Try the pedals Velonews called "the best clipless
mud pedal I've ever ridden". If you ride in extreme conditions, the Atac
XS series has to be your pedal of choice.
Submitted by
MLL
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsfield, MA Date Reviewed: May 1, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Excellent product, used these clips/pedals for 3 years now and they still are the best pedals on the market.
Weaknesses:
Since most people don't have Time pedals, you can't jump on your friend's new ride and expect your time clips to work.
Bottom Line:
Excellent funtionality... recomended for all demographics
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dirtdiva
a Racer
from SoCal Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
any techy rocky trail
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Float, durability, reliability, weight
Weaknesses:
Angle of release gets some getting used to
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Ritchey, Crank brothers
Bike Setup:
Intensen 5.5
Bottom Line:
I got a pair of these pedals four years ago because of knee pain. The Time pedals have more float and my knee agrees.
I've had these pedals and have done no maintenance. Yes, I need new bearings, but really can't tell when you're riding. I've just been lazy about the maintenance. The bearing kit is only $40. I should replace them...
In normal riding conditions, these pedals rock. I love the positive click when I clip in. No accidental releases, either. The angle of release is different from Shimano, but only took me a few falls until I got it in my head. I tried the egg beaters, but I was missing the positive click.
In muddy and snow conditions, they don't do as well as the eggs, but that's a moot point for me. They did fine in thin mud, but not the thick stuff.
I've banged them on rocks inumerous times, even shaved some bits of the composite body off, but never bent the clips until a couple of weeks ago at the Cannell Plunge. Even though it was bent, it still works well, not quite the same though.
I've definitely got my money's worth on these pedals. Even though there are lighter, sexier pedals out there (eggs and look), I'm sticking with these and buying myself another pair.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from Minneapolis, MN USA Date Reviewed: June 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$279.00
Purchased At:
Penn Cycle Eagan
Strengths:
Solid, Tough, and Light!
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC
Bike Setup:
Customized Klein Adroit Race, Customized Trek Fuel 98
Bottom Line:
These are light and I imagine will hold up much better than previous models because they are designed with the annoying spring cap that is prone to crack or fall off on earlier Times.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick
a Racer
from San Francisco, CA & Crested Butte, CO Date Reviewed: July 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$215.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Light, great retention/feel when new. Great mud/snow performance compared to 747s (I've never ridden 959s)
Weaknesses:
The bearings wear out pretty quick (12 months) when ridden hard in muddy conditions.
Similar Products Used:
original spuds, Onza (super scary, broken Ti spindles), Shimano 747's, original Times, Time Atac XS carbons
Bike Setup:
these have been used for road riding/touring and cyclocross racing
Bottom Line:
I bought these originally for credit card (super light) road tours in Europe. I don't trust TI spindles for real off road riding (too many horror stories). But, because of their featherweight, I was tempted to start using them for cyclocross racing. After 1 1/2 seasons of (Nor-Cal/Bay Area) racing, and a 10 week tour in Europe this spring, mine are ready for the trash can. During one race, the left end-cap loosend up (causing the pedal body to slide back and forth on the spindle), luckily it was only a 45 minute race and I caught it afterwards. I'm not sure if the endcap came off the body would seperate, but I don't want to find out in the middle of race. I called Time (North America customer service, very helpful) and the guy told me that the end caps are NOT suppose to loosen up. I said that's find and dandy, but could he sell/send me a pin spanner to torque mine back down, because mine DID loosen up. He said he didn't know of any stock tool that fits those pin holes, so get creative. I've been using a real smalll allen and a hard rubber mallet to keep mine tight. Long story, short: My bearings are shot and the loose pins/springs (mentioned in a previous review) make it very easy to roll my foot out. I'll start the warranty process with Time this week, but I think they only have a one year warrany so I don't expect any miracles. If TIME will allow me to send them back and get "re-conditioned" for a under $50, I'll keep riding them. Great pedal if you can afford to replace them after every year or so of hard riding/racing. I switched to Time from 747s to get the mud/snow performance. But now that Shimano is making the 959, maybe I'll make the jump back. Shimano makes some of the best bearings in the business, IMHO. I have a pair of the mid priced ATAC xs carbons, and I'll ride those hard this summer in Colorado and see how they hold up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
marco righetti
a Weekend Warrior
from scotland UK Date Reviewed: March 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
glentress red route
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
alpine bikesn glasgow
Strengths:
light but not as light as my ti eggbeaters solid clip in and large enough platform when not properly clipped in,good in mud.
Weaknesses:
at a push...weight but its not a real weakness
Similar Products Used:
time atac carbons, time alums, wellgo ti-mags, ti eggbeaters
Bike Setup:
05 trek top fuel
Bottom Line:
just great pedals, i would have no hesitation in recommending them!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
LK
a Weekend Warrior
from Vienna, VA Date Reviewed: September 11, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Very light, strong, smooth, very easy to get in and out of, excellent mud/debris clearance.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Time Z Control pedals.
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler, XT drivetrain.
Bottom Line:
I've only used these pedals a short period of time, but they are very easy to get in and out of and are very light. The spindles are very smooth, yet tight - no rattle, play, etc. Good amount of float, and tension adjustment.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Duck
a Cross Country Rider
from Alamo Date Reviewed: May 18, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS, Danville bike
Strengths:
95% connectivity to the bike, coming out only during extreme periods of stoopidity
Weaknesses:
annoying, really annoying clicks during climbs. I've repacked my BB, greased and torqued the FSA/crank interface and bolts, and still, still they click, click, click during climbs.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 747 to extinction. earlier model ATAC which released too easily during those stoopid moments, and the old Ritchey golds.
Bike Setup:
Switchblade, SRAM twisters, XTR drs, Hope mini brakes, Fox front and rear.
Bottom Line:
The retaining clips wore early and continue to loosen as the months pass---I can make the clips click by hand! No amount of grease or lighter lubes dampens the annoyance. Because I value being clamped to the bike more, I have learned to meditate to the metronome. An email to Time asking how to repack the bearings the easy way (just in case my diagnosis is incorrect) went unanswered. Spend the money if you want to stay clipped in while counting grams; pray they've solved the wear problem in this year's model
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kent Robertson
a Cross Country Rider
from Ely, NV, USA Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004
Favorite Trail:
So many favs... too little time
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Supply Bike Store on eBay
Strengths:
Strong, quality construction, consistent action. Firm "attached" or connected feeling when pedaling but still has adequate float.
Weaknesses:
A little more difficult to clip in and out compared to my Shimano 858s. Kinda pricey.... even at the price I paid. I think the old ATAC carbon design was cleaner looking. Hard to stay on pedal and clipped out when you want to be clipped out
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 858, TIME ATAC carbon, cheaper SPD knock-offs.
Bike Setup:
HH100x with Charles' spec.
Bottom Line:
I got these for a great price on eBay. I liked my SPDs but I was looking for an upgrade, wanted something that released a little more consistently in mud, and everyone keeps coming back to how good the ATAC's are, so I thought I'd give them a try. They do in fact release the same in muddy or dry conditions.... it's just they release a little harder than my broken in 858s. I never fall down in normal riding conditions, but that extra effort and extra split second it takes to get my foot out in rocky technical sections has cost me some skin on my knees and elbows. And when I do fall down clipped in, I sometimes am still clipped in after the crash. It's very hard to get your foot out when the bikes tangled up with you on the ground and still clinging to your feet... not to mention hard to get up gracefully. This never happened with my SPDs. Maybe they just need some more break in. I've trimmed all the excess rubber away from the cleat area on my shoe, set the adjustment to the lowest spring tension, and have the cleats mounted for the least float, so not sure what else to try. Will filing anywhere help?
Bottom line? I like a lot of things about this pedal, but if I can't get them (me?) to the point where I can clip out as quickly and intuitively as my SPDs they'll be up for sale. I'll post a more favorable follow-up if the release issue gets resolved.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ric
a Cross Country Rider
from So Bay LA Date Reviewed: July 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Westridge Santa Monica mts.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At:
bikeman.com
Strengths:
light, easy clip in & out, larger than most platform
These pedal are cool! They are the best I have ever had. Compared to the Eggbeaters (the next best pedal) entry is about the same, but the release is slightly better. The titan's larger platform has a couple of added benefits: 1. More secure in those moments when you aren't completely clip in 2. The body aids in guiding the cleat to the clip.
The only drawback to these pedals, and the only reason I'm giving them only 4 flaming chilies for the value rating, is the price per weight ratio. I purchased my Eggbeater twin ti's for $170 on Ebay and they were 218grams for the pair. The best price I found for these was $225 and weigh 268grams.
Bottom line: Very very light, but not the lightest, pedals with dependable easy entry and release. Yes, they are expensive, but they're worth it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Janice Tower
a Racer
from Anchorage Date Reviewed: June 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Lost Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Gift
Strengths:
Very light weight, easy entry and exit, excellent mud clearance, STYLE!!!
Weaknesses:
None that I can tell so far
Similar Products Used:
Time Atac Carbon
Bike Setup:
Turner Burner w/Manitou Minute 2:00 and Swinger 3-way
Bottom Line:
I found these little jewels dangling off my Christmas Tree! I must've been a good girl last year 'cuz if it weren't for Santa, I'd still be drooling over them in the catalogs. Love the function as well as the look. The adjustability is a plus also!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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