Crankbrothers Candy 1 Pedals (Blue): The Entry-Level Candy Explained

What the Candy1 is

The Candy 1 is Crankbrothers’ least expensive Candy. At its core is the same wing-and-spring mechanism as the Eggbeater 1, which gives 4-sided entry and very good mud clearance. Around it, Crankbrothers adds a small one-piece composite platform.

That platform is the reason to choose a Candy over an Eggbeater. It gives the shoe something to rest on, so a gravel shoe with some flex feels more stable. It is not a large platform, so it won’t replace a flat pedal for riding in trainers.

Candy 1 vs Candy 2, 3, 7 and 11

All five Candy models share the same mechanism and cleats. What changes is the material and the shoe interface:

Model	Body	Spindle	Traction pads
Candy 1	Composite with steel wings	Chromoly	No
Candy 2	Aluminum	—	No
Candy 3	6061-T6 aluminum	—	No
Candy 7	6061-T6 aluminum, stainless wings	Chromoly	Yes
Candy 11	Aluminum, titanium wings	Titanium	Yes

Traction pads are the biggest functional step. On the Candy 7 and 11, these replaceable pads sit where the sole lands and help the shoe sit firmly on the platform. The Candy 1 relies on cleat shims for the same job.

Aluminum bodies take rock strikes better than composite. Titanium on the Candy 11 saves weight. Neither changes how the pedal clips in.

Who the Candy 1 suits

The Candy 1 is a sound choice if:

• It’s your first clipless pedal and you want easy release
• You ride gravel, XC or cyclocross and want 4-sided entry
• You’d rather replace a budget pedal after a crash than a titanium one
• You want to try Crankbrothers cleats before investing in a higher model

It’s the wrong choice for enduro or bike park riding; the Mallet DH is built for that.

Gravel and XC setup notes

• Shoes: any 2-bolt shoe works. A stiffer sole makes the most of the small platform.
• Cleat position: ball of the foot over the axle or slightly behind it. Many gravel riders go a little further back for comfort on long days.
• Release: Easy Release cleats release at 10° whichever foot they go on. If you keep pulling out on climbs, switch to Standard cleats (15° or 20°, depending on side).
• Shims: if the sole hits the platform before the cleat clicks in, add a cleat shim.

The clipless pedals guide compares Crankbrothers with Shimano SPD if you’re still deciding on a system.

The blue Candy 1

Blue is one of four Candy 1 colours Crankbrothers lists, alongside pink, red and black. The blue is on the composite body, so it stays visible even as the steel wings wear. It suits blue frames and team kits. Darker than pink, it hides trail dirt a little better.

The blue and pink Candy 1 are mechanically identical, so choose purely by looks. For other options, browse double-sided clipless pedals or the Crankbrothers brand page.

Care

• Rinse off mud and let the pedal dry; the open design makes this quick.
• Replace brass cleats when release turns vague.
• Threads are 9/16” x 20 TPI. Grease them, and remember the left pedal is reverse threaded (see which pedal is reverse threaded).