Time ATAC XC 6 pedal review
Clipless pedals with consistent action and a competitive weight
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Our test team includes a few die-hard Time exponents, all of whom have long extolled the virtue of increased float on both their knee health and maneuverability on the bike. The Time twin-bar system is quite unlike the sprung jaws of the Shimano SPD-type of clipless pedal, and does allow a certain amount more freedom to the rider.
Combining 5mm lateral ‘slide’ on the bars with 5 degrees of float makes them feel like they have acres of room to move around, in fact, so much so that being more used to Shimano it just felt insecure at first, being unused to the available movement.
A solid ‘thunk’ replaces the more familiar ‘snap’ of the Shimano system when entering and leaving the pedals, but it is an action that I found was rarely affected by mud. The worst I had to resort to was giving them a hefty kick in some really sticky conditions, and that cleared the problem.
Using them in ice and snow has proved similarly successful too, conditions that have stopped SPDs in their tracks, rendering them an iced-up mess completely unwilling to receive the cleat.
It is important that the entry is so easy because I have found on more than one occasion the pedal profile rolls easily under your shoe if you don’t manage to clip in – a problem solved for more trail-oriented riders by the caged Speciale version.
After several months of riding, any concern I may have had over the durability of the composite pedal body on the XC6 has long since disappeared. It just keeps flogging on despite numerous trail impacts and shoe flailing, only now looking a little tired, with the, let’s face it, impractical white finish a little tarnished.
For the extremely competitive weight and consistent action I found them an excellent option, not only reserved for those that suffer from knee problems.
