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Pedals: XTR vs. Time Atac XS.....

16460 Views 73 Replies 46 Participants Last post by dubthang, Jul 23, 2012

metelhead

Discussion Starter · Dec 25, 2009

The only thing this has to do with 29ers...is that the pedals in question will be mounted on a 29er..so there!

Ok....I ride in most conditions here in the PNW...from sanding desert, hardpack, rocky, rooty and snotty..... my current requirements would be reasonably light, highly functional and reliable.

I have ridden the old Xt 959 for years...heavy and builtproof...but can be challenging in adverse conditions....in addition I have ridden the old Time Atac's and they were simple and worked well- although engagement could have been more concrete imo.

I would have considered Egg beaters....but I have just read so many issues with them...from breaking, to servicing.... any other suggestions I'm open to as well!
thx

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surlyboy

· #2 · Dec 26, 2009

I have used many pairs of Time atacs starting back in 1997. Im currently running the Atac Carbons. I have tried egg beaters and I use a pair of 959's on the trainer bike during the winter. IMO there is no better pedal than the Time Atac. Hands down the best mtb pedal I have ever used. Not the lightest but they work in every condition, you can always get in and you always come out!!!

My issue with the egg beaters are two things, one I dont feel very secure in them, the ones i used (older sl's)seem to have some play, I never pulled out but I just did not like the feeling. Second is if you log alot of miles on the mtb (I do, about 3000 a year) then the egg beaters just dont hold up. The spindles develope play way to quickly, they are easy to rebuild but still!! I know many other high mileage mtb's and racers in our area you run egg beaters they love em but they all have issues with having to rebuild them alot. Especially the guys doing marathon events and 24 hour events, they can rack up alot of mtb miles in a year.

The new XTR's look very nice, I have heard they work really well and it's probably the pedal I would run if not for the Atacs.

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metelhead

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 26, 2009

surlyboy said:
I have used many pairs of Time atacs starting back in 1997. Im currently running the Atac Carbons. I have tried egg beaters and I use a pair of 959's on the trainer bike during the winter. IMO there is no better pedal than the Time Atac. Hands down the best mtb pedal I have ever used. Not the lightest but they work in every condition, you can always get in and you always come out!!!

My issue with the egg beaters are two things, one I dont feel very secure in them, the ones i used (older sl's)seem to have some play, I never pulled out but I just did not like the feeling. Second is if you log alot of miles on the mtb (I do, about 3000 a year) then the egg beaters just dont hold up. The spindles develope play way to quickly, they are easy to rebuild but still!! I know many other high mileage mtb's and racers in our area you run egg beaters they love em but they all have issues with having to rebuild them alot. Especially the guys doing marathon events and 24 hour events, they can rack up alot of mtb miles in a year.

The new XTR's look very nice, I have heard they work really well and it's probably the pedal I would run if not for the Atacs.

good feedback-thank you!....so a couple questions on your Atacs, how is the shoe interface? do you get wear marks from the springs(bars, whatever they call them) around the cleats?

Spinning Lizard

· #4 · Dec 26, 2009

I second the ATACS, have 6 sets of them. 2 sets are from the mid 90's and still work perfect. Average around 4000 miles a year. Also only one shoe gave me a problem with the pedal interface, 2 year old pair of Shimano shoes with carbon soles broke right where the pedal engages. Running a pair of Gaerne shoes at the moment and this is the 5th year in service and still only minor wear on the sole.

mtnbiker72

· #5 · Dec 26, 2009

I've owned all three...you hit the nail on the Shimano SPD-M959, same exact experience. I switched to Crank Bros Candy's and liked the mechanism and found them to be durable, BUT...if you hit mechanism on something (lots of log crossings on my trails) they release!

I'm now riding ATAC's and while I actually liked the the Crank Bros feeling which as mentioned above are "looser" feeling...the ATAC's are treating me well. And of course I can clip into them in all conditions, including ice and snow.

BTW...the ATAC's do leave wear marks just like Crank Bros do on your shoes around the cleats. If you use CF soled shoes you may want the sole protectors that Crank Bros make.

metelhead

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 26, 2009

mtnbiker72 said:
I've owned all three...you hit the nail on the Shimano SPD-M959, same exact experience. I switched to Crank Bros Candy's and liked the mechanism and found them to be durable, BUT...if you hit mechanism on something (lots of log crossings on my trails) they release!

I'm now riding ATAC's and while I actually liked the the Crank Bros feeling which as mentioned above are "looser" feeling...the ATAC's are treating me well. And of course I can clip into them in all conditions, including ice and snow.

BTW...the ATAC's do leave wear marks just like Crank Bros do on your shoes around the cleats. If you use CF soled shoes you may want the sole protectors that Crank Bros make.

Thank you...more good feedback! Its funny I was leaning towards the XTR's...more because of the known on my behalf than the unknown,,,,but you all are swaying

ROBOLOCO

· #7 · Dec 26, 2009

I like the CB Acids, light , but you have to grease 'em once in a while, which is easy.I've also ran the eggbeaters for ever, but again, just a little grease now and then and no worries.

pghryder

· #8 · Dec 26, 2009

Time

Another vote for the Atacs. I switched probably 10 or so years ago and still have them going strong. I use them on my MTB's, cross and SS road/mucky weather bike. :thumbsup:

GreenLightGo

· #9 · Dec 26, 2009

I also run Time ATAC XS pedals (plus some Time Aliums on various other bikes). They've been infallible in bad weather. Quality buy it and forget it kind of part.

Broke my CB Candy's twice in 14 months before going to the Times.

Started on Shimano SPDs - never had a problem with them, but they were a little more challenging to engage when muddy. Can't beat the steel cleat though - will last you much longer than the brass Time cleats.

bcaronongan

· #10 · Dec 26, 2009

xtr's will be going on the new 29er when it arrives.

been riding since 1990? and have never used anything other than the shimanos. started with the 737 and still have them and am using them.

mattybfat

· #11 · Dec 26, 2009

still running mid 90's xts and also 2yr old xtrs don't know about times but no complaints with shimano. I'd say toss up seems both are great...

dubthang

· #12 · Dec 26, 2009

I run Time Aliums in the rock covered trails of Maine. They have never let me down through the many rock strikes they receive every time out. The only issue (it's not one for me) is that your foot clips in toe first. This can be a little odd for some coming from a 'step on' type of pedal.

cross4

· #13 · Dec 26, 2009

I always loved my Atac pedals but a few years ago I went CB eggbeater. At 6"4" 200lbs I've had no problems. Based on your picks I would take the Atacs hands down. Never a problem and good wet weather pedal.

selector

· #14 · Dec 26, 2009

Have never run anything other than XT/XTRs (XTR now). I can't offer an opinion other than I have no reason to even consider another pedal since Shimano has never, ever failed me.

surlyboy

· #15 · Dec 26, 2009

Over the last few years I have been using the carbon soled shimano mtb shoes, zero issues with the Atacs and those shoes. I think becasue the sole of the shoe rests on the pedal body, there is some wear there and that probably takes the pressure off the bars. But you could always use the crank bros plate, though I dont think it's needed

dirtdirt223

· #16 · Dec 26, 2009

2 pair of 959's with thousands of miles in 5 years and never a problem. added a set of xtr's last year. thats all.

Tzvia

· #17 · Dec 26, 2009

Just happened to see this thread, and I too am looking for new pedals. I have the old... I think they are '747' (??) Shimano SPDs from the 90s. Very nice till you step in clogging dirt and can't clip in, so I removed them from my MTB and put them on the commuter. I then got Time Carbons, again back in the 90s. They are now on their third mountain bike and are still going strong. Would like something lighter, like the new Time TI-Carbons, but thought I would look around at SPDs again before spending the bucks. So far, I have seen nothing that looks better than Time, and if they last like my old yellow Atacs I will surely get my money's worth.

Eggbeaters interested me for a bit too, but I want something more durable.

J.Mc.

· #18 · Dec 26, 2009

I vote for XTR unless you ride in muddy conditions often...

hondaph00l

· #19 · Dec 26, 2009

I would suggest the Time pedals. I have multiple sets of the previous generation of time mtb pedal and they still work like the day I got them. Ive actually wanted to upgrade to newer atacs but cant justify it so long as my current ones work so well. They are bomb proof, smack them on rocks or fill them with mud and they just keep going.

CB2

· #20 · Dec 26, 2009

bcaronongan said:
xtr's will be going on the new 29er when it arrives.

been riding since 1990? and have never used anything other than the shimanos. started with the 737 and still have them and am using them.

737's drove me to Time ATAC's in 1995 because screws kept on falling out of them, and when the cleats wore the wouldn't release.
I loved the Times, but for some reason started having problems breaking the bars when I started riding SS. I switch to CB Eggbeaters, was happy with them until the pedal body decided it didn't like being bolted to the spindle on two different pairs (oddly within a week or so), and went back to Times.
I built up a 1x8 as an experiment with gears, and switched back to the CBs to save some weight (almost a 1/2 pound lighter than ATACs), but when race season comes around I'll probably go back to the Times.

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