shed mud like water and maintain ease of use in all conditions.

The pedals come with standard Crank Brother’s cleats. These cleats are made of a softer brass alloy than the stainless steel used in pedal construction, and I have worn through a couple pairs of these. With a replacement cost of around 20 bucks though, I would much rather replace my cleats than wear down the pedal. These pedals are easy maintenance, with very few moving parts and an included fitting which may be used to flush and replace the grease. Crank Brothers warrantees these pedals for 2 years.