I've been using variations of the ATAC for 17 years. Right now, I have them on all my bikes, road, commuter, gravel, and mountain, the XC6 on 3 bikes and XC12's on 2. Just a fantastic platform. A better way to identify if your Time Pedal does not show the L or R, some do, I know the XC6 does not, the taller\larger of the 2 bars will always be facing forward, so that is much easier to remember than looking for the small indention on the body.
@@UmunhumCycleworks Not really, they are older, pre SRAM, but I think the mechanism is a little smoother, but that could just be me justifying the cost 😁
Haha, we all have to justify our expensive purchases. I'm a little mad at myself for not taking advantage of the Black Friday sale on the XC12s I found - they were like $120 or $130@@justsomedude7556
@justsomedude7556 Hi, I have just got new Time XC pedals and I have noticed there is a very slight play in the spindle. So when I grab pedal with one hand and spindle/thread with other one and move it up and down, I can feel a minimal play. Could you tell me please if that’s ok?
Time ATACs have been my go-to for clipless since the late 90's. I grew-up in western Pennsylvania and their mud-shedding was so far superior to anything else at the time made them a revelation. These days I usually ride flats, but that's manly due to my riding changing to more aggressive DH and, ironically, I just don't feel as connected to the bike with clipless as a good pair of modern flats with good shoes (probably due to how much float the ATACs have).
I love my Times - I was hard core SPD until a few years ago, and now SPDs just feel weird compared to the ATACs. Not too muddy where I live, but I love the float and then feeling of the clipping in/out. Admittedly, I'm not great a riding flats. I feel like my feel will slip off on more aggressive terrain, but I also don't have any dedicated MTB flat shoes. Maybe I'll have to look into that for my Ripmo as I've definitely gotten myself into a few situations where being clipped in results in a fall when I would've been able to step off with flat pedals.
Man!! What a great review. Direct and informative. I’ve been using ATAC’S for 15 years and love them (for the most part) but I’m considering replacing my road bike speedplays with ATAC’S as well and just having one expensive shoe, rather than two mid range.
@@richardgill9484 hi Richard ,well good question , I’ve only had a pair of Atac 6 for six months but the 8s I’ve had a long time with no worries so no real answer yet. Sorry
I made the switch in the latter part of the cross season and I am way happier on the XC6 than the Shimano 520 or 540s. They feel more comfy to me, and easier to get out of than SPDs.
I have a set of ATAC XC2 pedals. They're the cheapest ATACs you can get. So they aren't tension adjustable. But I reckon they perform as good as the XC8 carbons a friend of mine passed on to me. I ride on the road so I can't comment on their mud performance. But they are great on the road and I can walk in my shoes if I need to. BTW: I recommend getting the EASY cleats. They are an absolute breeze to get out of. The regular cleats occasionally hang me up. But the EASY cleats are perfect every time. If you buy the cheapest ATAC XC2s, you get the easy cleats with them. BONUS! Cheers
Thank you for the tip on getting the 6 model. Was looking at the 4 model due price but all it is just a lighter 2 model. So go 2 or go 6. Spilt between the the MX or XC version to get? Looking at time pedals for my cx/gravel/general use bikes. One of my CB quattro springs just failed and pulled off the acid 1 of my single speed bike when getting home with assorted CB pedals still useable in case of emergency. Been using CB candy, acid, and quattro over 10years. Went to CB after mud/sand clogged shimano pedal in a cx race. But too many spring breaks from use has gotten tired of getting new pedals when ever it happens. A mix of long term use of shimano pedals with the ease of use of CB is the thinking now.
If it's for gravel / cx, definitely go with the XC over the MX. I have the MX on my Ripmo, and they're great, but not needed on an xc or gravel bike. Mine have been super bomb proof - I have them on all of my off-road bikes now!
Thanks for this one! I am considering the time pedals for what is probably a different reason to most! I want to make some custom clip in shoes and the cleat height of the time cleats is much smaller than any other cleat out there.
Awesome pedals,i use the XC2's but i do find it it easier to clip in on the older style round bar bindings than these flat one's but still they are an excellent durable pedal system.💯👌🏻✌🏻🚴♂️
I like these pedals, but for some reason they creak badly... especially in dusty conditions and its extremely annoying. I have tried absolutely everything to stop the creaking but no luck. I'm pretty sure its coming from the composite body of the pedal rubbing on the composite soul of the shoes. It happens on both Sidi and Giro shoes. Any advice would be appreciated.
@@RicardoTalamantes Yes a little chain lube does solve the problem temporarily for me too, but the moment I unclip and step into a bit of moon dust the creaking starts again. However I did finally discover a permanent solution with the help of @UmunhumCycleworks The trick, for me at least, is running Crank Bros shoe shields. This way the interface is metal rather than composite. And then I also run the silicone lubricant from Finish Line which is much longer lasting than chain lube. And between the two I've gone all season with no more creaking in my ATAC pedals!
I I still have my first attack pedals that I bought 1995 and they're still going strong but an upgraded to the newer models on all my bikes would not ride with anything else.
Definitely one of the limitations of this system if you're a more aggressive rider. I mostly use them on XC trails, so no issues for me, but I do see how that could be an issue for DH use.
This pedal destroyed my knee!! Second ride and i was miles out when I started noticing a pain id never had before, and ive been a life long cyclist. It was excruciating pain i felt like my knee was going to tear or something. I switched back to flats but now i always have a pain when I ride 😡
@@UmunhumCycleworks I have speedplays on my road bike those never gave me any problems. Could it be my knee has gotten "weak" from not cycling through the winter months? I did some stretches and exercises and I got out a couple times in row this week, today I was sprinting and I had no pain.
@@webmenacee It is possible the stack height and spindle length could require some saddle adjustments. I built up a new bike a couple of years ago and failed to adjust my saddle as I bought a 170 length cranks versus 172 and about 60 miles in my knees were burning in pain. Once I adjusted my saddle, all was golden. Also, my my understanding, although I have never used them, is that Speedplays have a fairly low stack height, ATAC's have a fairly tall one, so you probably need to adjust your saddle position.
@@justsomedude7556 I had also watched a gmbn video were they recommended the cleats be in the center of the shoe. Little did I know that was too far back and my knees where in a horrible position. So I compared my flat pedal shoes with my clipless shoes and I saw I rode mostly on my toes/ the front of my foot not in the center. Gmbn gave horrible advice. So yeah I solved the pain issue.
I've been using variations of the ATAC for 17 years. Right now, I have them on all my bikes, road, commuter, gravel, and mountain, the XC6 on 3 bikes and XC12's on 2. Just a fantastic platform. A better way to identify if your Time Pedal does not show the L or R, some do, I know the XC6 does not, the taller\larger of the 2 bars will always be facing forward, so that is much easier to remember than looking for the small indention on the body.
Great tip! I'll have to remember that.
How do you like the XC12s? Any noticeable difference besides the weight?
@@UmunhumCycleworks Not really, they are older, pre SRAM, but I think the mechanism is a little smoother, but that could just be me justifying the cost 😁
Haha, we all have to justify our expensive purchases. I'm a little mad at myself for not taking advantage of the Black Friday sale on the XC12s I found - they were like $120 or $130@@justsomedude7556
@@UmunhumCycleworks that is a great price.
@justsomedude7556 Hi, I have just got new Time XC pedals and I have noticed there is a very slight play in the spindle. So when I grab pedal with one hand and spindle/thread with other one and move it up and down, I can feel a minimal play. Could you tell me please if that’s ok?
Time ATACs have been my go-to for clipless since the late 90's. I grew-up in western Pennsylvania and their mud-shedding was so far superior to anything else at the time made them a revelation.
These days I usually ride flats, but that's manly due to my riding changing to more aggressive DH and, ironically, I just don't feel as connected to the bike with clipless as a good pair of modern flats with good shoes (probably due to how much float the ATACs have).
I love my Times - I was hard core SPD until a few years ago, and now SPDs just feel weird compared to the ATACs. Not too muddy where I live, but I love the float and then feeling of the clipping in/out.
Admittedly, I'm not great a riding flats. I feel like my feel will slip off on more aggressive terrain, but I also don't have any dedicated MTB flat shoes. Maybe I'll have to look into that for my Ripmo as I've definitely gotten myself into a few situations where being clipped in results in a fall when I would've been able to step off with flat pedals.
Man!! What a great review. Direct and informative.
I’ve been using ATAC’S for 15 years and love them (for the most part) but I’m considering replacing my road bike speedplays with ATAC’S as well and just having one expensive shoe, rather than two mid range.
Thank you! Yeah, I really love mine. I'm still hoping that SRAM will make a power meter version of them!
Gotta say, got these time Atac 6 and 8pedals.(8years plus)
Definitely the best pedals I’ve used glad to see I’m not the only one who thinks it
I've ridden the Atac 6 for a few years and wonder if the Atac 8 is worth twice the price. I'd appreciate your thoughts please.
@@richardgill9484 hi Richard ,well good question , I’ve only had a pair of Atac 6 for six months but the 8s I’ve had a long time with no worries so no real answer yet. Sorry
I made the switch in the latter part of the cross season and I am way happier on the XC6 than the Shimano 520 or 540s. They feel more comfy to me, and easier to get out of than SPDs.
That was my experience as well! I much prefer the clip in / clip out on the ATACs compared to Shimano.
I've had a pair of Time Alium pedals for 20 years and they're still awesome. Finally wearing out so now we're looking at the updates finally.
I have a set of ATAC XC2 pedals. They're the cheapest ATACs you can get. So they aren't tension adjustable. But I reckon they perform as good as the XC8 carbons a friend of mine passed on to me.
I ride on the road so I can't comment on their mud performance. But they are great on the road and I can walk in my shoes if I need to.
BTW: I recommend getting the EASY cleats. They are an absolute breeze to get out of.
The regular cleats occasionally hang me up. But the EASY cleats are perfect every time.
If you buy the cheapest ATAC XC2s, you get the easy cleats with them. BONUS!
Cheers
Thank you for the tip on getting the 6 model. Was looking at the 4 model due price but all it is just a lighter 2 model. So go 2 or go 6. Spilt between the the MX or XC version to get? Looking at time pedals for my cx/gravel/general use bikes. One of my CB quattro springs just failed and pulled off the acid 1 of my single speed bike when getting home with assorted CB pedals still useable in case of emergency. Been using CB candy, acid, and quattro over 10years. Went to CB after mud/sand clogged shimano pedal in a cx race. But too many spring breaks from use has gotten tired of getting new pedals when ever it happens. A mix of long term use of shimano pedals with the ease of use of CB is the thinking now.
If it's for gravel / cx, definitely go with the XC over the MX. I have the MX on my Ripmo, and they're great, but not needed on an xc or gravel bike.
Mine have been super bomb proof - I have them on all of my off-road bikes now!
Thanks for this one! I am considering the time pedals for what is probably a different reason to most! I want to make some custom clip in shoes and the cleat height of the time cleats is much smaller than any other cleat out there.
Awesome pedals,i use the XC2's but i do find it it easier to clip in on the older style round bar bindings than these flat one's but still they are an excellent durable pedal system.💯👌🏻✌🏻🚴♂️
I haven't tried the vintage ones yet - do they use the same cleats?
@@UmunhumCycleworks Yeah,the same 13/17 cleats.👍🏻
I like these pedals, but for some reason they creak badly... especially in dusty conditions and its extremely annoying. I have tried absolutely everything to stop the creaking but no luck.
I'm pretty sure its coming from the composite body of the pedal rubbing on the composite soul of the shoes. It happens on both Sidi and Giro shoes.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Have you tried a little silicone lubricant on the cleats? Finish Line sells a spray specifically for this application.
I have the same problem, but you can just apply squirt chain lube and the creaking sound is gone
@@RicardoTalamantes Yes a little chain lube does solve the problem temporarily for me too, but the moment I unclip and step into a bit of moon dust the creaking starts again.
However I did finally discover a permanent solution with the help of @UmunhumCycleworks
The trick, for me at least, is running Crank Bros shoe shields. This way the interface is metal rather than composite. And then I also run the silicone lubricant from Finish Line which is much longer lasting than chain lube. And between the two I've gone all season with no more creaking in my ATAC pedals!
@@RicardoTalamantesi do exactly the same! Squirt is a form of wax so it lubes but doesnt attract dirt.
I I still have my first attack pedals that I bought 1995 and they're still going strong but an upgraded to the newer models on all my bikes would not ride with anything else.
The XC6 is very vulnerable to a pedal strike compared to the ATAC pedals from twenty years ago. I destroyed mine on the first ride.
Definitely one of the limitations of this system if you're a more aggressive rider. I mostly use them on XC trails, so no issues for me, but I do see how that could be an issue for DH use.
400 miles 😂 it’s one week of riding
This pedal destroyed my knee!! Second ride and i was miles out when I started noticing a pain id never had before, and ive been a life long cyclist. It was excruciating pain i felt like my knee was going to tear or something. I switched back to flats but now i always have a pain when I ride 😡
Usually people report less knee pain with these - have you used other clipless pedals before the Times?
@@UmunhumCycleworks I have speedplays on my road bike those never gave me any problems. Could it be my knee has gotten "weak" from not cycling through the winter months? I did some stretches and exercises and I got out a couple times in row this week, today I was sprinting and I had no pain.
@@webmenacee It is possible the stack height and spindle length could require some saddle adjustments. I built up a new bike a couple of years ago and failed to adjust my saddle as I bought a 170 length cranks versus 172 and about 60 miles in my knees were burning in pain. Once I adjusted my saddle, all was golden. Also, my my understanding, although I have never used them, is that Speedplays have a fairly low stack height, ATAC's have a fairly tall one, so you probably need to adjust your saddle position.
@@webmenacee Yea, just looked it up, Speedplay Stack Height is 11.5, Time is 19mm, so adjust your saddle and you should be ok.
@@justsomedude7556 I had also watched a gmbn video were they recommended the cleats be in the center of the shoe. Little did I know that was too far back and my knees where in a horrible position. So I compared my flat pedal shoes with my clipless shoes and I saw I rode mostly on my toes/ the front of my foot not in the center. Gmbn gave horrible advice. So yeah I solved the pain issue.