• Crank Brothers Candy SL pedals
• £84.95
• Raw Experience

The original Eggbeater was a hit with the weight conscious and has been a particular favourite amongst racers. Crank Brothers haven’t rested on their laurels though and have since released a vast range of pedals based on the Eggbeater platform, and the Candy is their all-mountain pedal.

The one downside of the Eggbeater was its small size, you’d needed some fairly stiff soled shoes due to the pedals lack of support, and you had to be spot on when clipping in. The fibre composite body gives a noticeable amount of extra support when pedalling, and has the benefit of making clipping in easier. The platform is also useful for those occasional “I’d rather not be clipped in” moments.

We didn’t get off to the best start: the pedal body removed itself from the axle during a 100km Welsh ride. Not good. A quick call to distributors Raw Experience and it turned out we had suffered from a rare bearing defect. They fixed them up and happily we’ve had no problems since then.

The SLs tested here weigh just 294g. You might think the pedal body adds a lot of weight over the basic Eggbeater, but in fact they’re just 28g heavier than the equivalent Eggbeaters. Second in a four model line-up, the C has a cromomly axle for a little more weight but less bucks, while the ti and 4ti save weight through extensive use of titanium, but cost a lot more.

If you’re used to other clipless systems, the Candys will take just a little getting used to. Compared to Shimano SPDs, clipping in and out is a more subtle and quiet affair; there’s no clunk when you pull your foot out. We’ve been using these pedals through a whole range of conditions and have never had any issues with clipping in or out.

Positives: Work and look great, loads of mud clearance

Negatives: A bit expensive compared to other pedals

Verdict: The Candys will appeal to riders looking for an alternative to their current pedals, and if you’re getting into clipless for the first time they’re a great option. Their mud clearance is unparalleled.

Performance: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 4/5