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Submitted by
zach lk sow
a Cross Country Rider
from kuala lumpur malaysia
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | easy to use | | Weaknesses: | weight | | Bottom Line: | my knees led my head to decide to try out clipless so that they can help out each other. Afer doing some research into clipless pedals, time atacs was what i decided to have and that is a very good decision.
Tried clipless for the first time, time atac is so easy to use, both clipping in and unclipping, the circular motion of pedalling really help my right knee, which is in pain for the past few months.
cann't wait to use it in my favourite trail in 2 days time. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Racer
from Chicago, Illinois
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Front (I live in the city....) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | used on craigslist | | Strengths: | These are the best pedals I have ever ridden. They are totally reliable, clips in with a telling "twang", they don't let go when your sprinting (even when your sprinting for your life), require nearly zero maintenance, and feel solid. Everything breaks except for my pedals. Clears mud, salt, and ice like nothing I have ever ridden. Never are inescapable. | | Weaknesses: | hrmmm.. that is a difficult one. Perhaps the cleat material, the cleats are a soft metal which is fantastic for protecting floors and not destroying more expensive parts of the pedals with wear, but when they wear down (3+ months serious riding) they leave an uneven platform for your foot, which your lower leg accommodates for with a little conditioning. However I do have a set for beating the crap out of, and a set for racing which have fresh cleats. | | Similar Products Used: | Pheew!... various Shimano garbage circa 1999-2001, Time ATAC alium, XS, and World Champion series. Speedplay X series, Zeros, and Frogs. Time Equipe. Look Keo, and the I use the newest plastic pedals for racing road, and time trialing. | | Bike Setup: | Merlin Extralight
Winters: patchy shimano and old wheels. Old Dominator shoes.
Summers: 105/Ultegra mix with Ksyrium (light ones), Century aerobars (more hand positions than "pure" aero, probably little difference in profile), Sidi Genius, and Dominator 5 shoes. | | Bottom Line: | From my experience as a racing cyclist and year round commuter in a horrible city for 5 years, there is no pedal I would trust more for clearing intersections and sprinting for buses for a pleasant draft. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Timsk
a Cross Country Rider
from Brighton, UK
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles, Waterloo, UK | | Strengths: | Keep on going and going and going.... I've never performed any maintenance on them and I've used them for MTBing and commuting in very wet contitions. Thick plastic body is very tough and still looks fresh after 5 years of riding. Zero play in the bearings. Very simple; float adjustments are made by swapping the cleats between shoes. Engagement is easy with a nice reassuring 'clunk'. | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than a lot of the racing/XC pedals on the market but not as bad as some claim. Weight = durability. | | Similar Products Used: | Egg Beaters. My Egg Beater Stainless lasted 18 months with 3 sets of new bearings before finally seizing up so badly I couldn't remove the inboard race. Beyond repair, ended up in the garbage. | | Bike Setup: | Pedals have been on numerous bikes- A Santa Cruz Superlight, Intense Tracer, Kona Cindercone, Edinburgh Cycles Courier, A Brompton Folder, A Dahon Speed Pro Folder. On One Singlespeed. Did 2500 miles across America with them on my old steel framed touring bike. | | Bottom Line: | Don't Time deserve some kind award for this pedal, best clipless pedal ever made? I've never a component last this long. You can get them on Ebay for modest prices, I'm looking for a second set right now! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from Franklin, MA
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The Fells (right now) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Bomb proof
Easy in and out the same every time
Simple set up. | | Weaknesses: | none that I can see | | Similar Products Used: | All SPD, Shimano, Nashbar, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Azonic Sabre
Z-1 BAM 130mm
Avid BB7 dics
Hope XC hubs | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding these pedals for more than 5 years. The same pedals. They are set to the lower release angle (15 i think). I have never had any trouble getting into or out of them once I got used to them. the first few rides were tough, but every time after, no problems.
These things are bomb proof. I have smacked, whacked and cracked these things on rocks, roots, cacti, trees and shrubs from AZ to MA, which the exception of the scratches and dents, these pedals are just as solid as the day I got them.
By far the only component on my bike I don't have to worry about or adjust. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mancalledsharon
a Cross Country Rider
from salibury
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | great for getting into and out of.no need to do anything to keep these working | | Weaknesses: | when wet you have to clip in or you'll slip off the small pedal | | Similar Products Used: | nothing as good | | Bike Setup: | old marin with sram x9 avid v's pace forks | | Bottom Line: | buy these second hand they go on forever i have a pair on both bikes(fixed pompino and mtb) they are so easy to use with no lock in. if you've never tried any other clipless pedal don't bother these are the daddy | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Devil's Backbone | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Given to me | | Strengths: | strong, easy in and out, maintenance free, install and forget about | | Weaknesses: | not the lightest pedal, but hey i'm not the lightest rider | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey (spd), flats | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC, Reba, sram drivetrain, XT cranks, juicy brakes | | Bottom Line: | About 7 years ago I ehlp my uncle's team out at 24hours of Snowshoe in West Virginia. One of the guys on his team had a new bike with TIME atac alium pedals on it. He hated the pedals. As payment for being their pit crew he gave them to me.
Since then they have been on 4 different bikes, hundreds (probably thousands) of miles, and I havent done a damn thing to them. Never oiled them, never cleaned them. This is probably the only part of the bike I never think of. They are always easy to get into, easy to get out of. They have bashed off rocks, trees, roots, curbs, etc, and come out fine.
Never bother with anything else. Time ATAC is the way to go | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jorgex
a Weekend Warrior
from Almada, Portugal
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Former LBS | | Strengths: | -the best system of all times, specialy under mud
-13º or 20º(no screws to setup)
-at least 6 years of pleasure, light FR, lots of XC, enduro, muddy winter and my self(over 100kg)
-if u want to different from other bikers | | Weaknesses: | -heavy(back in 2000) and extremely heavy today
-clits not compatible with SPD pedals or any other system | | Similar Products Used: | Acor SPD's (1998-2000) | | Bike Setup: | Giant escaper'92 (hardtail), Manitou Axel 100mm(oem),Hope M4 disc brake, x-lite, Roox, Time pedals, Avid Flak Jacket, Rohloff chain, Hope, DT, SRAM gripshifts, Nokian blue tires, Primal jersey... (so much tunning) | | Bottom Line: | I tottaly agree with previous reviewer, Time pedals are not so compatible with Sidi Action 2 SRS.
I bought the shoes and pedals at the same time(in different stores)and only later i discovered the compatible problem.
This is from my Sidi Action 2 SRS review:
"About the Time pedals, it will gently cut the removable sole when trying to put in/out your feet in the pedal, after that it will stabilize. There's no problem at all."
Action 2 SRS has a soft sole so it's relatively a small problem.
All bike shoes are made for SPD use, not for other systems like Time, CrankBrothers, Northwave...
In the end this brand will improve your riding skills.
If, for some reason, these pedals die , i'll buy TIME pedals again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
anton
a Racer
from los angeles
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | sdeals | | Strengths: | super reliable, durable and easy to get in and out of | | Weaknesses: | relatively heavy, grooves developed in the shoe | | Bike Setup: | magnesium hardtail | | Bottom Line: | So i have been reading all these positive reviews and i am surprised that noone mentions the problem that i have. After less then 2 years of use these pedals developed play with my SIDI shoes. Eventually i figured out that there were massive groves in the sole of the shoes which caused the play. Due to this wear the position of my foot is altered on the pedal increasing the q-factor and messing up my pedal stroke.
I could blame the shoe... but its SIDI and its hard for me to master the courage to blame $300 shoes. My brother is also having the exact same problem with his Northwaves anyway.
I would also recommend against the older versions of these(the ones i use) since they had round rails which potentially puts more pressure into the sole of your shoes. The newer ones have square rails so that the pressure is further distributed across the contact point. No doubt that Time made that change to address the problem i am having.
If you have expensive shoes that fit well and you plan on keeping them for few years dont buy these pedals. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pablo
a Weekend Warrior
from Kernersville, NC
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | mail order, but can't remember | | Strengths: | Bought them new in 1996, to replace the crappy shimano's that
came with my Y-22. What a difference. But, that is not why I'm writing this. To date, 10 years later, they still function like new!!! Never have been off the bike, and only cleaned and lubed them after say every ten rides or so... | | Weaknesses: | Maybe wgt, but hey, those lighter shimanos, were hell to get out of with any speck of mud!!! Light don't matter when you face down in the creek still attached to your bike! | | Similar Products Used: | there aren't any | | Bike Setup: | 95 Y-22 stock...... | | Bottom Line: | I'm finally going to break down and build a couple of hardtail retro's. What pedals do you think I'm going to use?
Maybe there is something better out there, but I'm not taking a risk....
Buy these used on ebay with confidence....
10 years ladies and gents! Thats along time for any MTB component!!!!
5(why not ten) habanneros!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Can always easily 'find them' and clip in, even under the muddiest of conditions! They make a satisfying 'click' that you can hear and that is very assuring! They are easy to get out of in sketchy situations with a bigger platform than some other miniscule models I have seen (like eggbeaters, etc.) | | Weaknesses: | Maybe I am a cheap bugger, but $100 for a tiny little pedal? I guess some cost way more... They seem a little hefty, but perhaps that adds to their overall durability. If I was a true weight weenie, I would join Jenny Craig and quit drinking beer, so I can't really complain... (I just bought a new pair of Time Carbon ATAC's and they feel significantly lighter.) It would be nice to be able to easily open them up to clean and oil them effectively as mine have developed a bit of a squeak over three years... even with faithful external cleaning and dropping oil onto the exposed springs through the plastic cover. I did completely EXPLODE a pedal on Jumping Pound Ridge as I accidently clipped a rock at high speed... the thing completely disappeared! CRACK and goodbye. Nothing left sticking out of my crank arm. Needless to say, I didn't do the Cox Hill portion and dropped out onto the the Powderface gravel road as fast as I could. It made for a brutal finish of the ride as I was trying to (unsuccessfully) outrun a thundershower / hail / snow storm at altitude! Now I have an appreciation of how a one-legged rider must feel (Brent Wolfe.) Wow. It was tough going up and down! | | Similar Products Used: | As mentioned, I just bought a pair of Time Carbon's... feel lighter, the same great clipping in and out properties, look slimmer and sexier, plus the red / black colour scheme matches the rest of my FSA parts (how Poseur of me!) but too new to objectively report... And of course the old standard-issue platforms that everyone knows of. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Turner Flux proto direct form Turner post-Interbike with FSA, SRAM, Magura, Rockshox and Maxxis bits. | | Bottom Line: | Love the 'ol fatty TIME's. Very dependable and low maintenance, like a gal I once ... well I ain't gonna go there. Other than that 'explosion' ... (but odds are any pedal would have gone "t1ts up" as my Auntie Sharon says, under those same situations!) If you aren't a weight weenie and want a solid, dependable clipless pedal that is easy to learn on, I recommend them. Not as high-falutin' as some others, but cheaper than what I just spent on those sexy, svelte new Carbon's be-atches! ("TIME" will tell if I come to love the new Carbon's more though. LOL!) After a suitably long evaluation, I will do a post on them too. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BikePharmer
a
from Boot-que, NM
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Easy to get in and out of and low maintenance | | Weaknesses: | make sure to put cleats on correct foot | | Similar Products Used: | spez pedals, well-go (spd type) | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz superlight | | Bottom Line: | Awesome pedals for the cash. Make sure to have the cleats on the correct foot or they are be-yotch to get out of, often resulting in skin-loss and extra doses of Vitamin I. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Cross Country Rider
from Gainesville,FL,usa
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | Tough,easy in, easy out,reliable in all conditions,nice deg of float,positive engagement | | Weaknesses: | Ugly,bit fat | | Similar Products Used: | shimano m540,kore pedals, the ones with elastomer springs | | Bike Setup: | burner | | Bottom Line: | These have NEVER let me down,easy to get in/out. They have taken a beating in all conditions and still work great after 5+ years of solid riding. I tried some shimano m540 out of curiosity and they were useless in comparison to these.I will replacw the bearings soon and use them for a few more years . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Trumbull, CT | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Stock when I bough the bike ... | | Strengths: | Clips easy, unclips easy, works in any condition, does what it should. | | Weaknesses: | Maybe the weight? | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer-X, King, Race Face, XTR, Skareb fork. The usual. | | Bottom Line: | Maybe some pedals weigh a bit less, but I've been riding this pedal for 4-5 years without even thinking about it. Never even occured to me to write a review because they've just done what they should year in and year out. They look pretty abused at this point, and I thought about replacing them. I read a bunch of other reviews and now I want to see if I can get luck and find another of the exact same pair. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
trailian
a Weekend Warrior
from singapore
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | woodcutter,t15 single track,butterfly trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | 2nd hand from friend | | Strengths: | it's firm,give lots of confident when attackng climbs & downhills.easy to cleat in & out,good mud sheddings. | | Weaknesses: | not for weight weenies | | Similar Products Used: | shimano 424,520,959. C bros eggies S. | | Bike Setup: | a steel frame with well known components | | Bottom Line: | it's provide good mud shedding & firm pedalling which are essiential for trail ridings,unlike shimano always suffer from mud clots & the floaty & flexy eggies.
as i'm not a weight weenie,this is the best pedal to me so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren
a Weekend Warrior
from The OB MS, USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Womble Trail, Mt. Ida AR | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes Plus, Memphis | | Strengths: | Durability and easy clipping | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | Crank Brothers Candy Ti | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F300 Aluminum Frame, XT derailures, XT rapid fire shifters, XT casset and cranks, Manitou Splice Elite fork, Rhynolite Rims w/ XT hubs | | Bottom Line: | The best pedal out there, hands down. No reason to have anything else. They will last you for more than 5 years if you are a moderate rider and probably 4 or 5(probably longer) if you ride reguardless of weather. These were my first pedals and i willl never buy another type as long as i live. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Huntsville State Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Mud clearing, easy double sided entry, STRONG. | | Weaknesses: | Can't buy a used pair cheaply. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano and Wellgo | | Bike Setup: | GF Sugar 2 and Giant OCR Compact | | Bottom Line: | Doing adventure races taught me that other pedals are lame in mud. My partner used Atacs and swore by them. I tried 'em, LOVED 'em, bought some and haven't looked back.
I started road riding 2 years ago and tried some road pedals and was severely dissapointed with the time it took to clip in. In pacelines at stop lights, it took about 60-90 seconds until all the clicking stopped. I ditched the road pedals and traded out my Atacs when I rode the road bike. I couldn't believe how fast I was on the move compared to all the other seasoned roadies whenthe lights turned green.
So for 2 years, twice a week, I changed out my Atacs from mountain to road and back. Never greased the axle, dropped some chain lube in the springs now and then and beat the snot out of them on the trails. They have taken HARD hits on rocks, roots, curbs and my legs and when they go on the road bike, they are like butter! Heavy, ugly, dirty, old and cheap (Alium), just like me and I love 'em.
I'm too lazy to keep changing 'em out so I just bought an OLD used pair for the road bike on Ebay for $30 and think I robbed the guy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Basso
a Cross Country Rider
from St.Louis, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Sting Nettle/Blue Ribbon in Castlewood State Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Performance Bicycle catalog | | Strengths: | RELIABLE as the sun coming up each morning! Takes anything you can dish out. NOTHING will keep you from locking in! Can ride a long way without that sore spot you get on other minimal sized pedals. | | Weaknesses: | They can get a touch squeaky...after 10 years of use and zero maintenance! That lateral float Q-Factor thing...(look it up) increases as the cleat wears, so just get a new set of cleats every year or two. I personally like the lat float though.. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano...545..$$, pain in the A$$. a few others on friend's bikes. | | Bike Setup: | '96 Cannondale carbon Super-V full suspension | | Bottom Line: | Yes, I've used mine for just under 10 years with no problems and I've treated them like crap the whole time! Mashed them on rocks after a jump or fall hundreds of times, ridden through / under water for miles, let them dry for days caked in mud that hardened like cement then cleaned them off with a hammer, (no kidding, that Missouri clay drys hard!). Absolutely zero maintenance other than a squirt of WD-40 now and then and they just started squeaking a bit this year. I've locked in when my foot was so covered with mud and rocks you could not even see my shoes & they hooked up with no problems! Very easy to get out of as well. Great for all riding styles. I love 'em!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ariel A
a Cross Country Rider
from Stockholm, Sweden
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Hellasgården in the outskirt of Stockholm | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Very good performance in heavy mud, cheap. Nice bearings they wont need any service for years. Incredible durability, I've used my Time pedals for 5-6years and they were still good until I recently changed for lighter CB Eggbeater SL. | | Weaknesses: | A bit heavy. Not the most sexiest look for a pedal. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD545 (LX), Crank Brothers Eggbeater C and Crank Brothers Eggbeater SL | | Bike Setup: | Klein Attitude 2005, XT drivetrain and XTR derallieur, Hope Bulb/DT Hügi 240 hubs and mavic 717 rims, RS SID SL, Thomson seatpost, Avid Arch Rival 50, San Marco Aspide, Easton CT2 and Kore Lite Stem | | Bottom Line: | Great function, long lasting pedal with no maintenance required. They're a bit heavy but if you can live with that they're great especially their mud clearance.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vince Yong
a Weekend Warrior
from Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | All round | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Very Strong, reliable in muddy and wet ride conditions. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 515 | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight, Fox RL 125m fork, mavic 317 rim, Tank Hubs, etc... etc... | | Bottom Line: | Was using Shimano 515 and they suck compared with them. Their difference is night and day. Before i switched the Time, i used to worry about trails conditions but had never had to worry afte i got them. Can't imagine not having them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Samuel Parkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Derby, UK
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | stanage edge (the steep track not the causeway) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay.co.uk | | Strengths: | easy in and out onc you get used to it | | Weaknesses: | bearings have worn out, see bottom line | | Similar Products Used: | not ridden any other clipless (no need) | | Bike Setup: | hardtail, 80mm Z4 airlights, highroller/swampthings/michelin comp xc depending on trail, LX and deore, ritchley and azonic kit. 317 and XT wheels. | | Bottom Line: | Very easy to use and took about 10-15 rides to get fully confident in them. However my bikes got a low bb. about 11.5 inch. maybe even a tutch less. This results in the occasional bang with the local trail. As a result your feet can somethimes come out of the pedal unexpectedly (you can bendthe spring forward with enough force and release the cleat) mjot usualy a problem and probaly saves me from completely crashing. However they are now creaking like mad and seem to have about 1-2mm of play in them. Probaly isnt theyr fault as ive never had pedals last more then 8 months on this bike. will try and fix them and find out whats wrong, hopefull nothing major. giving it 4/5 as they are asy to use and i know people who uses several sets on different bikes and never have any problems, just me and my ridingstyle/ low bb seem to kill pedals in general. ive got a pair or shimano 525's wich althogh ive never ridden are completely re buildable with normal tools, might be giving them a go but not sure whether thyel be any bveter and i dont like the "feel" of them, probably just as good just not what im used to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Everett VerSchave
a Cross Country Rider
from Park Ridge, Illinois
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | so long ago, can't remember | | Strengths: | incredibly solid pedal, reliable, easy entry/exit with mud | | Weaknesses: | aesthetics, if one thinks so | | Similar Products Used: | Performance clipless, Shimano 757 (long time ago) | | Bike Setup: | Control Tech Frame, xrt brakes/hayes, xt remaining | | Bottom Line: | Rediculously reliable, strong, easy in and out. Can't ask for a better pedal. If you buy another pedal, you will regret it. Have used a pair for nearly 10 years, and half the time doing observed trials! Solid solid pedal, thanks Time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thor
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | various | | Strengths: | They are solid, you know absolutely when you are in and when you are out. RELIABLE! | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, ritchey, frog, cook | | Bike Setup: | blur | | Bottom Line: | These are ultra solid, ultra reliable. I've been riding for 15 years (scary) and these are the best - period. So good I put them on my tandem, blur, my ss and my road bike - no regrets. If you are worried about the extra weight, stop eating at McD's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl
a Racer
from Old York, UK
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | They go on and on and on and on
Never accidentally pulled out.
Great bearings and seal.
Sufficient platform to keep pedalling when not clipped in. | | Weaknesses: | Little more heavy than the eggbeaters. | | Similar Products Used: | Nada | | Bottom Line: | Given the hard work these suffer, they are incredibly durable. Not a single thing has gone wrong with them.
If you have forefoot varus (lift leg- does foot sole angle upwards towards other leg?= varus) like a lot of people have, then these pedals are great to use with the "Powerwedge" (which basically 'corrects' forefoot varus).
The metal railings become grooved over time to accomodate your natural foot rotation during a cycle, so now these are very very comfortable.
Good compatability with Sidi Dominators.
3 years of perfect performance and no doubt will last many more years. Great product- go buy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from LA CA USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lukens | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | reliable, well made, easy to use. | | Weaknesses: | Break in | | Similar Products Used: | spd | | Bike Setup: | specialized epic marathon | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding these for over 10 years and they still work as well as day one. You can just bearly tell they were once yellow, but they have taken hundreds of miles of trails and rocks and mud and have been the best thing I have done for my knees (lots of lateral movement). The break-in time for new cleats are the only drawback but after that, clicking out and in on a fast corner or technical section is a breeze. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David McKenna
a Cross Country Rider
from Dublin/Wicklow
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Djouce + Tree Rock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Friend | | Strengths: | Shoes really stay in tight if thats what you are looking for which i am sure is fine for light-weight cross country | | Weaknesses: | As stated in Product Strengths but if you like to hammer up down and across bumpy trails, these pedals can hold you back a little, they leave you thinking " Jesus, if i crash now, i am f**ked. Read Bottom Line for the crash experience. | | Similar Products Used: | 1st set of clip ins | | Bike Setup: | Hard tail with Fox F100x (kick ass) and Hope Mini M4 Disc Brakes (also kick ass) etc... | | Bottom Line: | I got these pedals towards the end of last summer which didn't leave me much time to get used to them b4 the slippery conditions arrived here in wet Ireland. One day i was going down through a tecnical route near the Lead Mines (Dublin) and needed to swerve around basket ball sized rocks when i suddenly found myself trying to escape from my Time ATAC Pedals only to fail and land on two big rocks. Of i did my best to land in a protectiove position but came down on my right wrist on one rock and my elbow on another. I ended up with a Sprained Wrist and out of action for over a month. Now, i am riding with Kona spiked plats. I may try the Time again next spring, hopefully with more luck :-) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from central va.
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Pocahontas | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Cobblestone bikes | | Strengths: | ease of use,click and forget it,mud and other stuff dont stop you from being able to clip in or out | | Weaknesses: | after 1 ride they looked 3 months old but thats just being picky | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Devinci Guzzler | | Bottom Line: | I went in sticky mud today that would not bang off my shoes and the pedals clipped in and out with no problems.Ive had horse poop,leaves,small rocks,sticks and mud get caught up in these things or the cleats and have had no problems getting in or out. they really made my transition to clipless better due to the clip and forget it mechanisms. nothing to adjust is great for me. the cleats have worn a little and that makes them come unclipped without my input when I crash yet I have not had them come unclipped when I was upright accidentally yet. they are lower in price since I bought mine which makes them IMO an even better value | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Take a lickin and keep on tickin!! Oh wait... That's TIMEX not TIMES. Anyway these just last and last. | | Weaknesses: | None, zero, work great always have. I do NOT count grams. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD's, EggBleaters, Platforms (OUCH) | | Bike Setup: | 2 Wheels, usually, 28.5 lbs of FS sweetness | | Bottom Line: | No regrets at all on these pedals. I ebnt an axle a couple years ago, and guess what, they're rebuildable!! Order parts through QBP catalog at the LBS.
I have hammered these pedals, and they have been on 3 bikes so far in almost 4 years. I just regrease the bearings in the Winter, and forget about them. Oh , and new cleats once a year, they do wear out and release easier towards the end of the year.
They have been submerged countless times, countless rock strikes (Eggbleaters break in thes regard), and they still work great.
I will say that this pair of mine is looking tired. The ATAC spring mechanism is looking thinner from repeated engaging. I will probably get a new pair this Christmas. Money well spent. Just ride em!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris B
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Pack n Pedal, Botany, Auckland | | Strengths: | So easy to use! Mud is no problem. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. (well, thats not true. The Egg Beaters are lighter). I think I will get them if these ever wear out or break. | | Similar Products Used: | Welgo SPD ... the new ones like the shimano 959's. | | Bike Setup: | hard tail xc and also a single speed, both with ATAC's. | | Bottom Line: | SPD's are stupid evil devices! I was so frustrated with them in the mud, and never seemed to be able to click in that well. They are silly!
I bought these and straight away I could click in and out with ease. they are looser now ... as the cleats are worn and the pedals too. I am putting some new cleats on in a few weeks, which should give me another few years out of them.
Ive not touched the bearings or anything on them.
If you are having trouble with SPDs ... buy these (or EggBeaters).
There is no point in having any pedals that are not egg beaters or ATAC's. I wish more bikes came stock with them, as it would save many people throwing out their SPD's when they dump them to get ATAC's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Mairs
a Racer
from Belfast, Northern Ireland
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ones around Val Caron | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Pinnacle sports, Sudbury | | Strengths: | Easy to clean, good durability reports, made for stronger rider and are impossible to pull out of, | | Weaknesses: | Quite expensive, don't look expensive, would like tension adjustment like SPDs, creaking noises (disappeared now), cleat setup on SPDs is better because it enables cleat to be mounted to the left or right of the parallel grooves on shoe but then it lacks the 17 degree float option when cleats are mounted on opposite shoe.
Now then, I better like the Atac's because the cleat mounting screws are made out of brass meaning that with using a hex/allen wrench to remove the screws for cleaning behind the cleat, the inside of screws was too soft and they have worn down so now the screw is stuck in there. I tried to use my tiny electric drill to cut a groove accross the screw, but this would not work I just ended up cutting the cleat aswell and so I wisely stopped. I guess you could say I'm stuck with them!
Did Time purposely make the screws soft so that you could'nt get them out, to prevent you from buying another rival brand pedal? One wonders...
joke! | | Similar Products Used: | The dreaded, classic M515 SPDs (no good). | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because my (un)trusty pair of M515's were lets say, "burnt out," (More about that on my review of the M515's). I had been in Val Caron, Sudbury, Ontario for the past couple of months, staying with relatives for the summer when I went "pedal hunting". I was either going for the Eggbeaters or the Time's and chose the latter because the Eggbeaters were not available at Pinnacle Sports or the other bike shop 50 yards away on the 4 corners. T hat led me to bring my travellers cheques to Pinnicle sports to get them. Typically I forgot to bring ID and Steve the guy who knows my uncle was not in so I had no chance of using them, (how embarrasing). I had to make a quick trip to the very nearby bank and get $200 to pay for them as they were $170 Canadian (that's $195 with tax) Heavy.
They work well in sand and are easy to clean but oil is NEEDED on the threads of the axle or they are nearly impossible to remove from the cranks. I hurt myself several times trying to remove them and in low light sparks can actually be seen when they suddenly come loose! No kidding!
I never trusted my M515s when sprinting hard as they frequently would pull out (nasty), but the Time's just stay in there even when the brakes are pulled and you are trying hard to pull out. Tey are absolutely dependable and very safe, you can always get out. In all of the photographs of the ATACs the pedals have spring caps, but I can't find out if they come as standard or are an extra. Despite me giving the pedals fewer strong points than weak points, they far outweigh the many weak points. If it was not for the stupid cleat stuck in shoe scenario the ATACs would score 4 (and of course the price).
This next bit has little to do with the pedal though i'm sur it may interest you.
I arrived in Canada on June 19 (the day after my 18th birthday)this year for a 10 week holliday. I kindly got collected by my Aunt and Uncle who drove me up to Sudbury, where after 20+ hours of no sleep, a grueling 7 hour plane flight, a ton of jetlag and being at their place for only 1 hour I thought it was a good idea to put my M515's (that I had brought overon the plane)on my Uncles bike. Well, with the brakes being on the opposite side to in Europe I pulled hard on the front brake thinking I was pulling the back. I got thrown over and got out of my pedals but landed hard. The paved driveway got the better of me and I ended up with a very sore right thumb/wrist and I was not able to bend my left elbow at all, plus all the usual scrapes and stuff. GREAT.
I went to bed in agony and woke up no better. After hauling myself up out and out of heavily bloodstained sheets (not easy when both arms are out of order). I went to hospital and they took X-rays of my elbow and wrist/thumb. 5 God dam hours later I was out of there, only to have a broken Scaefoid bone in the hand which needed a cast for a month and a hurt elbow, they say it was maybe dislocated temporarly anyway it need needed a sling and it hurt's like hell. There I was on my first full day of my holliday in hospital recieving news I could have done without. I was not a happy bunny.
I continued to ride but only on road, towards Azilda and Blezard Valley, around Sudbury.
It's September now and I've been back in Ireland for two weeks now, the hand is much better now three months on(today) and the elbow is better also, I was out on a four hour road ride yesterday in the cold and rain and the elbow got a bit stiff and sore again, but it is fine again today. I guess you could say a happy ending to a miserable time on vacation.
Something else: 10 reviews down from mine Paul Godkin (hey Paul how's it going send me an email!) bought his shoes at the very same shop as I did, several years earlier! What are the chances of that with me living in Ireland! This should be in one of those amazing coincidence books, or maybe I'm just getting carried away now.....
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | It holds you in real tight and won't pop you out. | | Weaknesses: | Impossible to get out compare to SPD. I fell several times due to shoes clip in and cannot get taken off easily. Even when I'm completly down on my back on a rock, the pedals are still cliped in and I need to ask for assistance to get it off. Big safety problem. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 545/959 | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar
XT
Magura
Time | | Bottom Line: | If you are a really good rider and never need to take them off, then its ok. It'll be great for road biking but horrible for mtb. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Work flawlessly in every environment. Simple desing. | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than Eggbeaters (but probably more durable too). | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bottom Line: | Amazing product. This is one of the few components on my bike (which moves and is used actively) that has never required second thoughts before using or any maintenance.
I've used these pedals on hardpack, in the rain, and in the mud. I've fallen on them way too many times. But they keep on working like they did in the first month I bought them.
I would buy these again with my eyes closed - but next time I'll invest more money and get their top-of-the-line model. Now that I know the product works, I have no hesitation in putting my money in the best they have to offer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Remi Parent
a Racer
from Bathurst NB Canada
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | In Bathurst | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | centre du cyclisme | | Strengths: | strong pedeal, easy in and easy out.
Durable | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | cheap shimano brand | | Bike Setup: | Custom world cup sinclair | | Bottom Line: | These pedals work! They are simply awsome, very easy to clip in and clip out.
Never had any problems in all types of weather (never tried in winter but confident they would work nice).
I am planing on changing my 9 year old bike with a new one soon and I will probably keep my pedals, I really like them.
5 chilis for value as I got them on special and 5 for overall rating because they just rock! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
x-country
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Skeggs | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | easy clip in & out, tons of float, lateral float | | Weaknesses: | a bit on the heavy side | | Similar Products Used: | shimano spd | | Bike Setup: | SC Blur | | Bottom Line: | Great pedals. They take a few rides to break in, and then they are in and out like butter. I have bad knees and require float (both lateral and angle) to keep from hurting at the end of the day and these allow enough movement while still feeling tight. My only complaint is that they are a bit heavy. The carbon, and more expensive titanium carbon aren't that much lighter either.
If you need the float, you'll love em, if you don't you may not. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Key
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO USA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Poison Spider | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Foothills Schwinn | | Strengths: | Easy engagement, reasonable weight, solid construction, great performance in mud | | Weaknesses: | Nearly impossible to get out of the 17 degree cleat setting in a panic situation. | | Similar Products Used: | Onza, Shimano | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Jamis Dakar XLT 2.0 | | Bottom Line: | If you set the cleat up with the narrower release range, they are awesome. Engagement and disengagement is consistent. For Clydes like me (210 lbs), it would be nice to have a spring tension adjustment.
The first time I rode them I set them on the wider, 17 degree setting. Although the platform was confidence inspiring, the difficulty in releasing at this setting made them a deathtrap in slow technical situations. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony G
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Rosa, CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any..Long as I can get away:) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Dummy Proof, clip and go. Holds you in tight (can also be bad) Decent size platform so I pop out on real steep technical trails and ride the tops works fine. good quality and construction. | | Weaknesses: | Holds you in real tight. Nice thing don't have to wory about popping out unexpectanly however, you do have to rotate further than other pedals to get out. | | Similar Products Used: | Speedplay x-2's for road. Ridden Shimano | | Bike Setup: | 1997 GT Arressor: Sun Rhyno lite wheels, Caramba Double Barrel Cranks, Kooka Rings, Time Attack pedals, XT drive train, Sram Attack shifters, Precision Billet brakes, Avid Levers Selle Italia Flight Saddle | | Bottom Line: | They are a great pedal of the money. I had a friend who road Shimano and kept "popping out" off jumps (NOT GOOD) Attacks hold you in tight (just learn to get out before doing serious cycling) They are simple to use nothing to adjust, bolt on and go. Double sided entry. Great pedal, only other one that I would consider for a mountain bike would be the Crank Bros. Egg beaters similar system. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Les B
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | powderface | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Calgary Cycle | | Strengths: | the main difference in feel is that with most of the other pedals, Shimano/Richey, when you clip in your pretty much set for angle and how your legs sits. With the time, when they say Float, they really do mean float, under different situations you can feel your foot settle into different angle for optiumum comfort. This has got to be good for the knees....... Time will tell. We had sticky clayey mud yesterday, not problem with clipping in. | | Weaknesses: | The only down, would be that I'll need to get used to the twice as far to twist out and unclip in a panic situation.
I also did notice that if you need to unclip (for weenies liek me), these pedals are not the greatest and since they are smooth on the top, you tend to slip off. I am considering switchingn to the Z pedal for this reason. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Trek Liquid 30 | | Bottom Line: | the TIME pedals are rad. Highly recommended.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Hobart, Tasmania
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | These pedals have been great from day one.
Reading around this entry you will see that others have had problems of releasing in tight situations. I have not encoutered this at all.....
The mud slinging ability of these pedals is excellent (I wish my jocks were as good).
Durability has been good as I have crunched the beejeesus out of them on some hard Tassie rocks without needing any repair.
The audible "clunk" on entry is reassuring and something my mates with their "candy" seem to envy.
| | Weaknesses: | nothin' to complain about.................. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano & wellgo
They have both been OK but now i have time I won't go back. | | Bike Setup: | magnesium merida elite, sid rs, xt/xtr....bla bla | | Bottom Line: | these pedals have served me well..... and continue to do so
reliable, safe, durable, audible, maintenance free.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
levi krajewski
a Cross Country Rider
from China, ME, USA
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | trail? what trail? | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | strong, light, easy to find and snap into, not
easy to pop out of. | | Weaknesses: | ---it is a bit of a jarring release, but
how much of a drawback is a loud "twangg!!?"
---I've seen others wear down the springs faster
than I (from a lot of mud), but I figure every-
thing wears out eventually. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano spd | | Bike Setup: | trek 950 w/ LX/XT avid or Cannondale F1000 w/Truvative
XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | I broke, in quick succession, a nice and then a nicer
shimano pedal before a mechanic suggested I get the
TIME. If you ride hard cross-country, you need these
pedals. They don't get clogged, they're tough and
won't send your foot flying at just the wrong time.
Only damage I've ever heard of was a cracked body
after a flying bike smacked into a big rock. He kept
riding it w/ no prob 'til a replacement arrived.
Eggbeaters are wannabes. If immitation is the sincerest
form of compliment, the CrankBros' Candy & Mallet are
one big toadyism to TIME. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
P. Viddy
a Cross Country Rider
from Cambridge, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Hydrocut or Kelso | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | The time pedal is virtually bomb proof. I have had it through several mud pits and still clipped in and out with little or no effort. | | Weaknesses: | I can see where some people would have a little trouble clicking in, but i think it's just a matter of getting used to Time. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | customized Specialized rockhopper A1FS. Truvative stylo team crank set, giga pipe ISIS BB. | | Bottom Line: | I got these pedals on a super good deal. $ 109 CDN. (reg. $ 218). Even with dirt clogged in them they still work really well. I work at a local bike shop and would recommend them to roadies and XC riders alike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Madrid (Spain)
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Casa de Campo World Cup Circuit | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Dandy Bike | | Strengths: | Simple design, durable, good platform, easy to click in and out, works great in all conditions, easy to mantain, good bearings, good angular and lateral float... | | Weaknesses: | ¿Weaknesses? | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 535, 536, 520. Ritchey V2. Time Atac Allium | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar Pro. SID XC. XT. Truvativ. Time. Hutchinson... | | Bottom Line: | The best pedal I´ve ever tried. I started using Time Atac Composite after using SPDs (4 years) and Alliums (3 years). Easy to clip in, easy to clip out in all conditions (like Alliums) but they have better bearings and are lighter. Very durable and stable, and nice look. Very simple design with few moving (and falling) parts (unlike Shimanos...). Null manteinance. Never clip out accidentally. Angular and lateral float will help your knees.
Very good pedal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Godkin
a Cross Country Rider
from Sudbury, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Fire Roads | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Pinnacle Sports | | Strengths: | Very secure and simple design... Good platform for riding in street shoes... | | Weaknesses: | I found them very difficult to get out of and tipped over on several occassions. I have a tip for those having trouble getting out. Keep your cleats greased. It really helps.... I ride a speedplay on my roadbike and they are so incredibly easy to get in and out of without sacrificing security... Mountain biking is kind of new to me so I assume you want a tighter connection... On the other hand there are more emergencies... | | Similar Products Used: | Time Equipe Magnesium, Speedplay | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Soul with Rock Shox... | | Bottom Line: | Keep your cleats greased! You'll get out a lot easier. I really prefer the speedplay on my roadbike. Secure with easy entry/exit... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Godkin
a Cross Country Rider
from Sudbury, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Fire Roads | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Pinnacle Sports | | Strengths: | Very secure and simple design... Good platform for riding in street shoes... | | Weaknesses: | I found them very difficult to get out of and tipped over on several occassions. I have a tip for those having trouble getting out. Keep your cleats greased. It really helps.... I ride a speedplay on my roadbike and they are so incredibly easy to get in and out of without sacrificing security... Mountain biking is kind of new to me so I assume you want a tighter connection... On the other hand there are more emergencies... | | Similar Products Used: | Time Equipe Magnesium, Speedplay | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Soul with Rock Shox... | | Bottom Line: | Keep your cleats greased! You'll get out a lot easier. I really prefer the speedplay on my roadbike. Secure with easy entry/exit... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A.P.
a Cross Country Rider
from Franklin Park
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ringwood | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Kim's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Simple Construction. EASY TO CLICK IN AND OUT. THE BEST PEDALS OUT THERE!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Shiman, Wellgo, Speedplay frog | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher sugar | | Bottom Line: | These pedals are simple to use. I have not had any problems with entry and exit. Clicking in and out is a cinch compared to shimano/wellgo spd. You can easily tell the difference upon first use. No learning curve for those who have used other clipless pedals, I was confident after five minutes of first use. Throw your worries away and buy these pedals. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james hauser
a
from mesa arizona
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | national trail phoenix | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo tempe | | Strengths: | easy to get into and out of | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 515,959,wellgo m7 | | Bike Setup: | ano orange blur if you ride south mountain enough you have probably seen me | | Bottom Line: | i have tried wellgo and shamano 515 and 959 and neither of thoses two come close to the times the times are so easy to learn and to get in and out of and as for some of the other reviews about riders weight maybe causing problems. i weigh 140 and have never had a problem with the times like i had with all of the other padles i have tried if you want the best buy times | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Consistent clip-in and release. Mud? Atacs don't care about mud! | | Weaknesses: | None really | | Similar Products Used: | SPD, Ritchey, Wellgo | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Mojo set as SS, 5 other bikes | | Bottom Line: | I have 3 sets of these, 2 on mtb and 1 on a road bike.
I weigh 140 lb, am 5-6 and 54 years old and have no complaints about not being able to clip in or out. Many racers have used Atacs with excellent results, including world championships by men and women.
Newbies seem to have trouble with clipless pedals because of a fear of falling. I've been riding clipless since the first SPD's came out. They work! Learn how to use them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bz S
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Positive engagement, works great in mud and slop, tough composite body | | Weaknesses: | No tension adjust, no tension adjust, no tension adjust. Heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo SPD pedals | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Ellsworth Truth, XTR group, Avid mechanicals, Romic shock | | Bottom Line: | This is an update to my previous post about these pedals. I have fallen many times because of the inability to unclip in technical situations. That's the price of a real heavy, positive engagement--the fact that to unclip requires a bit more force. I would have also liked to have seen a tension adjust. Anyhow, this shortcoming, while minor for some, is major enough for me to think about changing pedal systems. I am a lightweight (5'8", 146lbs), so maybe that has something to do with it. Also, the limited float did not prevent me from getting knee pain as well... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Catharines, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good degree of lateral and rotational freedom of movement. Positive feel when latching in. No unwanted releases. | | Weaknesses: | Spring tension cannot be adjusted. | | Similar Products Used: | Look road pedals | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS2 | | Bottom Line: | I have used these pedals for about four months, and during that time suffered a couple of hard falls because I could not get unclipped quickly enough in tricky situations. I would like to be able to adjust the spring tension, but there is no adjustment provided on Time pedals. (The newer cleats give two different release angles, but there is no way to change spring tension.)
Even my old first generation Look road pedals, made in 1986, had a tension adjustment. In my opinion, Time has taken a step backwards. Do they really think that a 105 pound woman that rides occasionally on weekends needs the same spring tension as a 260 pound Clydesdale that squats 700 pounds and rides six days a week? If they can't come up with an adjustable design, perhaps they could sell the pedals with different strength springs installed from the factory.
I would bet that most of the people complaining about difficult release are smaller, lighter, riders like myself. (5' 6" and 145 lbs.) I would not suggest these pedals to any riders that fall at the lighter end of the weight scale. There is a good chance you will have trouble getting out quickly when you really need to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jens Jacob Iversen
a Weekend Warrior
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | Simple design. Strong: needle and industrial cartridge bearing. Easy to maintain -> no need to after filling the body with grease. | | Weaknesses: | Would have been nice with some kind of grease port system so that extra grease could get out in the other end of the pedal when closing it. | | Similar Products Used: | wellgo, ritchey | | Bottom Line: | This pedal have been punished in mud, rain and rocks. I bet it will last for 10 more years. It is very reliable in all conditions including snow. I prefere changing the cleat instead of the pedal as you have to do with many other pedals. Weather to by this or the eggbeater is up to you but the eggbeater don't have needle bearings! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L.K. Foster
a Cross Country Rider
from Surprise, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | McDowell Mountain park long | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | Granada, Spain | | Strengths: | More float than SPDs
Crisp clip-in
Good in the mud (big issue in Arizona!)
Cartridge bearings | | Weaknesses: | You have to twist a lot further to get out, even with the non-race setting. SPDs are much more crisp in getting out.
| | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 535
Wellgo | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Giant XtC Team | | Bottom Line: | I like the feel of the bearings a lot better than my old 535s, but it's taken me about 6 months to feel confident riding them in technical conditions. It takes a lot more effort to get out of them when you need to, which means that when you're tired you sometimes don't with predictable results. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mmazz71
a Cross Country Rider
from Trenton, Oh U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Airbomb.com | | Strengths: | Easy to clip into and out. | | Weaknesses: | None yet,still too new. | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo 823, Shimano 515 | | Bottom Line: | These pedals are good right out of the box. Confidence level is high due to these pedals. With the 515's I was always worried if I would be able to get in or out at the right time. Not anymore! I got them a day before my last time trial, read the directions, and slapped them on the bike. They released great when needed. Had a minor problem getting into them when I got tired towards the end of the race, but all is good. TIME IS WHERE IT'S AT. Airbomb was a little slow shipping these, so be aware.(2 weeks from order to my door and I ordered UPS blue!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcus75
a Weekend Warrior
from LA, CALI
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | La Tuna | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Private Party | | Strengths: | EASILY EXIT AND ENTRY, EFFECTLESS LEARNING CURVE, NO PROBLEM WITH DIRT! | | Weaknesses: | The platform is slippery so its difficult to pedal w/o clipped in. My feet are not as secure as the SPD's. It feels like my feet will roll out of the pedals because the platform is too small. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano M515 and countless other cheap SPD pedals! | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro Pro | | Bottom Line: | I have been using the SPD system as long as I went clipless (over 6 years now) and decided to try something new. I wanted to try the Time pedals without shelling out full $$$, so I got it from a fellow MTBer. Immediately I notice the difference between these and my old M515. The Time was a breeze to learn and they were MUCH easlier to release and enter. But my feet doesn't feel as secure as the SPDs. I feel like my feet were going to roll right off the pedals, maybe because the platform is small. Even with this sensation, it never accidently released. OF course, I only rode on this a few times.
I should of gotten these sooner before all my unecessary crashes due to my M515!
I don't know why some people complain that these are difficult to get out of! To me these are so easily to get out of that I recommend these for beginners! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Everett Wa
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Devils Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$95.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Centres | | Strengths: | Consitent release and entry. They do not prematurely release. | | Weaknesses: | None if you read the instructions | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Superlight, XTR drivetrain, Time, Titec, Marzocchi | | Bottom Line: | These are a great pedal in the sometimes muddy NW. Far more reliable then any other I have tried. I think the people who are having a hard time with release either did not read the instructions about which cleat goes on which side or the part about angling the cleat slightly to make it easier. I will not ride anything else. The fact that they have a bigger profile then the egg beaters helps out when you have to get your foot on the pedal right of way. After 2 + years only thing to wear is cleat and plastic top cap. Small price to pay for such a great pedal. These are the Chris King's of pedals you get what you pay for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, VA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Very easy to get in and out of. Very nice in having a larger platform to step on when not clipped in. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can come up with, other than they may be a little heavier than other pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano M505 that came with my NRS1. The 505's sucked so bad I only rode with them about a half dozen times. I used to have a set of 737's that were wonderful. Once I | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS1 | | Bottom Line: | The Shimano 505's sucked so bad I only rode with them about a half dozen times. I had such a hard time uncliping from them that I crashed 3 times in one ride due to the pedals. The 505's are really horrible in muddy conditions. I used to have a set of 737's that were wonderful, and never had the problems with clipping and unclipping.
It's amazing how much a set of pedals can effect your confidence when you you ride. I was so leary while riding with the 505's it really wasn't much fun.
It was a world of difference once I put the Time pedals on my bike. I had no trouble clipping and unclipping with these pedals on the first ride. It took no time to get used to these pedals, and now after a couple of rides I don't even have a concern about getting unclipped. These pedals are great even in the muddiest conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Biz
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Superior performance in muddy conditions | | Weaknesses: | Weight, and it's harder to unclip than the SPD's. Also, you can't adjust tension | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo SPD compatibles, Shimano 515 | | Bike Setup: | '96 Kona Kula hardtail with XTR group | | Bottom Line: | I went from my Wellgo clipless to these--and I found that clipping in was VERY easy, much less fiddling around with your foot to find the 'clip in sweet spot'. Performance in moderately muddy conditions are excellent. Only downsides is the weight, and the fact that I have crashed at a standstill several more times than normal because of difficulty unclipping--and there is no tension adjust. I'm sure I just have to get used to it more, but it's been close to 3 months, and I'm still struggling with confidence to get unclipped in time in tricky situations. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, FL
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | Mud shedding, easy clip ins, sturdy platform. yellow | | Weaknesses: | sometimes unclipping can be difficult, usually when you NEED to unclip. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD | | Bike Setup: | GT 5.0, LX/XT running gear, avid brakes, Judy XC front shock | | Bottom Line: | Great pedal, it will definately get you where you need to go. Not as adjustable as the shimano (actually, not adjustable at all), but a lot more solid. You can find good deals on these thing if ya shop around. I'll cough up $50 for these over any other pedal anyday. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rips
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | No maintenance. Sealed bearings. Everyone has them so you can ride someone elses bike without swapping pedals. | | Weaknesses: | Foot tends to slide off in snow/mud if you don't hit the rails right away. Also, slight creaking sound in right pedal due to the plastic cap moving - a shot of oil preride solves it. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 747 and old clips | | Bike Setup: | Norco Rush with all the usually mid-upper end parts | | Bottom Line: | These were my first clipless pedals and I was worried because of reviews that they were going to be hard to learn. Not the case. I had it 80% down in 3 days and the rest was just learning the instinct in odd situations. This is actually strange because one of my riding buddies has the hardest time using them (uses 747) and another guy took almost a year to learn them. The only major problem I have is after a long fatiguing ride, it's hard to get into the pedals and if it happens to be wet or muddy, your feet slip off very easily if you don't click in fast. Once you are locked in, you are in though. Some people mentioned that they loosen up after a few months. I think this is actually a good thing. If you dont want them to release with an accidental twist of the foot, reverse the cleats to the higher release angle. And by the way, brass cleats are used because they cause less friction. Brass is used in place of bearings on cheap pivot points for this reason. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta,GA,USA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$87.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Easy to get in and out of;
Light;
Doesn't gunk up with mud | | Weaknesses: | The brass cleats might be a problem in the future | | Similar Products Used: | none--first clipless pedals | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M-80 Disk; components upgraded to XT all the way around; Easton Monkeylite Riser Bar, WTB Laser V Stealth Saddle; Thudbuster seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I know I have not ridden these long but my comments come from a complete newbie to clipless pedals standpoint. I have been intimidated about going clipless for a long time despite what everyone who uses them says about their virtues. For me these are a truly great upgrade for my bike. Even as a complete newcomer they are very simple to use. It is easy for me to get in AND out of them. I have already had a couple instances of emergency clip outs arise and have had no problems or feelings like I'm trapped in the pedals and trying to yank my foot out. Turn your heel and they come right out with no muss or fuss. When engaged the feeling really is much, much better than toeclips and it makes me feel like I pedal more efficiently. So for anyone one reading these reviews trying to make a decision whether to take the clipless plunge for the first time, these are a great choice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Racer
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | too many | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Well made. Consistent clip-in, clip-out in any conditions | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano spd, Ritchey | | Bike Setup: | Have on 2 mtb and a road bike. | | Bottom Line: | I have three pairs on different bikes. Entering/exit are very consistent and the cleat/pedal interface is very solid. I started using Atacs after having my previous spd's clog up with mud during a race. Now I'm confident of clipping in under any wet or muddy conditions.
Another plus is that there is enough of a platform to ride with street shoes. Wearing in the cleats isn't much of an issue unless you only ride once a month;) Get out there and ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zach
a Racer
from port hope,On,Canda
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | hard wood hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bay Cycle | | Strengths: | light and easy to clip in and out of good mud clearance | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | egg beaters | | Bike Setup: | 2003 giant xtc se 2 with carbon bars and seatpost and hutchinson scorpions | | Bottom Line: | the best pedals ever made | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
aabas
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Stay locked in. | | Weaknesses: | Really hard to get out of. | | Similar Products Used: | spd 515 | | Bike Setup: | stylo cranks, xtr all the way | | Bottom Line: | Although many here say that they are easy to get out of once you get used to them, I'm just not willing to wait around for that day to come. While going up a technical uphill, I came to a really hairy spot and needed to get out. It should have been easy to release, but i was stuck and tipped over and dislocated my shoulder. They are good in the mud but I am not willing to keep working these until they are broken in. It's just not worth it. Don't buy these if you're not an expert. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
aabas
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Stay locked in. | | Weaknesses: | Really hard to get out of. | | Similar Products Used: | spd 515 | | Bike Setup: | stylo cranks, xtr all the way | | Bottom Line: | Although many here say that they are easy to get out of once you get used to them, I'm just not willing to wait around for that day to come. While going up a technical uphill, I came to a really hairy spot and needed to get out. It should have been easy to release, but i was stuck and tipped over and dislocated my shoulder. They are good in the mud but I am not willing to keep working these until they are broken in. It's just not worth it. Don't buy these if you're not an expert. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alexander
a Weekend Warrior
from Sambeek, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Niederkaiser in Austria | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Frans Thijs | | Strengths: | Click in and out, when I want to. | | Weaknesses: | NONE!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD | | Bike Setup: | Trek liquid20 | | Bottom Line: | When I get airborne for a jump these pedals stay clicked in, in all conditions. The shimano´s sometimes clicked out (That´s not good for your health). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrell Heaps
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | 3 Stages, Collingwood, ON | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Light, Easy to get in and out of. The high degree of float adds comfort and performance. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can think of. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD | | Bottom Line: | Out of all the upgrades I have done to my bike, moving to the TIME ATAC Pedals has to be the biggest noticeable improvement.
They are easy to get in and out of, work well in all conditions (except extreme mud) and the high degree of float makes them super comfortable without sacrificing performance. Buy them today and you will not be disappointed!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Statue & Big Rock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | Friend | | Strengths: | This is the best clipless pedal that I have ever owned. The atac pedal works wonderfully in any condition, weather it be snow or rain, this pedal gets the job done with flying colors. | | Weaknesses: | The only weakness of this pedal is that it is a little more expensive than the other pedals on the market. Though, I feel that it is worth every cent. | | Similar Products Used: | The only other similar products, to this, that I have used are the Shimano 424. Which, after doing some snow riding, were not up to the challenge. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line of this Pedal is that it is well worth all of the money that you would spend on this because they WILL make you a better rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will
a Weekend Warrior
from Cairns, Qld, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | 2 Wheel Action Singapore | | Strengths: | Reliability, durability, impervious to mud, versatile, knee saving float, easy to unclip. | | Weaknesses: | like most non-platform clipless, if you're not clipped in you've got very little to work with | | Similar Products Used: | spd | | Bike Setup: | 97 Santa Cruz Heckler, Rock Shox Psylo, can creek 2.5" air rear, xtr, xt, lx | | Bottom Line: | Bought these pedals in 97 in Singapore where the red clay mud after serious rain makes spd's completely useless. These shed that mud and any other mud I've come across in Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand & Canada. I have never performed any maintenance on these pedals except for a quick spray of wd40 once a year. They need a tighten now but I rode them for 3 hours on the north shore today and they didn't unclip accidentally. The cleats can be put on 2 ways which have different degrees of rotation for unclipping ( racers & the rest of us). I am prone to sore knees when cycling but as you can rotate your foot quite a large distance without comeing unclipped you knees don't have to absorb any twisting motion. A lift of the heel with a small twist however will get you out of these quickly. I weigh 200 pounds on a good day and have never bent or broken them. Along with the heckler frame, the best bike equipment I've ever bought. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake, UT, US
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bobsled | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Durable, don't come unclicked, easy to click into, big platform for unclicking moments | | Weaknesses: | Being fairly new to clipless, these are designed for the more experienced clipless pedal rider...They take a bit more twisting to get out of then the Shimanos. | | Similar Products Used: | Low end shimano clipless, platforms | | Bike Setup: | KHS Alite 1000 frame, XT/LX drivetrain, Manitou Six Deluxe fork, Strongarm II Cranks | | Bottom Line: | Nice pedals, much better then the Shimanos, durable, don't come unclicked when you're in a rough spot. These do take a bit to get used to if you've never ridden clipless before, but they're awesome pedals once you've adapted to them. I would reccomend these or Crank Bros Egg Beaters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark Lyndon
a Weekend Warrior
from auckland
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | woodhill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | 2nd hand on the web | | Strengths: | strong, easy to click in & release but hod well and I like the amount of float in the system | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Kore GASS absolute crap...hard to get in even harder to release from ok on road I suppose | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kahuna Deluxe 03 stock | | Bottom Line: | Absolutely fantastic have used them on 70klm gravel rides to tight technical tracks and swooping sandy trails.Ok sometimes you get caught in some tricky situations and go for a slow fall..but the amount of times I clear stuff because I can pull the bike up and over out weigh those times..I rekon you need to go a gear higher(ie harder) as to low and you spin to fast and may want to put you footdown if you start loosing momentum...clipped in lets you hit things harder withou getting blown off..great for down hill...buy them..mine are 1 year old and work great,. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta Ga USA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Carter's Lake | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Very easy entry and exit. Very good in the mud. | | Weaknesses: | The reason I am not going to use this pedal anymore...the pedal rails and cleats wear out too fast. | | Similar Products Used: | ATAC plastic (polyamid) and allium body pedal | | Bike Setup: | FSR m4 | | Bottom Line: | I'm switching away from this pedal, but not because its a terrible pedal. These pedals get too sloppy too quick. After the rails wear in and the soft $30 brass cleats wear in, you start to get a little too much float in ankle rotation, and left/right on the center of the pedal. I go through 2 pairs of cleats a year, and it gets expensive. I find that 6 months after getting new cleats, my foot is loose again and I feel like I'm standing on an ice cube. When this happens, I know an inadvertent foot bail out will soon follow in a situation that I don't want to happen. It has fantastic entry and exit, but the rails get flat and the cleats worn way too soon. I need a more durable pedal.
Why dont they make the cleat out of steel?
Plus, they recently changed the shape of the cleat, and new out of the box it takes the shape of one of my worn ones.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Nashville, TN
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali, NC | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Design, longevity, ease of use, looks | | Weaknesses: | Platform could be bigger for unclipped riding | | Similar Products Used: | Are there any others?!? | | Bike Setup: | I've used these on 2 HTs and 2 FS bikes over five years | | Bottom Line: | I've never tried any other clipless pedals and don't intend to. Maybe others are good or great, but if it ain't broke, why fix it?
I bought a used pair five years ago, and a new pair four years ago for a second bike. Neither set has ever given me a single problem.
There's no wondering if you clipped in or not; you'll hear it when it clicks into place. That's peace of mind.
There's no adjustments to make on spring tension; you just rotate your foot until it pops out. What could be simpler?
They DO NOT clog, period.
I've bashed them and they keep right on going.
The cleats are pretty durable, too.
The ideal buyer is anyone who wants the confidence a secure pedal feeling gives. I could sooner give up all suspension, and probably even multiple gears before I could give up that comforting clipped-in feeling, and that's no joke. Heck, I could deal with coaster brakes again as long as I'm clipped in!
Bottom line, they're worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | hibike | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | Some might say the lack of variability of spring tension. But that keeps the design simple and reliable | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano: 636, 747 (extensively for six years), XT platform, | | Bike Setup: | Trek OCLV 9900 1998 | | Bottom Line: | Update. I've worked the cleats a bit with a Dremmel (shaved is the key word, I presume) to optimize an already excellent function. The 13 degree angle for getting out was just a tiny bit too much for my taste. Getting off rotating inside (heels away from the bike) is a bit easier now (10°), which suits me well. Now I come off more easily also when I rotate the foot outside (move the heel towards the bike), which is much easier when the crank points upwards (12 o'clock posish).
The function is way better than all the Shimanoes I've used, because the force transmission is much better, the pedal feeling is better, clicked in, clicking in and clicking out (see review below dating from 09/07/2002). Last fall, I bought them for the nasty weather period, but I'll keep them on the bike for good, now. I just have bought a second pair for my old DeKerf Generation 1996. The Shimanoes are no bad pedals, surely not, nessuno problemo with the 747s, but they are definitely second choice in comparision to these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Racer
from Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Potowatomi | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Wheels In Motion | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in and out of, can still pedal easily even when not clipped in. | | Weaknesses: | Not adjustable. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey SPD | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR XC Pro | | Bottom Line: | These pedals are awesome-easy to get in and out of, and great mud-shedding ability. Good angular and lateral float, but wish they were adjustable. Will buy another pair if and when these wear out. Five flaming dungs! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat B.
a Cross Country Rider
from Whitecourt Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Roller Coaster | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | Came on the bike | | Strengths: | Clip in action, easy release, Nice wide pad for foot stability, Mud shedding!!!! | | Weaknesses: | NONE!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR xc pro | | Bottom Line: | Buy these pedals if: you desire absolute performance anywhere anytime. SPD don't bother getting. Mud conditions will dictate that decision. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
haro
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, FL
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | quarry, downhill stuff | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | net | | Strengths: | shed mud, tough, good hold, easy to clip in | | Weaknesses: | bit heavy, expensive BUT worth the price | | Similar Products Used: | z-pedal, egg beaters, shimano SPD, beebop | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR Enduro, 6" suspension. | | Bottom Line: | Best pedal for hard riding.
Great in mud / clay.
Talk to Time users - you will find people with other pedal systems who swear by there pedals
BUT you never find a person who changed from Time and go back. Once they try the Time pedals, they stick with them.
I'd buy again (already have brought a set for my road bike and got a set for my wife). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin
a Cross Country Rider
from melbourne,vic,aussy land
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the track | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$101.00 | | Strengths: | very good with use in the mud,easy to clean,no bearing to grease, beautiful pedal | | Weaknesses: | not at all really | | Similar Products Used: | shimano spd | | Bike Setup: | atx 890, | | Bottom Line: | i love these pedals because in the mud u will see how good this pedal really is,no bearings to lube infact they need no maintenance at all!
i have had these pedals since i brought my bike and no worries | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin
a Cross Country Rider
from melbourne,vic,aussy land
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the track | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$101.00 | | Strengths: | very good with use in the mud,easy to clean,no bearing to grease, beautiful pedal | | Weaknesses: | not at all really | | Similar Products Used: | shimano spd | | Bike Setup: | atx 890, | | Bottom Line: | i love these pedals because in the mud u will see how good this pedal really is,no bearings to lube infact they need no maintenance at all!
i have had these pedals since i brought my bike and no worries | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlo
a Cross Country Rider
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Albion or Mansfield | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | bike show | | Strengths: | Simplicity, no guess work (your either in or out) | | Weaknesses: | weight maybe | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo, Look | | Bike Setup: | Barracuda xx TEAM | | Bottom Line: | Simple is best. Like I said before there is no guess work, you're either clicked in or out. Some times release is a bit slow, but that's better than having your pedals release over any little trouble. Confidence! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Yeung
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, On, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Kanata Lakes | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Easy entry and release (see bottom line), float, zero maintance, durable, rarely releases accidentally. They work in all conditions including snow. | | Weaknesses: | The cleat design for the easy release position should be easier to release (but can be fixed with a dremel) | | Similar Products Used: | Time-Z, SPD knock-offs, platforms | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz SL | | Bottom Line: | This a followup review. Last time I reviewed this I gave it a 3 because the release was too slow. Well, I did as one of the posts said and filed down the cleat and now the release issue is solved. Like them so much now I bought the Z version which I use in winter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Strengths: | Nice looking, durable, easy to clip in, easy to clip out if you switch the cleats to easy, never pack with mud. | | Weaknesses: | none really, it does exactly what it should. | | Similar Products Used: | flats | | Bottom Line: | IMO, the thermo plastic (grey) ones are a far better deal than the carbon ones. There is no point to the carbons, as they only save 2 grams of weight.
If you find these hard to get out of, just switch the cleats as suggested in the manual, and they become easy to get out of.
I somewhat regret not getting the Time ATAC Z pedals, as they are dual-purpose, but the ATACs are still great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Damond Cromer
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlottesville, VA
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Trails: Panorama Farms or O-Hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Feel, Easy enough clip in clip out, Looks, Lighter than my old plats with toe clips and straps | | Weaknesses: | None yet and can't see where any trouble could come up down the trail | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, currently only 7-speed shimano componentry (one upgrade at a time :), Avid SD7 brake system, Shimano M535 wheelset w/ Performance Semi-slicks | | Bottom Line: | I have been mountain biking for nearly 10 years now and seeing how I am only 25, I have practically grown up along with this sport. I am somewhere between a weekend warrior and what you would consider a cross country rider. I use my mountian bike everyday, mostly street, to get to and fro the work place, but now is beginning my resurgence back into more frequent and normal free and cross country riding.
This is my very first set of clipless pedals. Since I use my bike for both normal everyday riding as well as mountain biking, I had been avoiding the clipless demon for this long. I figured I would give it time until clipless technology rounded itself out, all the bugs and kinks cleaned up, and something sure and reliable came along. Here it is. The great reviews on these pedals and my want to do some more serious riding, coaxed me into this particular purchase. These are awesome. To get this kind of feel, control, and security from a set of toe clips, I would have to strap my feet in so damn tight that they would turn blue and even then I for sure wouldn't be able to get my feet out :) I feel ten times more comfortable with these pedals than toe clips because it would just seem there is much better energy transfer, as all of my legs pedal energy and motion (forward and return) goes directly into crank force energy and motion, i.e. no lag.
Any of you, my old platform + toe clip + toe strap bretherin, who are or were cautious of converting to clipless, please reconsider and give these a try. You don't have to spend an arm and a let for them, searh ebay, search hotdeals, check the classified boards here at mtbr, and you can pick up a set for fair price. I forked out only 60 bills for mine thanks to Ebay. Seller "o2bikes" is constantly pawning these and other mtb goodies for phat prices. Check him out and hit him up...wish I got some kind of credit or deal for this plug but what the hay.
GO TIME ATAC COMP, CARBON, or TITANIUM and DON'T GO BACK!!
(I will repost if suddenly my view of these pedals goes to sh!t) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
weather expert
a Weekend Warrior
from iowa
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | works well in mud. consistent slip in/out. never unclips unexpectedly. simple design. smooth. | | Weaknesses: | heavy. takes time to break in. | | Similar Products Used: | 535, 545, 324, nashbar. | | Bike Setup: | Mrazek Boh FX. | | Bottom Line: | Initially i didn't like it that much because it takes a considerable twist to unclip. after it broke in and my muscle memory remembers the motion, everything's sweet.
if you are using shimanos, you either lock it real tight so that clip in is a problem, or you have it easy when clip in and get accidentally clipped out once in a while when you are pumping hard (scary!). but on time, you don't have either problem. clip in is easy. never had a problem w/ unwanted clip out's. you feel the platform beneath your foot and to me that's an assuring feeling. plus the consistent performance in both dry and muddy conditions, time is way ahead of any shimano spd's on my list. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Hibike | | Strengths: | Works like it should | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, Shimano 747, 636, | | Bike Setup: | Trek 9900 OCLV | | Bottom Line: | Since the dirty weather period lays before us, I thought I try these. Hitherto I have used Shimano's 747 SPD extensively, and even had common sense to buy a spare set when these nice 747 were running out and offered cheap. The 8..and 9.. SPD Shimanos don't seem to be so hot, at least when one skimms through the reviews. Now I tell you why the TIME is better than the Shimano 747:
1. when it becomes muddy, the 747 are useless
2. when you are in distress and you want to come clear quickly, with shimano you have to get out strictly sideways. If you draw, you get locked up because you cannot move your foot sideways anymore(don't use the Shimano cleats that purposedly refrain from doing so, these are absolute crap). This is not the case with the Times. Even if you draw, you can easily turn out
3. The Times don't have vertical play, the Shimis have.
4. You can feel the Times give way the last few mm (a nice message, when the going is rough), the Shimis just give way appruptly.
5.you have some lateral angle play with both pedals. The Times feel better with that respect, because these press the cleat on the pedal and so stabilise your foot when is the new position. With the Shimis, your foot just wagles around somewhat loose.
Shims vs. Times
The angle to get out is narrower with the Shimis. This makes it easier for SPD beginners, quite obviously.
So: The Times is the better product for an experienced SPD user. The Shimano is better for a SPD beginner
p.s.: I still apreciate my old XT pedals on my Dekerf Generation '96 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Hibike | | Strengths: | Works like it should | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, Shimano 747, 636, | | Bike Setup: | Trek 9900 OCLV | | Bottom Line: | Since the dirty weather period lays before us, I thought I try these. Hitherto I have used Shimano's 747 SPD extensively, and even had common sense to buy a spare set when these nice 747 were running out and offered cheap. The 8..and 9.. SPD Shimanos don't seem to be so hot, at least when one skimms through the reviews. Now I tell you why the TIME is better than the Shimano 747:
1. when it becomes muddy, the 747 are useless
2. when you are in distress and you want to come clear quickly, with shimano you have to get out strictly sideways. If you draw, you get locked up because you cannot move your foot sideways anymore(don't use the Shimano cleats that purposedly refrain from doing so, these are absolute crap). This is not the case with the Times. Even if you draw, you can easily turn out
3. The Times don't have vertical play, the Shimis have.
4. You can feel the Times give way the last few mm (a nice message, when the going is rough), the Shimis just give way appruptly.
5.you have some lateral angle play with both pedals. The Times feel better with that respect, because these press the cleat on the pedal and so stabilise your foot when is the new position. With the Shimis, your foot just wagles around somewhat loose.
Shims vs. Times
The angle to get out is narrower with the Shimis. This makes it easier for SPD beginners, quite obviously.
So: The Times is the better product for an experienced SPD user. The Shimano is better for a SPD beginner
p.s.: I still apreciate my old XT pedals on my Dekerf Generation '96 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Loveland, Colorado
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | speedgoat.com | | Strengths: | Easy to release, yet never lets go when it shouldn't.
Easy to clip in. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Icon clipless pedals (garbage) | | Bike Setup: | GT I-Drive | | Bottom Line: | These pedals are great. I've never had a problem releasing from them, even when going over the bars. You have to twist a little more to get out of these, but I've never had a problem with that. I've hit countless rocks with them while riding, and they've held up great. They still work like new after 2 years of use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis Zatylny
a Downhiller
from Canada
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Jack Pine Hill north bays on | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | TNT | | Strengths: | awsome in the mud. At home in any terrain. Easy entrance and exit. If you need something from time they give i to you for free(cleat, screw ect) | | Weaknesses: | takes a while to get adapted to, like a month | | Similar Products Used: | free agent platforms, shimano 515(suck) | | Bike Setup: | KHS alite 500, avid discs and bomber z1's | | Bottom Line: | awsome over all. i was only 13 when i gotem and i could never go back to platforms again. they safe your sihns from being raked by the pedal and the save your gonads from making contact with your headset. they are diserve full chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in Crested Butte | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance, back in '97 | | Strengths: | Ease of entry and release. They stay clean and functioning forever...well, 5 years anyway. Simple design that never needs adjusting. They never let me down. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing! Well, mine are the old ugly yellow/black color scheme. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano stuff...525, 535, many years ago. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Klein (gotta love lifetime warranties) with an '01 Atom Race (gotta love clearance sales) and some old XT stuff. | | Bottom Line: | It's about time I gave these pedals the credit they deserve. I bought these many moons ago when they were first released -'97, I think. I have loved them on every ride I've ever done since. If you don't need an oversized pedal platform and you want precise entry and release every time, you must buy this pedal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thijs L
a Weekend Warrior
from EHV
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | waalre | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | moniwue's bikeshop | | Strengths: | good bearings, solid connection, possibilty to move your foot. it's not really fixed sideways. | | Weaknesses: | take a while to get used to the amount of turning you need to get your foot out | | Similar Products Used: | plain flat pedals 'n toeclips | | Bike Setup: | nothing special | | Bottom Line: | just good pedals, good construction, dirt just can't seem to hurt them. whatever you choose take clipless pedals. they make controlling our bike a lot easier. anyone with the money buy them.there are cheaper versions of it than mine coz I got the version with the industrial bearing in it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from NPR, FL
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Indian, Misery, Gatorbait | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$89.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Quick learning curve. Easy to get into and easy to get out of. | | Weaknesses: | Have not found one yet! | | Similar Products Used: | First time for clipless. Don't know what took so long to get rid of my straps. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Tassajara | | Bottom Line: | Great pedals, I can't even think of looking for anything else. they work great in all kinds of mud and sand. I use a pair of Lake X201 MTB shoes with them and it is a great match. The Lake X201 are a great shoe also. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Appleton, WI
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Amount of float. Reliable. Great mud clearence. Large platform. Easy in-Easy out. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey(not sure what model had to borrow them for a race when the van drove off with my shoes. Borrowed his Sidi Dominator 2's and his pedals, bought the shoes for myself, sticking with my pedals) | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn S-20 XT/LX setup, Judy XC | | Bottom Line: | Started with Time ALIUMs and had great success with them for about three years. Unfortunately with my hard riding the right pedal's spring got bent or cracked because they started accidentaly releasing on me.
Got the Time ATAC composite pedals and have been have a great time since. Not quite sure what other people are talking about getting stuck in their pedals. I have never experienced that problem and I have the cleats setup for racing. I'll occasionally do some mild trials riding with the Time pedals on, always have more than plenty of time to get out.
The amount of float works really well for me as I have a slight tracking problem with my knees.
As for mud clearence, I continually find that if I am riding with anyone who has SPD pedals in muddy conditions their pedals and clears get gummed up much more quickly than mine do if mine ever get there.
Would highly recomend these pedals.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hobby Park | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | I dont really know since I only rode them around the bike shop for 5 min, but I hear they dont collect mud like shimano stuff. they are pretty light | | Weaknesses: | they had too much float for me. I spose I coulda gotten use to it if I wanted to after much practice, but you freakin had to almost turn your foot 90 degrees to get out. I may have gotten them and tried to adapt had it not been for the price tag. | | Similar Products Used: | platforms (I cant believe I put up with them even for only afew weeks) then I got some free old clipless from a friend of mine. they sucked too, but still surpassed platforms | | Bike Setup: | 2002 gary fisher tassajara pretty much stock | | Bottom Line: | I guess they are probly great if you can get over the price and get use to the float. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | The Cyclepath | | Strengths: | -no accidental releases | | Weaknesses: | -too much float!!
-hard to clean
| | Similar Products Used: | Kore GASS, Ritchey Mountain Logic | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp | | Bottom Line: | This pedal comes with too much float so I used my dremel to grind my cleats down. After this modification the pedal works great. They are easy to get in and out of and there are no accidental releases like my old Richey pedals. The Times also perform much better in the mud than my old Ritchey's.
The only weakness is that after muddy rides, mud will be inside the pedal body. The only way to remove this mud is to pop off the plastic yellow covers on both sides of the pedals. The Time Aliums may be a better choice because they don't have the plastic covers thus making cleaning easier.
Other than the above, the Times require very little maintenance. Just an occaisional lube on the springs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Cross Country Rider
from denver, CO, usa
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Deer creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | ease of entry, lots of float (movement of your foot before your cleat releases from the pedal), no need for pedal setup/adjustment | | Weaknesses: | Steep learning curve on how to release from the pedals without falling; cleats required some tinkering (see The Bottom Line) | | Similar Products Used: | PowerGrips, Ritchey clipless | | Bike Setup: | 1996 Specialized Ground Control (full-suspension) | | Bottom Line: | I rode with PowerGrips for 5 years and thought clipless riders were nuts. After some convincing (incessant nagging) from one of my riding buddies, I tried some Ritchey clipless. I had a hard time getting into the Ritcheys, and I also didn't like their tiny footprint.
I never had a problem releasing from these pedals, but switching from the PowerGrips, I was used to moving my feet a lot, and the Ritcheys would release way too early.
A friend suggested the Time ATACs, with 15 degrees of float. Right off the bat, getting in was a piece of cake - the pedals and cleats are very forgiving. I could move my foot around a lot while clipped in. However, they would never release when or as I thought they should. I crashed MANY TIMES.
I was about to pull them off, then I spent some time talking to bike shops, local riders and MTBreview.com users, and here is how I got everything set up perfectly.
1. Look at the "Shaved ATAC cleats" on speedgoat.com, and use a Dremel tool to make your cleats look just like that.
2. Rotate the cleats a few millimeters toward the bike (rotate the left cleat to the right , and the right cleat to the left).
3. I pop my left foot out on really nasty stuff...
What these adjustments do is set up your foot/cleat to be closer to releasing. The ATAC pedals don't have a tension adjustment.
After I made these changes, I was riding a left-turn downhill switchback, and slowed down too much. I thought it was lights out, because I had that funny feeling that my left foot was not coming out. But, amazingly, my foot came out, and I did not crash!
So, now, I'm a believer. I use the pulling action of a clipless pedal to engage the hamstrings, and I'm a much stronger rider now.
They are more expensive retail, but if you can find them cheaper, and you make the adjustments, they will be great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in the Elbow Valley | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$165.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Simple, Simple, Simple! The dont get gummed up with mud and other crap easily and when they do, they clear out easy. I never worry about accidently clipping out over sketchy sections or when Im jumping. When Im clipped in, I know Im in. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Quite alot heavier than most shimano's. But hey, its not the bike, but more the rider! Anyone who complains about the weight of every part on their bike will still have their ass kicked by someone riding a 50+ lbs bike. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 840, RS SID 100 Fork, DeoreLX drivetrain, hayes HMX-1 disks, Time ATAC pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great pedal. A little heavy and expensive, but worth it all the way. These are my first clipless pedals and Im glad I went with these. I was a bit scared at first because there is no tension adjustment on these, but you get used to the set tension really fast.
I did bail when I first got them....alot! but I hurt my pride more than anything else and its always good to have your team mates happy by bailing stupidly and having them laugh at you for your fall. Good Pedals....GET THEM! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydeney
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | this is in Aussie dollars | | Strengths: | simplicity | | Weaknesses: | nil | | Similar Products Used: | Wellgo spd copies | | Bike Setup: | various ( what can I say it's been an expensive couple of years) | | Bottom Line: | These pedals do exactly what they say they will do .
Add effeciancy to your pedaling , hook you up firmly to your bike and give a good amount of float , to ease ( not prevent or cure ) knee problems.
I too had trouble releasing at first. Don' t file your cleats yet. I feel the cleats have a lower profile than SPD's and in many MTB shoes the rubber grip around the cleat effects engagement and more so dis-engagement . I have Cannondale C soles, and shaved a beveled edge around the cleat .onlt taking about a quater of an inch (6mm) of the top, to nothing near the cleat.
No more problems, and retained the nice firm hook up from new., and my cleats aren't going to wear prematurely. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr Rad
a Cross Country Rider
from Elkridge
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Easy to use. No maintenance. They always work. Seem pretty tough. | | Weaknesses: | Cost more than other pedals and there is a short but painful learning curve.
I'd use platforms for downhill or hard freeriding. | | Similar Products Used: | Platforms and cages | | Bike Setup: | Older Diamondback FS (soon to be replaced, but I'm keeping the pedals). | | Bottom Line: | My girlfriend and I both use Time ATAC pedals.
The first 2 weeks took a while to get use to these things. Kept falling because I couldn't unclip.
After the 2 weeks something in my head must have clicked in because now I don't even think about using the pedals and can get in and out with no problem. Works great even in nasty, deep mud.
Never have to make adjustments, I just spray some lube inside every so often.
My girlfriend cracked the plastic on one of her pedals and it still works great. I've actually seen people with almost no plastic left and the pedal still works.
Here's a tip for longer cleat life: once they get worn away swap the left and right cleats (to race mode). That'll almost double your cleats lifespan. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Yeung
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, On, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Kundstadt | | Strengths: | Easy in. Good in mud. Low maintenence. Tough. | | Weaknesses: | Slower and harder to get out than my SPDs. | | Similar Products Used: | SPD knock offs? (came with bike) | | Bike Setup: | 00 Norco Sasquatch, Cain Creek Thudbuster | | Bottom Line: | I like to ride a lot of rocky technical trails and I find myself falling more with these because of the split second longer it takes me to get out when I decide to hit the eject button. I read somewhere down below that filing the cleats can help. I gonna try that and if that doesn't help I'm going to buy SPDs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bill
a Weekend Warrior
from Southampton, MA/USA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Pomeroy | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | Great mud shedding capabilities. Do not accidently clip out like spd's when bunny hopping a log at 20 mph.Clipping in is very easy. | | Weaknesses: | Clipping out can be tricky, especially climbing on slow rocky single track. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano spd and stock specialized pedals. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 FSR XC. Betd bearing/link kit, Answer monkeylite carbon riser bars, Specialized Mikinow Wedge saddle. | | Bottom Line: | At first I found myself falling often when climbing on rocky technical single track at a slow crawl, and front wheel would slip on rock or log or just stop, I would on the ground still at one with my bike. I did endo hard one day and was still clipped in after regaining consciousness.
HOWEVER, after 1 year of use, I have gotten used to them and would not even for a moment consider ever going back to what I had in the past. Sure I still do not clip out in time ocassionally when doing a slow climb on a rocky, muddy New England single track, but I think that is the nature of clippless pedals. I have no problem clipping out 99.9% of the time. I now can burn down a rocky trail at the freightning speeds that full suspension allows, and have no woory of clipping out by mistake, with Time ATAC, you don't clip out unless you want to. And when I am riding through 4" of mud and I unclip and stick my foot in the goop, reclipping is no problem, a farrrrrrrrrrrr cry from my SPD days!!
Don't let all the comments, ( including my own), on how hard they are to clip out discourage you from these pedals.
I bought the aliums because I did not want to spend the extra $$$ on carbon just in case I didn't like them, well I wish I had bought the carbons, because these pedals rock!
As far as durablity: I have ridden harsh, rocky New England trails and have ridden these hard and have had no problems whatsoever so far. The aluminum pedals do look pretty beat up after a while, but hey, no beauty contests here, just fast riding. If you are thinking about these, I encourage you to make the leap as I did, the strenghts of these pedals I think far out way the " learning curve" of clipping out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Kitchener,Ontario,Canada
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hydro Cut | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Path | | Strengths: | Consistant clipping in and out. Dirt proof!! easy on the knees. They also look pretty damn sexy. its my first pair and i've gotten the hang of them really easily. clip out in crashes easily. | | Weaknesses: | i havent found any yet. but this is my first pair of clipless pedals so i dont know what to look for. | | Similar Products Used: | platform pedals | | Bike Setup: | '99 Norco Sasquatch(stock, except for the pedals, and a 2001 X-Fly) | | Bottom Line: | Clipless pedals make the bike more fun to ride. i feel like i have a lot more of control over the bike and when i'm going up hills i dont spin my back wheel as much anymore.
Specific to the ATACs- u know they're good becuase if this many people have reviewed it and given it good marks they cant all be wrong. and ignore the ones that say they have trouble clipping in and out. those were older models that aren't around anymore. great pedals for beginners or more hardcore riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
m mnm
a Cross Country Rider
from netherlands
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | best | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | monique's bike shop | | Strengths: | dirtproof, strong, can stand the heat, some space to move your foot so less stress on your knee | | Weaknesses: | my first clipless pedal so I had to get used to turning my foot, apperently shimano spd is easiere to get used to but I reckon this is better for your knees | | Similar Products Used: | stupid plain pedals pedals with clip | | Bike Setup: | cheap heavie frame with bad front fork, reasonably good geometry, sram 5.0 rear derailleur (2002) my second one which works good as well | | Bottom Line: | they say it's the best out there I my expierence i the same they last (mine have industrial bearings at the crank side and needle bearings in the end)good dirt seals, but I havent figured out how to open them. But since they function good, I don't have to open them | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pete
a
from Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | engagement
mud clearance
| | Weaknesses: | none really, as of yet | | Similar Products Used: | bebops | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC Air Lite, stock except ATACs | | Bottom Line: | This is a review of the Time ATAC composites. These appear to be great pedals. I ran bebops for a year but got tired of replacing cleats (3 new sets in 1 year!). THe ATACs weigh more and don't have as much float, but have a very confidence-inspiring click when you engage, and I have had NO problems whatsoever disengaging (I've only ridden 2 times with them so far). Mud clearance is spectacular (it is very muddy this time of year up here). Only problem so far is that if you engage the cleat into the pedal close to the crank arm, your shoe will rub on the crank arm, and you have to reengage. I guess that's just practice in engaging farther away. Time will tell, but I am very happy thus far. Will update after continued use. I guess if weight is not an issue and you need superb mud clearance, these are great pedals | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Clark
a Weekend Warrior
from Northville, Mi
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | low maintenance
clear mud like a champ | | Weaknesses: | bars can bend and pedals become sloppy!
| | Similar Products Used: | 1st and only clipless - 4yrs in on the trail | | Bike Setup: | Bontrager | | Bottom Line: | Just Wanted to throw my 2 cents in to the conversation. These came stock on my Bontrager and they have been great, up until 6 months ago. My cleats seemed to float in the pedal, changed cleats - no difference. Thought it might be the shoes - new shoes didn't help. Finally realized that the bars had both bent to the point where the cleats aren't held in as tightly. Now debating between another pair of these or Shimano 959?? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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