Submitted by
Holmes
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Date Reviewed: September 12, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Easy to get in and out of, platform is just big enough to be useful for pedaling while unclipped
Weaknesses:
none so far...
Bike Setup:
Karate Monkey SS
Bottom Line:
I have the Candy SL's on my KM ss (and a pair of the newer Candy X's on my old fixie). I haven't used them long enough to speak to long term durability, but I've banged them fairly hard on rocks a few times and they haven't fallen apart yet.
Entry and exit is generally easy and the platform is just large enough to actually be usable if you want / need to ride unclipped. I am a pretty mellow rider, no issues with coming unclipped at an inopportune moment yet.
I definitely recommend these to anyone learning to use clipless pedals and for general trail or street riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sbmac
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntington LI Date Reviewed: September 9, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$80.00
Strengths:
Easier exit than the Shimano SPDs I was using. I heard SPD was the way to go for easy outs and ins, but these are much metter, and I get out faster and with less effort.
Weaknesses:
Not a big fan of plastic parts, I'll have to see how these hold up over time, but am very happy so far.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD m-770XT
Bike Setup:
Spec pitch , Gary Fisher paragon
Bottom Line:
Get 'em.
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Submitted by
Jhibbs
a Weekend Warrior
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: August 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Wouldn't you like to know
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
backcountry.com
Strengths:
Fairly easy to use. For uphill starts, the pedal works fairly well as a platform when clip in is missed on the first attempt, allowing one to gain momentum and have a second try at clipping in. Looks alright.
Weaknesses:
The wings (portion that grips the cleat) are made of too soft an alloy. If you strike a rock, these pedals are toast. Mine bent from a rock strike going up a technical ascent, so basically just my pedaling force, not much speed.
Similar Products Used:
various Shimano and Ritchey SPDs
Bike Setup:
Titus LocoMoto
Bottom Line:
If you don't ride technical terrain, these might function well for you; however they are not robust enough to stand up to normal wear and tear in rock gardens etc. When mine failed, they wouldn't let me clip out causing me to wreck pretty badly. I am waiting to see how crankbros handles the warranty claim, but I am not sure I would ride them again if they are replaced. Anyone want some new pedals?
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Submitted by
AXIS
a Weekend Warrior
from Oregon Date Reviewed: July 26, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Price, platform design
Weaknesses:
Difficulty of clipping-in, looseness, lack of adjustability, squeaky, unexpected unclipping, requires maintenance, durability
Similar Products Used:
SPD, Campagnolo, Look
Bike Setup:
Bianchi Axis mostly stock set-up.
Bottom Line:
These pedals feel cheap. The biggest problem is the inability to clip in (one pedal only so may be defective) but aside from this incredibly frustrating factor is that they feel sloppy and are not confidence inspiring as you are constantly concerned they will unclip at the wrong moment. Switching cleats to opposite side is supposed to offer tension option but I've noticed no difference after swapping. They also squeak and require greasing which most other pedals don't. The plastic platforms do not seem durable even for my moderate use on my commuter/cross bike. The platform design is the only saving grace as I can still pedal somewhat when they come unclipped, which they do much too frequently. As soon as I decide which other pedals to get I will be swapping these pedals out.
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Submitted by
qcanoe
a Cross Country Rider
from Maine Date Reviewed: July 17, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Easy in / out, decent weight.
Weaknesses:
Easily destroyed in rocky terrain, poor design and materials from a durability point of view, "Stainless" moniker is misleading at best.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano and Ritchie SPDs, Eggbeater SL
Bike Setup:
high-end short-travel XC bike
Bottom Line:
I was a very loyal Eggbeater rider, having been beating on my Eggbeater SLs for over 5 years with no problems. Those things are very well made. Note that I am a pure XC rider - albeit over very rough New England terrain - who only weighs 135 and am generally pretty easy on components. A year ago, as my Eggbeaters were naturally becoming quite worn, I decided I really like the platform of the Candys, having tried them on a friend's bike. I bought the Candy SL's, expecting them to have the same quality and durability. (After all, they have the same price point and the same "SL" designation.) Big mistake. First off, the wings on these, unlike the Eggbeaters', are NOT stainless. They are very weak and become deformed easily, bearing on the outer plastic body and causing difficulties clipping in and out. Not to mention being rust-prone. Second, the plastic body surrounding the end plug where you fit the grease gun becomes so damaged on rocks that you can't get the end plug in and out anymore. One pedal was so bashed in this area that the end plug actually disappeared on the trail somewhere, allowing grit into the bearing area. The pedals have been returned to the vendor. Avoid. Too bad, because I would LOVE these pedals if they were made with the same quality and attention to detail as the Eggbeater SLs.
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Submitted by
riv359
a Cross Country Rider
from Mobile, AL Date Reviewed: July 7, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Platform
Weaknesses:
Squeaking to fast
Similar Products Used:
wellgo, crank brothers 5050xx
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Rush 4
Bottom Line:
Within 1 to 2 rides this pedals were squeaking (left one) “on sat” for brand new pedals. I send them to the warranty and after I got them back they seemed solid for ½ of mile, then squeaking again. Shoes are brand new and cleats are too, but for a total of 40 miles this is a no go. There warranty service seems great but I don’t now what’s the problem with crankbrothers. My wellgo pedals were much better. I thought I was getting a better product with this Candy SL.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GlazedHam
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio, TX Date Reviewed: May 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
FlatRock Ranch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Bike World
Strengths:
o Excellent Float
o Very good Q-Factor
Weaknesses:
o Releases easily
o Plastic deforms easily
o Deformed plastic cuts calves
Similar Products Used:
I've used just about every pedal system out there including the original SPD circa 1991-2.
This review primarily compares/contrasts to Time Atac system which I have been using since about 1995.
Bike Setup:
I'm running these pedals on a ti hardtail race bike and a 5 inch all mountain bike.
Bottom Line:
These work great on the cross country race bike and for dirt jumps. They don't work so well in areas where your pedals are prone to bash on rocks.
The reasons they work well for cross country and jumping are the float, the Q-factor, the ease of engagement and the static ankle alignment achieved.
The reasons they don't work well in rocks are that the plastic is too gets bashed up easily and becomes sharp, they disengage in a variety of situations: striking the bottom of the pedal flat on a rock or stubbing the toe of you shoe both cause disengagement.
I absolutely loved the Time ATACs except that they permit the q-factor and the ankle alignment. These pedals solve those problems for me, but won't last very long in the rocks. Plus the plastic gets somewhat sharp and cuts my calf muscles --but not when I'm actually riding so it may be a non factor.
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Submitted by
skizzy
a Racer
from west milk ford, nj USA bitchez Date Reviewed: April 15, 2009
Favorite Trail:
whatever
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1000000.00
Purchased At:
????????????
Strengths:
last forever
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
shimano, time, specialized, ritchey,
Bike Setup:
dAMN GOOD
Bottom Line:
these pedals rock. although the cleats wear out fast you can just change them. No big deal and the spindles can easily be rebuilt if necessary. My eggbeaters had to be rebuilt several times and sre high maintenance. but my the candy's by far have been the most impressive, most durable pedal i have used ever......I have smacked them so damn hard that i expected to see nothing left of them several times, but they still keep tickin. I'm no5t sure about others experiences but i assure you that i ride the nastiest shiz around and ride anything. SO i hate to sound cocky but these pedals are by far the best out there.
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Submitted by
squads
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia, PA Date Reviewed: March 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
French Creek State Park
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
Decent platform area, lightweight
Weaknesses:
The cage design has flaws, not durable enough, cleats wear quickly
Similar Products Used:
Eggbeater Chrome (throw away OEM pedals that blew up after a month of riding)
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Rush, these pedals, other stuff not important
Bottom Line:
They market these as "all-mountain" pedals and that they are not. There are several inherent problems with these pedals. First of all the pedal wings spins freely within the cage, so oftentimes the wings are not lined up with the cage correctly. This means your foot won't clip for 2 or 3 tries when you get the wings lined up in the cage correctly. That is not good when you are trying to ride technical terrain.
Secondly, the wings are interconnected, so oftentimes if you catch the bottom of you pedal on a rock or root it will pop your foot out of the pedal. Also not good for technical terrain. This is a flaw with all crank brothers pedals.
The cleats also wear quickly as others have noted and once they wear, they don't engage tightly. Worn cleats lead to your foot popping out at times you won't enjoy, like going over a log or while in the air. This can lead to pain.
I rode these pedals for a season and a half and the plastic around the pedal bolt was wearing out. Today it seems it finally got to a critical point because the head of the bolt got sheared off completely, leaving the threads in the pedal. So unless I can get this sheared bolt out of the pedal, it is pretty much a goner.
These are not all-mountain pedals. There are more reliable, longer-lasting alternatives. My buddy rides time platforms and they have held up for years. I'm going to look into a pair of those...weight be damned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy S
a Racer
from Winston Salem, NC, USA Date Reviewed: December 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Forbidden Acres
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
everywhere
Strengths:
Easy in Easy out... good float if thats what you like or need. Great Customer Service and everyone sells them too
Weaknesses:
When someone says great customer service, it usually means they had a problem with a product. well So did I. Alrighty then. I have three pairs of Crank Brothers Egg Beater or Candy pedals.I have broken two pairs, both the right pedal spindle. Ouch and Ouch. Durability. Cages are worn out after ONE season of riding. Buy Em cheap online and who cares. Right?? well I do.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC Look Quartz SPD pedals
Bike Setup:
Which one. Singlespeed, Kona, Geared BMC Fourstroke and Cyclocross
Bottom Line:
As seen above, these pedals are versatile and offer good float and entry. The entry is great actually.They do however wear quickly. The cleats wear very quickly, The wings or retention mechanism will lose tension and not hold near as well as brand new in about six months of use.R and R cleats no help. Yes they are squeaky too.BUT!!!! WAIT>>>>> Get this!!!!!! I have broken two spindles , one a Cro Mo , the other Stainless. I weigh 158 pounds BTW. I picked up a former team mate off the trail after his Ti spindle broke while in a race. Dude.. No Bueno. I suspect they have some quality issues. Bottom Line. If you like to ride and save money get them. If you live to ride and you race also then get a real pedal.These pedals are recreational use only.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hitek79
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, CO Date Reviewed: November 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mt Falcon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$52.00
Purchased At:
Chainlove
Strengths:
Very easy to click in, easy to get out of, don't gum up, they pull up much better than Shimano's
Weaknesses:
The cleats squeak terrible. I thought my crank was broken it was so bad. Tighten would be a nice option. I've accidentally kicked out and bit it once, but learned my lesson quick.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD's
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer-X
Bottom Line:
They're better than Shimano's. How much, I'm not quite sure yet. I was a little worried after reading some reviews, but the price was just too cheap to pass up. I'm not sure why, but stepping in seems much much easier than SPD's. I haven't been in a ton of mud yet, but they do stay very clean.
Why I'm not sure how much better they are is this. When you're cranking up hill, these things do not shift. At all. My foot feels much more stable than in the SPD's. On the downhills though, all the float can be a bit unnerving. I just don't feel as locked in. I had my SPD's tightened up and liked how solid they felt on the downhills. The first day I rode these pedals I was coming thru a fast turn and my foot kicked out and gave me a bit of road rash. No problems since, as I think about it before I come thru something like that.
All in all, I like the pedals, and have bashed a couple of rocks and they're still in one piece. If another pair shows up, I'll be buying them for my wife.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bholton@apotex.com
a Cross Country Rider
from Ancaster, ON, Canada Date Reviewed: October 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Edworthy
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Ancaster Cycle
Strengths:
Four sided entry with forward or backward foot motion entry. Ease of entry and exit is astounding. In fact, all you have to do is think you want your foot out and it will come out. Think you want it in, and it stays in.
Weaknesses:
none yet.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC, Shimano
Bike Setup:
Giant Trance 1.
Bottom Line:
I don't know what all the negative reviews are about with this product. I expected them to fail on my first ride as a result. They didn't. I expected my feet fall out all the time. They didn't. In fact the product performed as well as my Time ATACs ever did, in fact a little better because my feet always come out when I want them out. I replaced my TIME ATACs as they were completely worn out from a few years in rock gardens and log strewn trails.
I've been riding these pedals [Candy SL] in rock gardens, fat skinnys, all over logs and generally technical trails. They are great! No problems. I bash these things! They still work, really well. Lots of float, easy release, easy entry. They are very predictable; no unexpected releases. They hold you in over logs and even on the odd occasion when on the downstroke you bash a rock. I am 6'2" and about 175 lbs.
The construction seems solid, I bash them and they don't break. Rebuildable is a very nice option, however, I don't expect to take advantage of this as the useful life of the pedal should be exceeded by the time the rebuild is necessary.
These pedals work as well as TIME and much better than Shimano. Shimano have mud clearing problems and once all gummed up, release problems. Neither TIME not Crank Bros present issues in mud. I don't ride much mud, but, at this time of year in Ontario it's unavoidable, particularly in the low spots and the greasy climbs.
I prefer technical trails with lots of logs, roots, rocks, switch backs, step climbs and finally sections of full out speed included. These pedals have handled all of this well, and most importantly perform very predictably. For the weight weenies, these things are pretty light too. I would recommend this product, certainly for the type of riding I do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
thejimrose
a Weekend Warrior
from sf,ca Date Reviewed: August 13, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
elegant design, platform, 4 way entry
Weaknesses:
can be tricky to get into, feet 'float' on pedals a bit too much, can also be a little tricky to get out of.
Similar Products Used:
shimano spd
Bike Setup:
fuel ex8 with some bits
Bottom Line:
i bought these b/c i felt like i needed something different, and the design looks brilliant. i'm pretty hard on stuff and 200lbs and the pedals have held up GREAT - not sure why so many others have had bad luck, maybe a few batches of bad spring metal? platforms show use but are fine. the engagement and disengagement are a bit finicky, esp the engagement. i often have to push / stab / mash the pedals to get them in, the engagement point doesn't seem to be in the same place all the time, and i often don't get a really positive click. also my feet float on the pedals which feels like the clip is loose. the big up is supposed to be the candy's are great in the mud but i never ride mud.
overall i'd say it's a fine pedal but i think the spd works a little better. spd tension adjust is nice too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nick119
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft. Lauderdale, FL Date Reviewed: July 29, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Markham Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Alex's Bicycle Pro S
Strengths:
Easy in and out, but a nice hold.
solid construction, for the most part.
rebuildable
platform is nice for those who worry about being unclipped
Weaknesses:
Looks as though it might break if you really beat it with a rock on a bad screw-up.
A nice pedal for the money if you have the skill to not beat the crap out of it into a rock. The clipping in and out is a little different from other pedals I've tried, but after a while you get used to it. I like em.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
klamnyc
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC Date Reviewed: June 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Rockypoint
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Good Looks, Cost(you can find good deals on them here and there), user friendly, good pedal if you're new to clipless.
Weaknesses:
no adjustable spring tension, plastic body.
Similar Products Used:
none(first pair of clipless pedals)
Bike Setup:
sc chemeleon, geared, fox forx 130mm
Bottom Line:
In my experience, for the money I think it's a great pedal to get into the clipless thing. It's a easy pedal to learn to use that also offers pretty good performance and weight savings once you've gotten used to them. The no adjustment thing good and bad in that you don't have a lot of parts to mis-tune, break or maintain, but i guess it's also bad in the sense that you might want it looser or tighter than the 2 settings the special cleats offer you. I've only had a number of rides on them so far and haven't ran into much of a problem. i would recommend but not at retail prices, look on ebay.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Kurland
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvington, NY,USA Date Reviewed: May 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
NHW
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Ease of use, lightweight, Non SPD
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD 520's
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Prophet 2000, Full XT/XTR rear derailler
Bottom Line:
I was jonesing to try anything non spd. I have been riding SPD pedals for over 10 years. These are my first, and so far, nothing but postives. There is definately an audible click in and out. Getting into is very easy. Foot must be in a bit of a different position, but easy to get used too. Have had some trouble getting out in a tight spot, but happy so far with the conversion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron Huckstep
a Racer
from Albuquerque, NM Date Reviewed: May 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tunnel
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Easy to get into
Weaknesses:
You'd better fix your pedal stroke
Similar Products Used:
Speedplay Frogs
Bike Setup:
03 Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
I just blew up my second pair of these pedals. I like riding hard, and out here it's pretty rocky, but the one common failure point I've heard from people is that these pedals break when you bash a rock, which is bound to happen sometimes. My first pair cracked after a rock bash. I tried to change my pedal stroke to avoid rocks, and just be aware of the danger, but just yesterday did the same thing - second pair totally bent, which means they're destroyed. I'm going back to the Speedplays - they're totally indestructible.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Bowles
a Cross Country Rider
from Cordova, Tn. Date Reviewed: April 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Herb Parsons
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Bike World
Strengths:
Easily Shedds mud,easy to clip into, and ver few moving parts. oh and strong to.
Weaknesses:
no adjustability, if you need it. Personaly I dont mind.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
stock Specialized Hardrock pro Hardtail
Bottom Line:
a bit pricy, but super strong and reliable pedals. would buy another set if I had too, But so far it is looking like it will be a long time before I have to do that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Giammona
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Hiawatha, NJ, USA Date Reviewed: March 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Ho-Chi-Min Trail in Montauk, NY
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Albert's Westwood Cycle
Strengths:
Light weight, easy in and out, simple design, mud is NEVER a problem
Weaknesses:
Durability
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD, Time ATAC
Bike Setup:
Haro Mary SS 29er
Bottom Line:
Why is everyone complaining about clipping into these? They're as easy or easier than spd, there IS an audible 'click' when you clip in. Watch for rocks, if you hit one the right way, it can release on you. The body shields it so it's not as frequent as the regular eggbeater. The body isn't very durable, but it's plastic. You knew that before you bought it. What did you think was going to happen. This is a XC pedal so don't put it on your trail bike. It won't survive.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark lyndon
a Weekend Warrior
from NZ Date Reviewed: February 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hot X Buns
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
2 sets of screws, sticker, light weight, Pretty Box
Weaknesses:
Dont last, weak, inconsistant engagement (compared to Times)
Similar Products Used:
Time Atacs 5/5, Redline Flats (Nice), wellgos (detah traps)
Bike Setup:
Yeti 575 Race
Bottom Line:
Broke after 2 rides, bars jammed against body so they wouldnt spin to engage. After 2 reides they looked about a year old, the composite body dosnt take much in the way of hits even on XC trais. The 4 way engagement is its down fall, to many place the bars can be in, so each engaement is different, wierd.
Sold tem after 2 rides fter they broke and got them fixed under warranty. Brought some more times, they the buisness!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jadedbee
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Connector, Auburn
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Mad Cat Bikes
Strengths:
Light, cool looks, shed mud well
Weaknesses:
durability, feel loose, not adjustable
Similar Products Used:
shimano spd
Bike Setup:
Salsa El Mariachi 1x9 fully rigid 29er
Bottom Line:
Yikes... I was going to get another pair of SPDs with my new bike but got a deal on these as they came off another bike that the shop recently sold (buyer wisely didn't want them). I had a lot of issues at first getting the cleats to work with my shoes (short screws were still too long, used shims but they made the engagement super loose, the float didn't feel right). I got new shoes (Specialized BG Comp) but still couldn't manage to get the hang of clipping in and out (way too finicky) culminating in my falling over a cliff side as i was not able to get out of one of the pedals. Many recommended shaving the soles of my new shoes - DON"T DO THIS! You're just compromising your shoes to make these lousy pedals work. AND after shaving them the pedals returned to the way-too-loose feel.
Upon inspection back at the shop, in just a matter of a few rides I had bent the engagement wings outward (due to torque from pulling up?). The shop and I agreed - it was back to SPDs for me. We didn't bother trying to warranty them - it'd probably just do it again and the SPDs were instant gratification. Maybe the Ti Eggbeaters are the real deal, but I've got such a bad taste in my mouth I'll probably never find out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: February 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Broken Arrow, Elden
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Contest Winner
Strengths:
SO simple to use, slap them on your bike and forget it, never had an issue with these.
Weaknesses:
The plastic around the egg beater is kind of useless,
Similar Products Used:
shimano, bmxer pedals
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar XLT with Fox AVA, Minute 3, Hayes HX9 brakes
Bottom Line:
I thought i had to review these after reading everyone complaints about bending or breaking these. They've been nothing but invincible on my bike, had them for over 4 years and only the plastic is scraped up at the ends from rocks. I ride my bike hard over 100 days a year and have ridden most of the lift accessed downhill courses in CO on this bike. I dont understand how people have broke this pedal
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a
from Berkeley, CA Date Reviewed: January 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
San Juan Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Compatible with Crank Brothers Eggbeaters.
Weaknesses:
Clips made of inferior materials compared to Eggbeaters SL
Similar Products Used:
Crank Brothers Eggbeaters SL Shimano PD-M747
Bike Setup:
Ibis Mojo Carbon Fox Vanilla RLC 140 Fox RP23 Formula Puro Oro disk brakes
Bottom Line:
These were decent from smooth cross country riding. However, the clip-in was always less than positive. I'd often clip-out and clip-in again to make sure the connection was solid.
The clips that hold the cleat to the pedal looked inferior to those on the Eggbeaters SL. One the very first ride on the San Juan Trail in Southern California, these pedals were essentially destroyed functionally. Rocks litter the singletrack, and these did the pedals in. The clips were bent. Though they could be bent back into shape, I've abandoned these on my trail bike. I'll continue to use the Eggbeaters on my other bike (cross country racer), but I'm switching to the Shimano PD-M970 for the Ibis.
The small platforms worked to reduce numbness on long rides compared to the Eggbeaters SL, I'd avoid these as they are not durable and the clip-in and clip-out are not confidence inspiring. The brass cleats wear quickly.
I'm giving an overall of 2 chills since, they were good enough for smooth non-technical riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: December 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Cheap, light weight
Weaknesses:
Often no positive "click" on engagement, wear out fast, disengage when bottomed out on obstacles, often get hung up on cleat when stepping in, easy to slip off when trying to engage and bust your shin.
Similar Products Used:
Ritchey, Shimano, Time
Bike Setup:
2002 Canyon Hardtail
Bottom Line:
These pedals were enticing due to the low price and low weight. It was hard to engage them from the beginning, I kept using them expecting I would get more comfortable with them but never did. Of all the pedals I have used these are the only ones I wouldn't recommend to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
40hills
a Cross Country Rider
from Suburbia North Carolina Date Reviewed: November 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bent Creek trails
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$67.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycles
Strengths:
Light weight, simplicity (no adjustments required), ease of clipping in/out, mud clearing, more secure feeling than Eggbeaters (in my opinion), can be found for cheap (use froogle.google.com)
Weaknesses:
Plastic platform is fairly soft compared to steel, but probably at least as good as the lightweight magnesium pedals that are similar in weight. Neither may be the best choice for super rocky terrain. I personally don't encounter much more than logs with occassional rocks, so this isn't an issue for me.
Similar Products Used:
Eggbeater SL, Shimano 520(525?)
Bike Setup:
SC Superlight with sensibly light XC build (light, but durable)
Bottom Line:
Great pedal that has the advantages of a simple design (i.e. light weight, few moving parts) with none of the disadvantages more complex pedals have (i.e. multiple adjustments, small dirt trapping pieces).
To me, these pedals feel as secure as my Shimanos, but clear mud MUCH better and are easier to clip in and out. I've had instances of the Shimanos sort of binding up when in a panic get-off, but the Candies always operate smoothly.
Value can't be beat... overall rating is 5 thanks to an outstand combination of weight, performance, and design.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bijorn Dunkerbeck
a Weekend Warrior
from New Hampshire Date Reviewed: November 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fort Rock
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Never clog with mud. Easy to use. Great customer service.
Weaknesses:
Durability when exposed to rocky terrain. Plastic wears out fast then you start hitting the shaft/end bolt. Next thing you know you have no pedal.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Eggbeater
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper Expert
Bottom Line:
These pedals only last for a year or so. Gone through several pairs. Went back to CrankBros for free repairs once and they were great. Used the rebuild kit and bought a spare pair. Problem is these pedals just cannot stand up if you are around rocks. Tried the eggbeaters and those hurt when you bang your shins on them. Will try something else like a Time or Shimano. Rocks on the East coast are fact of life.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Urbana, Illinois Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
They came free with the bike? I guess thats because no one else would want them.
Weaknesses:
What is good about them? No aduable click to let you know your in the pedAL.
Similar Products Used:
Ritchey and Time.
Bike Setup:
2007 GT Zaskar Expert stock LX Deore with a Rockshox Recon 351 front shock.
Bottom Line:
These pedlas were very difficult to to get engage and rough sections of trail or climbing would have ne pulling out of the pedal. I played with the cleats and trimmed the shoe inserted the shim it did matter they just stink. I ordered a set of Time XS carbons as soon as I arrived home after my first ride on these pedals. TheSe are going in the trash since I would feel guilty about subjecting someone to this garbage if I sold them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ANDY DODSWORTH
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: October 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
CBC CORKSCREW
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
CRC
Strengths:
LIGHT AND A NICE DESIGN, WITH GOOD MUD SHEDDING
Weaknesses:
VERY POOR QUALITY, SOFT WEAK MATERIALS, NEXT TO NO SEALS TO PROTECT BEARINGS. 3 RIDES AND THE WINGS BENT, ANOTHER 3 RIDES AND THE PEDAL CAME OFF, FITTED REBUILD KIT IT LASTED 1 MONTH AND HAPPENED AGAIN.
Similar Products Used:
EXPEDO, SHIMANO, WELLGO
Bike Setup:
BLUR AND NOMAD
Bottom Line:
COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL EGGBEATER THESE ARE VERY POOR, NOT USABLE HERE IN THE UK THEY JUST FAIL NEARLY EVERY RIDE. I HAVE SENT THEM BACK TO CRANKBROTHERS USA AS UK DIS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ALEX
a Weekend Warrior
from Ellicott City, Maryland, United States Date Reviewed: September 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Ridge
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Light(doesnt make a diffrence) decent looking easy in out
Weaknesses:
it will break at themost unexpected times and at times wont feel secure(even though you are)
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
2003 Cannondale Jekyll 600 carbon spv lefty fox DHX 5.0 air
Bottom Line:
decent if you are a beginer but as you get more use to clip-less you should probley go with a more stable pedal. good looks alright performance all around pretty decent and excellent to learn on probabley one of the best to learn on out there for sure oh yeah and if you have purchased it already check em before you hit the trails
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA, US Date Reviewed: August 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Used on Craigslist
Strengths:
Float, Smooth in + out, Don't accidentally unclip.
Weaknesses:
Maybe can't get into them as easily as SPD's. (Should only have 2 sided entry with platform)
Similar Products Used:
SPD's Time XS Eggbeaters
Bike Setup:
Sweet custom Built K2 Razorback. (Although these pedals have been on 4 different Bikes)
Bottom Line:
Best set of pedals out there! I bought these and the cleats that can move side to side(like SPD cleats) and it fixed the knee problems I had with other pedals. I love the smoothness... no clanking/snapping sound going in or out. Don't have to twist as hard either. These stay clipped much better than SPD's.
These are great pedals. The only reason I see not to buy them is if you HAVE to get in the first try every time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
creecrop
a
from Carmel Valley,CA,USA Date Reviewed: July 19, 2007
Favorite Trail:
brail trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$95.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
4 side entry less thinking about cliping in and more thinking about carving the next trail,simple design clip bracket with a fat tension spring,best looking pedal i have seen ,feels very natural to clip in or out
Weaknesses:
have a long history with a lot of different pedals,from rebuild in the middle of sea otter,to riding with one foot,with these pedals a few creaks and moans,so far -no weakness
Similar Products Used:
just about all of them,if not me then someone else in the group,amazing what works and what doesnt work depending on the rider and bike set up
Bike Setup:
cross country , free ride set up put them together myself,bike KHS fr1500 frame all high grade stuff built for a fast clydesdale
Bottom Line:
so far this pedal setup is holding up and peforming well,without any problems,and if there is , lesson learned on to the next option,whatever keeps you riding and feeling strong...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Gwin
a Cross Country Rider
from Murphys, CA 95247 Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Elusive
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$99.00
Strengths:
Lightweight, four sided entry, easy engagement and disengagement
Weaknesses:
No Durability
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
Blur XC
Bottom Line:
I can't believe I am reviewing a product after the first ride. I got these pedals for my wife for her first clipless pedal. Halfway through her first ride (three miles in actually) and with no hard contact with the pedal, the engagement wings are so bent on the left pedal that they won't spin freely within the plastic body. I'm unimpressed to say the least, my wife isn't exactly hard on her equipment and it made her first ride on her new bike miserable. I also have a set and since they seemed to work okay I won't write them off just yet but we'll have to see how Crank Bros handles the situation.
Being a first time clipless user, she has been trying to roll her foot out of the pedal instead of twisting out. This was a very common thing we'd see selling to new clipless users when I was worked at a shop and we never saw a pedal come back (we didn't carry Crank Bros though). I can't believe that a 125 pound girl can so ruin a pedal just by trying to disengage incorrectly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Louisville Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Simple,strong,reliable,light weight,not affected by mud or snow.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano.
Bottom Line:
I have two sets of these plus a set of mallets and all have been flawless. The SL's are lighter than the Shimano pedals I've used (and sold).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nachomama
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: June 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
relatively light, decent price, were very easy to engage prior to breaking, took no time to get used stepping into
Weaknesses:
not durable, werent disengaging worth a crap
Similar Products Used:
shimano...
Bike Setup:
chumba xcl
Bottom Line:
slapped these puppies on, rode around my house and was amazed at how easy they were to get in and out of. hit the trail and continued to be amazed at how easy they were to get into but couldnt get out too great resulting in dead horses in the middle of several rocky areas... ive been riding clip-ins for many years so im not new to this. many other reviewers are reporting the opposite so im not sure what to say... may have been due to shoe interface as well... but only one side was a problem.
unfortunately, after 2 rides, 1 of the 4 "retention bars" crack most of the way through and bent. this resulted in that bar not passing very cleanly inside of the plastic outer "frame". at this point, that pedal is virtually impossible to get into...
this pedal lasted 2 rides.
my old shimanos were abused for 8 straight years and are now back on my brand new chumba b/c they outlasted my 2 week old candys...
ill see how the return/customer service goes and give them another shot as long as they send me new ones w/o hassles.
we shall see... but so far im not impressed at all.
you make
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jordan Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
City Park Motorcyle Trail in Austin
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
They look great. They don't weigh anything. I cannot agree with some other's reviews as far as clipping in and out. I think it's super easy getting in AND out of these pedals. I like the feel of the small platform. The cleats are super solid, and the instruction manual is super easy to read and VERY detailed.
Weaknesses:
I can see the platform getting messed up over time as it is just plastic and stuff. But, no pedal is ever going to last forever. So I'm not sure if that is even a weakness.
Similar Products Used:
Multiple Shimano SPD bulky ugly junks. And a pair of Bontrager bulky ugly junks.
Bike Setup:
2006 Stumpjumper FSR expert, fox rp23, deore xt, etc...
Bottom Line:
These pedals really perform, feel, look, and just are great. I recommend them to anyone who is wanting a good looking pedal that feels just as good if not better than traditional SPD pedals.
Oh yeah, ps - go to the crank brothers website - www.crankbrothers.com - they have some really fresh looking shirts and junk for pretty cheap. No I do not work for them or anything, I just really dig their stuff. My favorit is the crankbrothers zip up jacket.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charlie M.
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: May 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bluff Creek Ranch (Warda)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Unclippability (I'm making up words here).
Weaknesses:
Hard to engage when packed with mud.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPDs
Bike Setup:
Cobia with ugraded everything.
Bottom Line:
It comes down to personal preference. You need to decide whether being able to clip in quickly or get unclipped quickly is more important. When the pedals and cleats are clean (no mud) they work terrific both ways. But when caked with gumbo mud like we have in Houston, these are very hard to get to engage, and when they do you get very little feedback. But they unclip very easily even when packed with thick mud and don't let go when they aren't supposed to. I think this is more important that easy engagement. Ideally we could have both, but I don't think it works that way. My SPDs were easy to engage even when mud packed but they would break a leg when you tried to unclip. Giving the choice, I pick the Candy SL for ease of exit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hector Pliego
a Cross Country Rider
from all over the world Date Reviewed: April 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
bikeshop in singapore
Strengths:
Great on the knees, I switched because normal spd's where giving me pain on long rides, and as soon as I started using the candies the pain went away, the engagement mechanism is great and feels solid, they perform quite well.
Weaknesses:
After about 5 months of use the right pedal has some play, and pops when pedaling hard, very strange since the nut is tight, also a few weeks ago I hit a rock while climbing and bent one of the flanges, after close inspection I realise that it is cracked...so much for the durability!
Similar Products Used:
Shimano pedals
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. Santa Cruz Nomad.
Bottom Line:
Although they work great I would think twice before purchasing another pair since they have only lasted about six months...having said that my brand new Nomad has the mallets...havent really used them yet, but will let you know how they rate in a few months
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan Meyer
a
from Anaheim Hills, CA Date Reviewed: March 9, 2007
A bit of inconsistency depending on which of the 4 sides of entry you use.
Similar Products Used:
Old-school Onza elastomer-based pedals
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Bottom Line:
I recommend these pedals because I like easy entry/exit. My concerns are: (1) good climbing and (2) being able to clip-out quickly on those technical ares. Bottom line is that these pedals work for me!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Abbotsford BC Date Reviewed: February 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Life Cycles
Strengths:
Great looks and easy to get in and out.
Weaknesses:
sometimes will come unclipped while jumping (scary)
Bike Setup:
2006 Santa Cruz Blur
Bottom Line:
Super easy pedal to learn on but a little scary when jumping. I probably would get something a little more secure next time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from columbia, MD, usa Date Reviewed: November 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Gooseberry mesa
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Hudson Trail Outfitters
Strengths:
Light weight, mud, and easy engagement.
Weaknesses:
Engagment does not feel as solid as others. The spring is so soft, you can feel the spring rob you of power on your up and down pedal strokes. Your foot feels like it is balanceing on a stack of 4 pennies. Pedal releases with the lightest touch of a rock.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Mtn. Speedplay Frogs, Time atak, and I'm back to Shimano
Bike Setup:
Fisher 29er Super-cal mostly xt.
Bottom Line:
First basic info on reviewer. A Cross country occasional racer at 160 lbs.is writing this review. I bought this pedal because I was in the market and to see what all the rage was about. Bottom line- I recommend this pedal for beginners or severe muddy areas. -Not recomended for experienced cyclist, racers or single speed riders where the main link requires solid engament, power, and manuverability. Your body touches the bike at three points the Grips, Saddle and Pedal. The shoe and pedal is the contact point at which creats power for the push and pull stroke of pedaling. The pedal also assist with leaning/steering, supporting most of the body weight and bunny hopping. Their for making pedal and cleat combination very important. Imagine skiing or snowbording and having play between your boot and binding. Now imagine your foot releasing at random jumps or in hard power turns. This is how I felt with these pedals. The lack of solid engagment an feeling the spring move on every pedal stroke gives me an uneasy feeling. With the cleats in harder setting they occasionaly released in technical areas or tapping pedal on an obstical. Having this clipless pedal is certainly better than not having a clipless pedal. Low weight isn't always better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
allison
a Weekend Warrior
from so cal Date Reviewed: November 8, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
These pedals are great. I have the Blue. They're easy to clip into and clip out of, and the platform is decent for anyone not wanting to clip in, but looking for less than the Mallet, etc. Crankbro's has wonderful customer service also.
Weaknesses:
Due to not checking them often I had an end cap come unscrewed and get lost during a ride. Made climbing really difficult, but I emailed Crankbro's and got a new one in about a day or two. Otherwise, nothing.
Similar Products Used:
Crankbro's Candy C pedals (gray, pink)
Bottom Line:
Crankbrothers has great products and great customer service. Emails are answered promptly and if you have any issues with the pedals they can turn them around pretty quickly. I've sent in this pair for a rebuild and have another pair of Candy C's to send in soon. I like the color options as opposed to silver/metal since it makes the pedals (like other bike parts) more customizable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
FIL
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle,WA USA Date Reviewed: October 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Devil's Gulch
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Inexpensive, looks
Weaknesses:
Too easy to clip out
Similar Products Used:
old onza's, shimano 520,540
Bike Setup:
Heckler 5th Element coil over w/ Marzocchi Z1, Cross max xl's , Thomson , XTR cranks and drivetrain, 2.35 Minions (best tires I've ridden) Hayes nine
Bottom Line:
I have been riding clipless pedals for over 10 years and these are the worst one's I have ever ridden. While I have not personally had any malfunctions with mine a good friend busted aspindle in the first three months he had his. My problem is that you cannot tell when you're clipped in (clipping out is way too easy) and as soon as you are in the air your feet are sitting up at your top tube. Until I can afford something new I will ride my flats for xc because I know that I am not clipped in. Pedals possibly good for commuting.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch, CO, USA Date Reviewed: September 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
401 in Crested Butte
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Online Bikes
Strengths:
Lightweight, easy engagement, sheds muds easily. Price was pretty cheap.
Weaknesses:
Easy disengagement, retention arm springs wears out quickly resulting in low/no retention force.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD, Ritchey
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic, Specialized Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
When I bought my first pair, I was very disgruntled with Shimano and their lack of muck shedding ability. I loved these pedals so much I bought another pair for my beater bike. But after about one year of riding, I noticed my foot would come off the pedal at times when I really didn't want it to. Customer Service replace the pedal but it was just a matter of time before all of my pedals wore enough to were I might as well just use platform pedals.
For commuting or for someone who is timid about clipless pedals, go for them. Otherwise, keep looking.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
robotkiller
a Cross Country Rider
from JAX, FL Date Reviewed: July 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Razorback
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Light weight, intuitive, no adjustments
Weaknesses:
No adjustment, easy to clip out, indistinct clip in. Cleats are worthless -- biggest problem
Similar Products Used:
eggs, 959
Bike Setup:
IF steel deluxe, rigid
Bottom Line:
I learned on these pedals and rode them for two years. They are great pedals to learn on, in my experience. Very easy to clip out of - very friendly for those new to clipless. Once you get used to them, however, I found they were a little too easy to clip out. I lost some confidence in the pedals when jumping or things got too hairy. It wasn't enough to ruin the ride, but I was never 100% confident that my feet wouldn't clip out.
The bearings eventually got grimy and sluggish - but I never did maintainence, so I won't call it a complaint. At the end of the day -- despite a complete lack of maintainence - these pedals held up. No problems with reliability for me.
Biggest complaint? Cleats suck. Period. Absolute crap soft brass cleats that will not last more than a couple of months. Apparently the Quattro cleats and/or upgraded cleats are the way to go with Eggs/Candys
I finally dumped these and got 959s -- which have a much more positive engagement and hold on much tighter. So far, I find them functionally superior to Candys, albeit 60g heavier.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bruce
a Downhiller
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
National Trail, Phoenix, AZ
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Bike Shop
Strengths:
Lightweight, provides decent platform, easy to clip in and get out.
Weaknesses:
Due to light weight, it isn't the most durable pedal out there.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPDs, Eggbeaters, Mallets
Bike Setup:
Titus Super-Moto with Fox 36, SRAM X-9 drive, Race Face, etc.
Bottom Line:
I just read the reviews about pedal failures, difficulty engaging/disengaging, etc. Here's my story:
I am 6-3 and weight about 240 with all my gear. I bent one spindle in my life, and it wasn't on this pedal. I did break a retaining clip on this pedal, but it was after a year of technical riding on hard rocks. I have not complaints about that record. I have absolutely NO difficulty clipping in/out. It has been flawless, except when I bought some Answer shoes and had to do some cutting and grinding on the sole before I could get it right. Again, I am okay with that. You can't be a perfect fit for every pedal and every shoe.
This pedal is fan-freakin'-tastic, especially when you put the weight factor into the equation. I just bought some of the Smarty's. If they are nearly as hardy as these have been for me, I am going to be even HAPPIER with Crank Brothers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
mud shedding abilities
Weaknesses:
weakest pedeal I have ever used, I broke two pairs in 2 weeks of use, as soon as you hit the cleat retainer on the pedal on a rock, it is done, and it doesn't take too much of a hit to do it
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD
Bike Setup:
06 Rocky Slayer 70
Bottom Line:
These pedals are not meant for durability, they are light and look good, but are useless over the long run. My garage is a graveyard for parts that couldn't last the long run, and these pedals are joining the heap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ringer X
a Cross Country Rider
from South East Date Reviewed: April 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
All that evoke fun
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
Light, Cheap, Mud shedding, easy in and out
Weaknesses:
metal clip thingy
Similar Products Used:
egg beaters, time atac
Bike Setup:
Cannondale with all the stuff
Bottom Line:
These are, in my opinion, one of the best pedals to get in and out of quick and they easily shed mud. The 4 sided entry allows clip in from a forward and backward movement of the shoe. I have on many occasions been saved by these pedals. The platform allows you to pedal or stand without clipping in as well. The weight is minimal for the price. I have been in the muddiest conditions and found these to work perfectly with my shoes(Dia Chilies).I have these on 2 bikes, one all mountain the other XC race and never had any issues with the padals. Extremly happy with the pedals and highly recommend them for non-Clyde, agressive all mountain types. Egg beaters for XC race types. The price is right when available.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Snoqualmie, WA, USA Date Reviewed: March 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Kachess Ridge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$95.00
Strengths:
Sheds mud well, easy to unclip.
Weaknesses:
Poor construction, little adjustability, poor materials.
Similar Products Used:
SPDs.
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS C2
Bottom Line:
I went through 3 pairs of these pedals in one year. First, one of the eggbeater-y wings sheared right off. On the second pair one of the wings got bent in like a V. Thirdly, after getting the others replaced by Crank Brothers, the pedal completely came off the spindle while riding, leaving me with 6 miles of trail and only one pedal. At the time of the broken wings, everyone assured me that it was an anomaly and that it never happened to anyone else. Nearly everyone I've encountered who used to ride Candy's since has had similar stories.
The pedals are very easy to get out of and, if you keep them lubed, very easy to get into (sometimes the wings get tuck where only one wing is pointing up), but they're just not durable. I expect a lot more for the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steven kilburn
a Cross Country Rider
from Old Town, Me Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Spider Loop, Okinawa
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$79.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Easy in, Easy out.
Weaknesses:
Bearings, axles, end caps.
Similar Products Used:
535,858,Time Atac.
Bike Setup:
Unit and Heckler
Bottom Line:
The drive side pedal blew up on a ride in the fall. This was after 3months of riding. True JRA. I sent them in to be rebuilt. I got them back, rode them for two weeks and the spindle sheared in half while pedaling uphill on my singlespeed. I have never had this happen to a pedal. Nor have I seen this happen to a Candy. Maybe it was a fluke but two pedals toast in such a short amount of time is ridiculous. My 858's are five years old. I haven't touched them. The customer service is excellant, you will likely need it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Edmunds
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, DC Date Reviewed: January 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere dry and away from rocks!
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Inexpensive (the MSRP is a joke, you can generally get them for half that if you look), reasonably light, and work well in most conditions. I even managed to find a pair in black to match my bike!
Weaknesses:
The bearings, lack of adjustability. I've had problems getting in/out from time to time. The end caps like to fall off.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPDs, eggbeaters...
Bike Setup:
Turner Burner with Reba Team U-Turn, DT 240s hubs laced to VXC rims from Odds and Endos, SRAM X9 all over, Hope Mono Minis, Race Face Turbine Cranks...
Bottom Line:
In the sub-$100 category, they're pretty decent - certainly an upgrade over platforms, and they also out perform the lower end shimanos. They're not as bad as some on here are making them out to be, and I have to say that Crank Brothers' customer service department is excellent. Are there better pedals out there? Yup - the Time Atacs are excellent, but you get what you pay for. The Candy SLs are good pedals. Not great pedals, not terrible pedals. I'll ride these for another season or two, and then step up to Atac Carbon Titans...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ian bragg
a Racer
from new hampshire, usa Date Reviewed: December 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
beaver brook
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
sponser
Strengths:
doesn't collect mud, easy to get in and out of and can take a beating
Weaknesses:
the plastic platform around the egg beater gets dirty fast
Similar Products Used:
spd pedals
Bike Setup:
scott lx,xt drive train rock shox judy sl, rpm wheel set, avid brakes, raceface bars, easton stem
Bottom Line:
the candy sl is a amazing pedal for racing and riding. and the prices on them aren't bad.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hui Chuen Chuang
a Cross Country Rider
from Penang, Malaysia Date Reviewed: December 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
anywhere
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$66.00
Purchased At:
Cyclon Cycle Industries
Strengths:
as i've said before, nice, strong, clips in and out very easily...
Weaknesses:
the empty spaces between the spring and cage can easily be choked with mud....and i can't even clip in... but sometimes it clips in without u noticing it... when it's dry, everything's fine... the only problem is mud, mud, mud
Similar Products Used:
PD-M520
Bike Setup:
2005 Trek Fuel 70
Bottom Line:
not too bad...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hui Chuen Chuang
a Cross Country Rider
from Penang, Malaysia Date Reviewed: November 15, 2005
Favorite Trail:
anywhere
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
Cyclon Cycle Industries
Strengths:
strong, beautiful, clips in easily, light, clips out easily
Weaknesses:
so for so good
Bike Setup:
2005 Trek Fuel 70
Bottom Line:
very reasonable price for such a quality product...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andi
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England Date Reviewed: November 11, 2005
Having taken 8 years to wearout a pair of Time Carbon pedals I've been really disapointed in these pedals. Sure the box is really pretty but they just aren't anywhere near the quality of the Time. Poor tolerences and an average engagement, not good when you need to get locked in fast all lead to an average review. I ride in the real world where mud is plentiful and the rocks hurt when you miss a drop off. Don't believe the hype!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, Earth Date Reviewed: November 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Nebo Ridge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$68.00
Purchased At:
Ebay Baby!
Strengths:
What can I say? These pedals kick ass! They just laugh at mud. Have been using these for over a year with no problems other than one of the side plates coming loose from an impact from a rock. A little plier action fixed it right up. And I am hard on stuff plus weight 215 lbs.
Weaknesses:
platform is a little small, slick when wet or covered with muck. The cleats are made out of brass, they will wear out eventually and need replaced.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
I have these pedals on both my mountain hardtail and cross bike.
Bottom Line:
Well worth it for the money, Just give the bearings a little love and shoot some moly grease into them about once a month and I would guess they will last forever .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chuck
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakland Date Reviewed: October 30, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Cambria Bike
Strengths:
Light, inexpensive, good in mud
Weaknesses:
Little release tension, poor bearing quality - overall lower quality than expected
Similar Products Used:
Time, Shimano, etc..
Bike Setup:
Foes FXR
Bottom Line:
My main problem withe the Candy's is the release tension - it is basically non-existant - think Speedplay Frogs. This is a problem if you ride technical trails - you're always popping out of the pedals.
The second problem is the overall quality - the bearings became cruddy within a month, the springs could be heard rattling down the trail.
In my opinion, these pedals amount to a cheap knock off of Time ATAC's - for the extra $40 - I finally went and bought the real thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Martijn
a Cross Country Rider
from Holland Date Reviewed: October 25, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Portes Du Soleil France
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Light for a do anything pedal, tough, foolproof and nice mud/ice/snow-clearance.
Weaknesses:
Needs some time to bed in
Similar Products Used:
Original Eggbeaters, Twin Ti Eggbeaters, Shimano 747 and 545
Bike Setup:
Look at http://photo.pinkbike.com/photo/582/pbpic582854.jpg and http://photo.pinkbike.com/photo/582/pbpic582851.jpg
Bottom Line:
Very nice pedals once bedded in. In the beginning the clipping area wouldn't rotate freely inside the composite body what made clipping in a bit tricky. Now after 19 months of use they perform much better and clip in with allmost no effort. I like to use them on my "do anything bike" and they perform just as nice as the Twin Ti Eggbeaters on my race mountainbike. They are light for a pedal that gives something to stand on and work very well in placed where most other pedals seize up. The clear mud and snow/ice very easy and alway let go when you want them. Just a bit of grease once in a while and they still go like crazy! In the beginning I had to get used to these babys but now I like them just as much as my Twin Ti's
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Leo
a Cross Country Rider
from Wrentham, MA Date Reviewed: September 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Kingdom Trails, VT
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
ebay!!!
Strengths:
Weather doesn't matter - this pedal easily clips in regardless of the gods' intentions - and you don't have to bang the crap off your cleats. Clipping out is extremely easy. Platforms provide a more stable ride than standard eggbeaters and are more forgiving in those sneaker rides made now and then.
Weaknesses:
You know you're in trouble when the pedal comes with rebuild instructions. I'm in the process of replacing the bushing and washers after 1000 miles of use.
I only weigh 140lbs. Although I'm known to hammer from time to time, I shouldn't have to be rebuilding these guys (and paying $20 for the kit) after 1000 miles.
You decide - Is the best all season weather independent pedal with easy release, good retention, and a stable platform, worth the rebuild effort after 1000 miles?
You bet it is!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Archie Brown
a Racer
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: August 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
You Yangs Backcountry
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Ebay baby!
Strengths:
Easy in - easy out, great float, good clearance, nice and strong. Platform makes for easy power on before needing to clip in.
Weaknesses:
Not as easy to get into as eggbeaters, but I went for the platform to help protect the pedal proper.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD's and a bunch of them. Cage no cage etc.
Bike Setup:
Avanti Competitor, SRAM X-9, XT, Hayes Mag, 223's, Racing Ralphs.
Bottom Line:
Very nice after running into countless issues with shimano pedals. Clean in muddy conditions and holds up well to the odd beating on rocks. No issues with bearings, even after some very muddy races and enduros.
Im stoked with these guys, but will probably move to eggbeaters when these blow up.
No issues = 5 chilis from me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Albino Sasquatch
a Racer
from Boulder Date Reviewed: August 22, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Somewhere in Gunnison County
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Easy to get in and out. Work great in mud and snow. Inexpensive.
Weaknesses:
Low price results in mediocre QC on cleat screws and engagement wings.
Similar Products Used:
Every version of Shimano's SPDs
Bike Setup:
Doesn't really matter for pedals, does it? I have them on my cross bike and rotate another pair between two MTBs.
Bottom Line:
Bought a pair of Candy for 50 bucks the day before a cyclocross race that was going to be through 6 inches of snow and the mud that comes with it. SPDs have improved over the years with mud, but snow freezes those things up. Heard and seen good things about the Candy/Eggbeaters in similar conditions. Picked up a pair of SLs to avoid changing pedals over on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, the memorable features of pedals are usually negative because when all is well I don't notice them at all.
Used the shims that came with the cleats and didn't have any problems getting engaged in the pedals. However, the screws were cheap and of poor quality and I wasn't able to secure the cleat properly until I used Shimano screws. It would be nice to have more lateral adjustment for the cleat position as the pedals seem to be "wider" than SPDs, resulting in a ducklike foot position. The float makes it work, but it could be better. A little play is noticeable fore and aft during the pedal stroke depending on the position of the wings upon entry. It seems that the different size wings don't fit the cleat identically. Quite annoying. The screw that holds the pedal body on the spindle needs regular attention to keep it together as well.
The size of the platform works really well for cyclocross. Really easy to prepare for dismounts and to get in and out.
Shimano has better overall quality but as far as value goes, these can't be beat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Strengths:
Eggbeater core - stick to it and forgo the Candy's
Weaknesses:
Platform gets in the way and adds no value.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 535s, Eggbeater SL, Speedplay
Bike Setup:
GT I-Drive
Bottom Line:
I LOVE the Eggbeater design, and after six months on the Candy's decided to switch to the Eggbeater. That was the best decision I could have made. The platform on the Candy's interfered with my shoes - I tried it on two different pairs, and clipping both in and out was difficult and worse - unpredictable. (I am not about to take a dremel tool to a $140 pair of shoes as Crank Brothers suggests). That said, the Eggbeaters are the best pedals I've ridden - easy to clip in and out, and completely predictable. Not a single complaint yet. Also, CB customer service was excellent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Palmer, Alaska Date Reviewed: July 21, 2005
Favorite Trail:
A good climb is favorable
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Copeland Sports
Strengths:
Attractive
Weaknesses:
Four way entry hindered by candy composite
Similar Products Used:
Eggbeaters
Bike Setup:
Stock 2004 RM ETSX 50
Bottom Line:
The bike was orange, the pedals were blue, I'm a crankbros fan, so it all seemed to add up. I don't know if it's the pedal composite or what, but my bearings disintigrated under very minimal abuse. I quickly grew aggitated that this fourway entry pedal felt more like a two way. The eggbeater component on the pedal spins independently so technically you have four entry options, but you still have to fuss with the platform. To me it wasn't worth it. The other complication is the free spinning eggbeater got jammed somehow and became very difficult to turn. I could not remedy this problem, even with a rebuild kit, so I have to blame the candy component for the above complications. My old eggbeaters never had any of these problems. I plan to get rid of the candies and stick with what worked for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mother
a Weekend Warrior
from Long Beach, CA, USA Date Reviewed: July 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Noble Valley
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Mud Shedding design, very easy to clip out. Good overall design of the pedal.
Weaknesses:
Two things: > The cleat screws which came with the pedals strip out in the head (not the threads). I lost a screw on a 19 mile ride and could not clip out. It made the decent very sketchy. I later replaced with Shimano cleat screws.
> The clip in bars do not spin freely within the plastic platform (as they do on the mallets). Eggbeaters and mallets are much easier to clip into because they do not have this issue.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC Carbon. Eggbeaters. Mallets. Wellgo (shimano copies) SPD.
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler w/Maverick DUC32/Saint/Hayes
Bottom Line:
Please understand my point of view... Me = 4 yrs riding Time ATAC pedals. Bicycle mechanic. Very picky about how my pedals work.
--- Overall --- The solid, light weight design of the eggbeater was the foundation for the design of the candy. It's still al eggbeater at it's core, which is a great design. Compared to it's siblings, not as easy to clip in. The plastic platform really just gets in the way. There's no real advantage to having it there.
Compared with ATAC, you need to be a little more concious of your placement (front/back). The ATAC has a small ramp behind the rear retention bar making it impossible for your cleat to catch. The Candys however, allow your cleat to catch the rear bar and roll the inside of the pedal forward. This is harder on the candys than other CB pedals.
If you want light pedals, go with the eggbeater. A light freeride-ish platform, then go with the mallet. Easier in and out but not so light, go with the ATAC. Even though I am recommending that people consider other pedals, the design is still good overall. There just happens to be better products out there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Garden City, MI Date Reviewed: July 13, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Pontiac Lake
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Shed mud, easy in and out, no pedal tension adjustment to worry about, no accidental unclipping
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
I have had them for about a year now, and I have been really pleased with them. I have never had any accidental unclippings, and they are pretty easy to get into and out of. They've also been maintenence free. There's no tension adjustment to mess with, so it's just a matter of clipping in and riding. The little platform is nice for those odd times when you want a bit of platform to ride on without clipping in, but to be honest, this time around I went with standard Eggies for this bike. These Candies replaced the pedals on my road bike, and are a night and day improvement over the horrible, horrible pedals that were on it.
So yeah, these are great pedals, and I would recommend them to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Celeste
a Racer
from Fort Collins, CO Date Reviewed: July 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Mount Falcon, Morrison
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Easy to unclip from. Won't accidentally release when cranking or hopping. Easier to engage and release than Times and sheds mud better than Shimano.
Weaknesses:
Clipping in is a challenge. You usually need a little room to wiggle your foot around, and even then there's no "click," so you can be trying to start on a hill, think you're in, only to have your foot fly off at the next upstroke. I've killed my momentum multiple times like this and it's very frustrating. The platform really doesn't do a thing...it's slippery when you're not in and makes it harder to line up with the wings to get in.
Similar Products Used:
Egg beaters SL, Time ATAC, Shimano.
Bottom Line:
I've put these on my road bike and am keeping them there! There's no room for wondering if your foot is in or out in cross country. I haven't noticed a difference between these and standard eggbeaters when it comes to foot soreness, so I think the platform is mostly for looks, and to jack up the price a bit! These are good pedals for lightweight riders because they are so easy to get in and out of. Basically, they're better than Shimano or Time, but regular eggbeaters beat them all into a meringue.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wes Sprinkle
a
from Flagstaff AZ Date Reviewed: July 1, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Bottom Line:
My first experiences with the original eggbeater were really good, so I bought these. My first complaint is about the cleat mounting bolts. What size hex key are you supposed to use with those, it surely isnt a standard size. So the cleats loosened up a few times on me while riding. Then, I hit a rock today, no big deal, it happens often enough. Except the pedal broke, one of the arms (or whatever you call them) snapped. My suggestion: look elsewhere for a pedal. You can rightfully expect more for $110. Otherwise performance was good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Marshall
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs, CO Date Reviewed: June 27, 2005
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Ease of entry and exit
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 525, 747, 858, 959
Bike Setup:
2005 Moots Cinco w/ all of the goodies
Bottom Line:
I have been a hard core Shimano SPD fan for 10 years; wouldn't listen to any detractors who tried to steer me toward Time's or others, but decided to give these a try and I am impressed.
The main differences I like about these is I don't come out when I stand to pedal and pull up hard; also the release tension doesn't change when they are packed with mud; easy to get in or out.
Crank Brothers phone information is good, too; called to ask about using the shims with Sidi's and they were every helpful.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steven
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas,Tx, US Date Reviewed: June 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
crank brother customer service.
Weaknesses:
pedal bodies bend rather easily.
Similar Products Used:
shimano spd's
Bike Setup:
not relevant
Bottom Line:
i bought in to the hype of the crank brother pedals. bent both pedal bodies within a week of each other without wrecking. guessing that i hit something on the trail and i do not ride many rocky trails. examined the pedal and discovered that one of the metal wings was bent really bad. made it back to the car and was astonished at how easy it was to bend the wing back into shape. i emailed crank brothers and they did send me 2 new pedal bodies. guess this is why crank brothers has such good customer service because the pedals are crap. surely nobody would buy a second pair if crank brothers did not stand behind their pedals. rode cheap shimano spd's before these and they were much more durable and reliable. will not buy another set of crank brother pedals!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan
a Downhiller
from Wales Date Reviewed: June 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$80.00
Strengths:
Light, sheds mud.
Weaknesses:
The extra palstic resin pedal part does not give any more grip.In my opinion hard to get out of in a hurry. See below.
After using shimano SPD for over 10 years for XC racing,Downhill and Freeride( and loads of crashes). Decided to go for some new crank bros, found them hard to clip in at first but ok after a few rides. Had a few small falls when running of of grip on steep climbs at first I thought it was my tequnique. But after a while noticed compaired with SPD if you have weight on the pedal it's harder to disengage. I was riding in a cross counry race and had a (medium ) but twisting fall and my foot did not release. Crank arm in the Horizontal position foot twisting towards the crank. Broke Tib and Fib resulting in 8 days in hospital with surgery to insert plates and pins. Will take 3 months min to heal. Maybe bad luck but the pedals did not help. So I will not go near any again!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Trempealeau, WI USA Date Reviewed: June 12, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$109.00
Purchased At:
Brone's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Easy to clip in and out, Lightweight, excellent styling, platform pedal.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
Hoo Koo frame, Race Face Evolve XC Crank, Judy C (converted to Englund Air), XT Rear, LX Front, Avid Brakes, CB Candy SL Pedals
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that these pedal rock! For anyone just starting out with clipless pedals I would highly recommend the Candy SL's. I was a little nervous about converting to clipless, but Crank Bros. made it simple. I didn't fall at all learning to use these. They are easy like Sunday morning to clip in and out of. The main advantage I see over the eggbeaters is that this is a platform pedal. You can still pedal easily even if you're not clipped in. Buy these now!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travis
a Racer
from Michigan Date Reviewed: April 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
dont worry about it
Strengths:
Platform is nice to ride on when clipped out in very very technical sections. I like to be locked in tight, and these do just that.
Weaknesses:
Cleats DO NOT stay tight if you have a Carbon Soul. I have Nike Lance Mountain shoes, and the cleats DONT stay tight.
Similar Products Used:
Candy C, Mallet, Eggbeaters, Time Atac
Bike Setup:
Trek 9.8 Carbon, Sid World Cup, Race Face Deus XC, Mavic XM819 with Chris King Classics, Sram X:0 R.Der. XT front, Avid Single Digit SL brakes and levers, Easton Monkeylite XC, Thomson Elite...all the best.
Bottom Line:
Carbon soul...dont get these. Non carbon soul...go ahead, you'll love em.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: April 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Tamarancho
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Ease of entry in all conditions, cost, looks, durability
Weaknesses:
lock nut that holds on the pedal fell off.
Similar Products Used:
various shimano pedals and some crappy wtb ones.
Bike Setup:
Mongoose Pro Titanium, hayes hydros, full xtr, carbon fiber this and that, fox f80rlt.
Bottom Line:
I've used these pedals in all conditions for the past 9 months. I've never serviced them but have washed them off (along with the rest of the bike) after every muddy ride. I've never experienced any problems with them in any way (entry, exit, damage,knee problems, etc), until this morning. I was riding to work and the pedal sudden started to slide around. At first I thought I unclipped some how but looked down and realized that the pedal body was coming off of the spindle. After stopping and looking at what happened, I figured out that the locking nut on the end of the spindle came off. This by itself wouldn't have been a problem but in this loosening process the bearing was completly destroyed. This issue is probably my fault since I didn't check to see if the nut was loose but then again when was the last time this happened to you? Definitely a first for me.
I proceeded to call up Crankbros and the young woman who answered the phone was extremely helpful. I explained the problem I had and she then explained that they have a rebuild kit that includes new bearings, spacers, seals, lock nuts and end caps. This is the point where I thought she was going to let me know that all this could be mine for a price. Nope, she then stated that she'll send it to me free and all she needed was my address. I was more than willing to pay for the rebuild kit and they wanted nothing more than to make their customer happy. Crankbros products and customer service are stellar and are raising the bar for all other companies. Due to this great experience I'm crankbros for life and will promote their products to anyone who is interested.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christian Leary
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: April 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Marin Trail Gwydyr Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Wiggle
Strengths:
Packaging is Apple Macesque Built well Look good (in blue, anyway) Don't spit you out when the going gets really tough Smooth unclip
Weaknesses:
You have to hack half your sole off to get the things to engage at all They're a pain in the a55 to clip into (even with half your sole missing) Platform is as slippery as a wet fish at a baby oil convention when you can't clip in Not as much lateral float as you might like - there's a little resistance even at tiny angles Egg-beater seems to catch on cleat and rotate so that you can't engage - think platform gets in the way rather than helps matters at all
Similar Products Used:
WTB MP310
Bike Setup:
Marin Rock Springs, 5" travel front and rear, big frame Specialized Sport MTB shoe
Using long bolts and shim on Candys, have Dremel'd most of the grip from the sole of my Specialized shoes to ensure clear entry for cleat into pedal.
Bottom Line:
These pedals get rave reviews from seemingly everybody. So much so, I bought on-spec without a trial. Got myself the Specialized MTB shoe at the same time.
Stage 1) working out how to get engaged at all. - lots of clipping in and out in the garage using all my body weight - lots of swearing in the garden unable to clip in at all - lots of time back in the garage with the Dremel melting the sole away
Stage 2) working out how to get clipped in on the move - several local hacks struggling with the things - night time ride around Moel Fammau = unable to clip in at all for last 10 clicks, possibly due to frozen mud - back in the garage with the Dremel butchering anything that looked like it might get in the way
Stage 3) making a huge mistake using these pedals without adequate trail testing - took on the 65K Rat Run Enduro - added at least 10 minutes on my finish time simply due to being stood still trying to get one or other of my pedals to clip in - spent much of my time pedalling with my feet balanced precariously on top of the pedals, swearing like a trooper - suffered a gradually worsening knee injury as my feet repeatedly slipped off under power
The Rat Run is probably the final straw. I wasn't really fit enough to enjoy the thing properly anyway, but not being able to clip in for important parts of the course made me absolutely livid. If I'd have used my old WTB pedals I would have been so much better off. The Candy's have been a complete waste of money for me, doubly so as I bought the Specialized shoes to complement them.
Recommendation: try before you buy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Clarita, CA USA Date Reviewed: March 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Sycamore Canyon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$61.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Easy entry and exit. Incredibly simple to maintain.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Shimano M520's
Bike Setup:
Fisher Cake 2 Dlx with Shimano XT SGS rear derailleur + Shimano LX shifters + Shimano LX front derailleur | Bontrager Race 44/32/22 crank | Hayes HFX-9 HD hydraulic disc brakes 6"frt/6"rr w/Hayes levers
Bottom Line:
These have got to be the best pedals I've used in my 30+ years of riding. The notion of simpler is better definately applies here. Ease of entry and exit, fully rebuildable and some of the best customer service in the industry.
The Shimano M520's I had were OK. They were a pain to clean and rebuilding them was nearly impossible plus they had virtually no float.
As a side note, when I was installing the cleats on my shoes, I accidently stripped out the head one of the 4mm bolts by not pushing hard enough with my allen wrench. I called crankbrothers, to my surprise, the phone was answered by a real person. I explained my problem and was transferred to customer service, where I spoke to a real person. I told the tech what happened. I had my credit card in my hand, fully expecting to pay for some replacement bolts when he said he'd send some out at no charge.
CrangBrothers' outstanding product and customer service is almost unheard of in today's business world. It's really refreshing to see a company that truly care for its customers. They have me as a customer for life.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S
a Cross Country Rider
from Arkansas Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$68.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
-near perfect entry and exit -pretty light -work great even when dirty -seriously, leaves and mud don't seem to affect these at all -the little platform rocks -come with shims as well as short and long sets of screws -impressive instruction manual -15 or 20 degree release option (I've found the 15 degree to be too shallow)
Weaknesses:
-Expensive (but worth it) -The cleats lack side-to-side adjustment. You can move them front to back on the shoe but you can't move them to the inside or the outside as you can with SPDs. This may be a problem depending on the shoe type. The platfrom somewhat negates the need for side-to-side adjustment but some might miss it.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC Alium (demo). Shimano SPD.
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakota XC. Manitou Black fork. Shimano LX shifters and cranks. XT Derailleurs and hubs. Sun Singletrack rims. Avid mechanical disc brakes. Selle Italia XO saddle. IRC Mythos tires. Did I leave anything out?
Bottom Line:
Lets see: The platform pretty much eliminates the "hot spots" which result from tiny shoe/pedal contact areas. This would be expecially helpful if your shoes aren't super-stiff. I have pretty stiff (I guess you would call them racing shoes) Diadora mtb shoes and I notice a difference between the Candys and SPDs. I dig the platform.
The platform helps a bit when just tooling around in sandals or tennis shoes but remains pretty slippery. The Candys are designed to be ridden clipped-in. Try the Mallets or Time ATAC Z if you want to ride unclipped.
Clipping in is pretty smooth - about on par with what I remember about Time ATAC. The candys don't require quite as much effort but do seem to require more precise foot placement. Of course, you have the option of doing that eggbeater rolling thing to get into the candys. Download and read the candy instruction manual for a description of "rolling in".
Clipping out: Wow. I can't believe how easy it is to clip out. On my road bike I have speedplay X-2's which require basically no effort to clip out so I was a bit worried about getting stuck in these. The Candys (candies?) are seriously almost as easy to exit as the X-2s. Much, much easier than Time or Shimano. If you're getting stuck in Candys then you need to use the shims, cut some tread away, or maybe even sand down part of the shoe if your tread is really deep.
I've been out during and after rains. So I've gotten leafy muddy nastiness on my shoes and I really didn't have to think about whether or not I would be able to clip in again. I've always been able to do it. I think that's the mark of a good pedal - that you don't think about it at all when you're riding.
I have never accidentally unclipped.
Like Time ATAC cleats, these seem to wear quickly. But, hey, it's better the cleats than the pedals.
The Candy pedal is probably suitable for just about every kind of rider. There is a cheaper version (Candy C) for newbies and a titanium version for racers. I suppose if you're really big on float then maybe Time or Speedplay would be better for you. Some racers would probably prefer the standard eggbeaters to Candy pedals.
5 Chilis for excellent quality and functionality. Just 4 for value because I think they're a bit overpriced; but, I can't think of any pedals that aren't. Anyway, that's what Ebay is for. I found mine brand new for less than $70.00
The bottom line: Unless you need tons of float, side to side adjustment, or don't want a platform, stop reading reviews and buy yourself some Candy pedals. You won't be disappointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bernard
a Cross Country Rider
from NH Date Reviewed: February 2, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$71.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Light, easy to clip it out of. BOmb proof. Anything you could want from a pedal!
Similar Products Used:
Cheap wellgo stuff, TIME
Bottom Line:
this is probably among the best upgrades i have made for my bike. These things are that good. These are just hte SL version and they are lighter than most SPD pedals which cost much more. They are easy to clip in/out of which is nice for begginers to clipless. I have done drops with these things, fallen on road and mountain and they have no problems. There is no play or anything. What i think is just so cool about these is the simple design, look at some other SPD pedals out there. They have a mechanism far more complicated than this, lots of places for mud to get into! These things are snow, water and mud proof. Mud simply falls right off. Keeping it simple means less to go off, if you ever take these apart you will be surprised of how simple a design it is. I would not recommend the Candy C however if you do road travel becuase the salt on roads in NH at least will tear it apart. I was willing to add a few grams to get the platform which is the egg beaters lack. So these can be ridden unclipped (i do it everyday), dont let people tell you different. I cant say enough about these pedals, plus they are cheap. 5 stars all the way around
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bernard
a Cross Country Rider
from NH Date Reviewed: February 2, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$71.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Light, easy to clip it out of. BOmb proof. Anything you could want from a pedal!
Similar Products Used:
Cheap wellgo stuff, TIME
Bottom Line:
this is probably among the best upgrades i have made for my bike. These things are that good. These are just hte SL version and they are lighter than most SPD pedals which cost much more. They are easy to clip in/out of which is nice for begginers to clipless. I have done drops with these things, fallen on road and mountain and they have no problems. There is no play or anything. What i think is just so cool about these is the simple design, look at some other SPD pedals out there. They have a mechanism far more complicated than this, lots of places for mud to get into! These things are snow, water and mud proof. Mud simply falls right off. Keeping it simple means less to go off, if you ever take these apart you will be surprised of how simple a design it is. I would not recommend the Candy C however if you do road travel becuase the salt on roads in NH at least will tear it apart. I was willing to add a few grams to get the platform which is the egg beaters lack. So these can be ridden unclipped (i do it everyday), dont let people tell you different. I cant say enough about these pedals, plus they are cheap. 5 stars all the way around
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Racer
from NZ Date Reviewed: January 30, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Steep xc
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Good for all types of riding and look way cooler than normal eggs.They dont tend to munt the back of your legs and are stable.
Weaknesses:
Have not had long enough to tell none so far.
Similar Products Used:
Times and crome eggs.
Bike Setup:
xc kona kula with upgrades
Bottom Line:
A great all round pedal I have used for xc racing and trail riding and going up a hill if you unclip you can keep going and they look bling bling.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erling Brabaek
a Cross Country Rider
from El Paso Date Reviewed: December 17, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Allofthem
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa.com
Strengths:
Made by Crank Bros
Weaknesses:
Not ment for rocks
Similar Products Used:
egg beater ss
Bike Setup:
Yeti 575 nixon hayes fx mag plus crossmax sl
Bottom Line:
This review is a follow up to my earlier posting of the candy sl. I would recomend the egg beater stainless over the candy if you pilfer around rocks. After switching to the stainless the rocks loose. The aft wing on the stainless does over time dig a little bit in to the shoe cause its lagging the planform of the candy. But after 500 miles on my specialized shoe its only 3/4 milimeter deep. The shoe is almoast worn out anyway. No matter which one of them you would consider here is this: I sent in my candy sl (along with my egg beater crome) to Crank Brothers told the what happened and would be glad to pay to have them fixed. Two weeks later i had a pair of overhauled pedals in the mail and NO CHARGE. Crank Brothers gained a costumer for life. Must be a fellow dane.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tom becksted
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson,AZ,USA Date Reviewed: October 31, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Fantasy Island
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Lightweight Easy maintenance
Weaknesses:
No tension adjustment Difficult sightless entry Cheap endcaps
Similar Products Used:
Xpedo Time ATAC
Bike Setup:
'04 G.Fisher Marlin, XT & Thomson all around, Monkeylites, Rockshox SID Team, bla bla bla
Bottom Line:
If you ride road or low tech XC, these could be the pedals for you. However, even after 200 miles, the pedals are still to damned tight for me when dismounting (especially on right side). Forget about tring to clip in real quick, especially traveling through a rock garden.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erling Brabaek
a Cross Country Rider
from El Paso,Texas Date Reviewed: October 30, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Excelent entry and exit
Weaknesses:
composite doesnt hold up against rocks
Similar Products Used:
shimano spd
Bike Setup:
giant vt1 minute 2 fork
Bottom Line:
This is a great pedal IF i say IF you dont ride in rock gardens. Mine lasted 6 months, when the left pedal began to wobble. Tried to tighten the nut. nut was tight took nut of and out fell 4 balls from the bearing the end washer was reduced to almost nothing. The rest hmmmmm i wonder where it went. The composite material gets easily damaged by hard stuff ie rocks. With that said i dont think that is crank brothers fault. This pedal was not built for rocky free riding.So i wont hold that against them. I just bought the egbeater all stainless steel version. Hopefully the ss will hold up better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Noel
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbus, OH Date Reviewed: October 16, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Weaknesses:
I will let you know after several rides.
Bike Setup:
Road bike - Lemond Reno. This model has an aluminum frame, carbon fiber fork, Shimano Tiagra front D, and Shimano 105 rear D.
Bottom Line:
I bought the Crank Brothers Eggbeater Candy SL model for my road bike after riding in Keywins for several months. I noticed that it was difficult clipping out of my Keywins, and approaching stops, I would get nervous. I just put on my Candy SL's and getting in an out is like carving butter with a hot knife. I started out with the 15 degree exit, but went to the 20 degree just because they were so easy to clip out. They are about 80 grams heavier than my Keywins, but the ease of getting in and out is worth every gram.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Ahwatukee, AZ Date Reviewed: October 11, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Simplicity, ease of entry/exit, weight, ideal platform size.
Weaknesses:
steel! go stainless, much better.
Similar Products Used:
Candy Stainless, Triple Ti.
Bike Setup:
S-Works Enduro 03'
Bottom Line:
Whatever knucklehead says he/she can or cannot get in and out of an eggbeater is not very smart. I have been running several flavors of Crank Bros pedals for the last couple of years. Entry/Exit is not an issue. I have seen people have problems with the spring stick. In otherwords the mechnaical spring which you clip into has a tendency to stay open. I have not encountered this problem, I have seen others do so. These were big dudes who put hella torque into the pedal in the rocky trails of phoenix. I have smashed a steel candy into a rock and bent the hell out of the spring. I sent the bad pedal into Crank Bros and recieved a new pedal within a couple days. Great service in Laguna Beach, Ca.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
puckhead
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: October 1, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
light, look nice
Weaknesses:
difficult to clip in, very unpredictable release
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 747, Ritchey, Wellgo, Onza
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain ETSX, Fox Talas, Fox AVA, SRAM X9, DT Swiss 240, Mavic, Chris King
Bottom Line:
I've been using clipless pedals for over ten years. I started out with Onza pedals that had those crazy elastomers in the pedals. I've also used Ritchey and Wellgo pedals and I've been on Shimano 747's for the past five years. I recently built up a new bike and decided to get some Candy's because they were light and they got great reviews. After one month of use I can say these are the worse pedals I have ever used. They are very difficult to clip in, I really have to slam my shoes on the pedals to engage. I've trim the soles on my shoes, I've added shims to the cleats, I've moved the cleats around on my shoes, I've added grease to the cleats and pedals. NOTHING HELPS!!! I feel like I'm bending the crank just to clip in. But a bigger concern is clipping out. Usually I can clip out without any problems. But once in a while the cleat will not release. Once I twisted my foot as far out as humanly possible short of breaking my ankle and the cleat still would not release!!! Another time I almost twisted my foot out of the shoe and still no release!!! This gave me a lot of confidence coming down a rock garden wondering if I was goint to be able get my shoes to release. And like I said before, I've used clipless pedals for over 10 years and have never had a problem until now. I finally got fed up after one month and bought some SPD's. All I can say is they feel so much better then the Candy's.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Forest City, Ia, USA Date Reviewed: September 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Hall Ranch, Lyons CO
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Eriks Burnsville MN
Strengths:
Wonderful design, sheds mud, easy to clip in and out in all conditions.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
SPD's
Bike Setup:
Specailized Epic
Bottom Line:
Great pedal for the X-C rider. Great for use in any conditions. Perfect for a beginner or a Pro. This pedal is made for anyone who wants to ride and doesn't mind getting his or her bike muddy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gbramling
a Cross Country Rider
from la honda Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$70.00
Bottom Line:
This is a followup. The pedals still rock. Always work. No problems. No adjusting, cleaning, or anything, --just like a pedal should work.
Regreasing, I had a problem with the "grease port" part popping off which prevents regreasing. A call to Crank Bros got a replacement part shipped to me for free. This has happened to others before (sez the guy at Crank Bros) and he hasn't heard continuing problems from anyone after he shipped this part. If you don't see a followup from me, assume the same is true, and I'm happy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Seethram
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton Date Reviewed: August 27, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Revolution Cylce
Strengths:
Easy in, easy out with either an inward or outward twist. The degree of float works well accounting for whether you're a toe-in or toe-out rider.
Weaknesses:
The platform does cause mud to lodge but it is easier to get rid of the mud than with SPDs. The brass cleats don't stand up well (wear quickly) under hike-a-bike conditions and tend to wear faster than SPD cleats, it seems.
Bike Setup:
'04 Stumpjumper Comp FSR
Bottom Line:
I rode the Transrockies Challenge 7-day staged race a few weeks back with these pedals. There was more mud to ride and push through than anywhere on the planet, it seemed. These pedals worked amazingly well. They jammed a few times with mud but a push of the eggbeater forced the mud out of the top or bottom. Despite the eggbeater not turning freely, I was still able to clip in and out readily. There's no going back to SPDs now.
The company sent me a rebuild kit and cleat spacers without questions. Great customer support.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Denville, NJ, USA Date Reviewed: August 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Puke Hill
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Bike Parts USA
Strengths:
Smooth entry/exit, looks great
Weaknesses:
Composite Body?
Similar Products Used:
Wellgo SPD
Bottom Line:
These pedals are nearly flawless compared to my old SPD compatables. Entry and exit become second nature with little practice. I managed to break the endcap and composite body off of the end of the pedal by tagging a rock pretty hard. I didn't realize the damage was done until I got home - as a matter of fact the pedal remained perfectly rideable. I called Crank Bros. and they sent me out a rebuilt pedal (like new) immediatley. As long as I send back my broken one there is no charge. Unbelievable customer service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ian
a Racer
from milford new hampshire us Date Reviewed: August 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:
tucker brook
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
smooth clip in and out, light and strong like the berry color.
Weaknesses:
like all crank brothers pedals if u hit anything with the opposite side of pedal u come uncliped
Similar Products Used:
shimano spd
Bike Setup:
scott
Bottom Line:
for the money you cant beat them these pedals are bulit proof. and u cant say much more than that about the pedals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricardo Granera
a Cross Country Rider
from Costa Rica Date Reviewed: July 16, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Ciclo Guilly
Strengths:
It works all the time, no hassle or worries with mud terrains. It engages easily. It is almost a maintenance free pedal and the weight is fenomenal.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD
Bike Setup:
STUMPJUMPER WITH DISC BRAKES AND XT DRIVETRAIN
Bottom Line:
GREAT BUY AT ANY PRICE WORKS FOR ANY TYPE OF DRIVER (FROM INEXPERT TO EXPERIENCE)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
P Radi
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus,Oh,USA Date Reviewed: July 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Vultures Knob
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
Looks, works very well in mud
Weaknesses:
Not adjustable
Similar Products Used:
platform
Bottom Line:
These are great. I ride in Ohio and that means riding in mud if you want to get out in the spring or early summer. I have never had a problem getting into these! They clean easily and if there is something I don't want to be clipped in for, I can still ride with confidence. Hard to get used to if you have never had clipless before, but worth the few spills attached to your bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
K Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA USA Date Reviewed: July 10, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Looks (I got Blue), easy to install, easy to clip in and out.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
first pair of clipless
Bike Setup:
2003 Marin East Peak, stock
Bottom Line:
First pair of clipless pedals I've owned and was worried about the difficulty of getting clipped in and used to the feel. After installing them and adjusting the cleats once, I'm in and out of these like a champion. They look great, feel great, and perform super...I highly recommend.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordo
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Ho Chi Minh
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$52.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Light weight, easy to click in, cool look.
Weaknesses:
Clipping out. I have fallen at least 5 or 6 times now while in the middle of technical terrain because I couldn't get my feet out in an emergency. I have had one pretty good crash and the darn bike was still glued to my feet and I couldn't get them out. A little oil on the springs helps a bit but its still frustrating.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano M515, eggbeaters
Bike Setup:
2004 Specialized Stumpjumper hardtail, EC70 post, Candy SL pedals, Avid disc brakes, Mavic F219 rims, Panaracer XC Pro tires
Bottom Line:
Overall, I like these a lot except for clipping out. Unfortunately, I can't give 5 chilis to a product that only does half its job well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Detroit, MI Date Reviewed: July 2, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Bought on Ebay, new
Strengths:
Relatively light weight, a breeze to use. I've been out of the cycling realm for over 5 years but have had experience with SPD's; it only took two missteps before I was clipping in and out like I never left.
Weaknesses:
You need or at least I needed to lube them before I could fully enjoy their capabilities.
Similar Products Used:
Ritchey SPD's
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Cyclocross Disc fitted with road slicks
Bottom Line:
There's really no way I'd pay retail for these pedals, but there're a lot of good deals on Ebay. For the price I paid and in relation to their competition, I'd easily buy these again. If these ever crap out on me, I won't hesitate to buy another pair (their lighter than the upcoming Quattro road pedal).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Cael
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, WA, USA Date Reviewed: June 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Submarine Rock, Sedona, AZ
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
Pro-deal from friend who works at bike shop.
Strengths:
These are the best pedal I've owned. Once the cleat is mounted right they clip in very easily. Clips in easy even with mud packed in shoe bottom. Has very good and smooth float. Very simple mechanical design. Nice and lite weight even with stainless spindle.
Weaknesses:
Had to fudge with cleat a bit to get setup right. Mainly remedied by using the included cleat shim under the cleat mount. Some grinding noise from sand and dirt between shoe sole and pedal platform while float rotation occurs
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 747 SPD, Onza elastomer pedals, and Time ATACs.
Bike Setup:
Titus Switchblade, Marzocchi MX Pro , SRAM 9.0, Mavic 217, Hope Hubset, Hope Mini disc brakeset. Raceface Prodigy crankset, Easton carbon hb and sp. WTB saddle.
Bottom Line:
I would highly recommend these pedals if you want a lite weight, easy to maintain , easy to clip in and out of pedal that works great in all conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Nault
a Cross Country Rider
from Worcester, MA Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Nice to have some platform for starting off before clip in
Weaknesses:
small amount of clickety clack while pedaling, no ability to adjust tension
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD
Bike Setup:
'03 Specialized Epic Comp with '04 Brain, Fox F80, Crank Bros Candy SLs, Azonic carbon bars, shimano discs, lock on grips
Bottom Line:
I really like the pedals, they have a great look to them too. I had no problems getting right into them first try although it is a little different than my old SPD pedals. I didn't try the methods they recommeded in the manual, just pushing down on them forward seems to work for me. It is a little unnerving how much float they allow for but in time you get used to it. Over all they work very well and I am very happy with them. I'm not sure though if I would have paid $150 for them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anand Mehta
a Cross Country Rider
from Lansdale, PA ,USA Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Ones with dirt
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Strengths:
Light and they work. Blue
Weaknesses:
Don't work out of the box with some shoes. Blue.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 747
Bike Setup:
1998 FSR with BETD link, Fox Vanilla R 6.75 X 1.75, Mavic 217/517, 8 Speed XT 11-30, Grip Shift
Bottom Line:
When I first tried this, I thought they sucked. Impossible to get into. Followed the advice of another rider and cut away part of the tread and now they work great. You can fall into and fall out of these with just a slight motion. However, you only come out when you want out. Overall, these are one of those things that really improves your bike. A great product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Karnezis
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland Date Reviewed: May 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
mtbr.com
Strengths:
Comprehensive instructions, easy to install, easy to clip into
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
toe clips, platform pedals
Bike Setup:
hardtail w/anondized everything
Bottom Line:
I've never ridden clipless and was assuming I'd just go down a few notches in what I was able to ride. Wrong. After a few test runs of playing with the cleat position I was clipping w/o looking down. Easy in and easy out. Would recommend to anyone interested in making the switch.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Gordon
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, NY Date Reviewed: May 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Paved with a nice, clean shoulder
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
Easy in and out. Almost maintenance free, but rebuildable. Minimalist design. Cheap cleats (still haven't had to replace mine yet though). Walkable cleat system with road or MTB shoes (special cleat for road shoes that has to be purchased seperately). Can use them with sneakers in a pinch.
Weaknesses:
Cage makes clip ins a bit tougher than standard egg beaters.
Similar Products Used:
Egg Beater S pedals.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Sirrus flat bar road bike. Specialized BG MTB and road shoes.
Bottom Line:
I purchased these for my Sirrus after I fell in love with the egg beater s pedals on my specialized Sequoia (road). I was holding out for a pedal you could take a short trip to the store on without cycling shoes. This delivers, but I wouldn't consider a long or tough ride w/o cycling shoes.
Basically a great pedal if you are looking for no muss and no fuss. They simply work. They are easy in and out without having to mess with tension adjustments or sacrificong walkability or the ability to use sneakers on short rides.
Another well designed pedal Crank Bros!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Monty H
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin Date Reviewed: May 7, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
float, easy entry
Weaknesses:
apparently not to durable -- hence the rebuild kit
Similar Products Used:
Speedplay Frogs, Shimano SPD
Bike Setup:
midrange Hardtail
Bottom Line:
I purchased a pair of the Candy SL pedals in December 2003 and installed them in January. In March, after only three months of riding the right pedal totally came off of the spindle and was rebuilt. That pedal was rebuilt by my LBS using the rebuild kit. The left pedal is now starting to show signs of weakness. The pedal is loose on the spindle and there is more play than a 5 month old pedal should have in my opinion and with my experience with your competitors. Furthermore, the right pedal shows the same type of play again. Im not sure if I just got a bad set of pedals or if the rebuild kit offered is a sign that these pedals are just a maintenance nightmare. I don't believe that I am particularly hard on the pedals. I put in about 50-70 miles per week in mostly dry conditions down in Texas. I don't believe I am particularly hard on the pedals, I don't race and they aren't getting bashed on rocks and ridden through water. I've never experienced with any other pedal brand the problems I am having with these Candy SLs. I want to believe that this is just a bad set of pedals and that the majority of CB products are well built but I am having my doubts.
$ 140.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
