Time ATAC models?

Looking to go to clipless pedals, ride with SPD-SLs on the road bike but the general consensus seems to be that they are no good for fixed.

Have been looking at ATACS and want to know:

What is the difference between ATAC alium, ATAC XS and Roc ATAC?
They all use the same retention system?
(Is it just a weight and shape thing?)

Leaning towards the Roc ATACs as I would probably be inclined to get sets for both bikes and they seem to be used by more roadies?

All of the above is really just guess work though.
Share wisdom please.

P.S Did a search and couldn’t find answers - appologies if it’s been done before!

I ride fixed with a pair of SPD pedals. I don’t get what the fuss is about. I came out once then i tightened up the adjustment a bit. Why don’t you try the SPD’s before you but something else, sounds like you already have the goods too.

Thanks,

You ride with SPD or SPD-SL?

I have put these pedals on the bike for a bit - but I am tentative in them. Did a sprint test for a phd student and pulled out twice on an excercise bike (I think I need new cleats, but not the point) so I don’t trust them to skid etc in.

Go to the Time website for the lowdown and see for yourself

http://www.time-sport.com/

What I know…

Aliums are the most basic and heavier of the three. I have them on my roadie and love em. I will prolly get another set for fixed.

Roc ATAC have a wider platform and are slightly lighter

ATAC XS have adjustable spring tension and are lighter again. The wire that catches the cleat has a slightly different cross section (ROCs might too can’t remember) although the cleat is the same.

I’ve got 2 sets of ATAC XS one on the MTB, one on the ‘fix.ie’. It is said they better than SPDs for riding fixed because the rear gate is solid (whereas the rear gate is sprung on SPDs) so it is much harder to unclip while pulling up vertically/skiding. Having said that - I never used SPDs on fixed because I started using them years ago when I was only riding MTB. I noticed on the MTB that involuntary unclippings were much less common with ATACs. With SPDs there comes a point were the spring tension is so loose you can pull out at will. At this same loose spring tension on ATACs, you won’t be able to pull out.

I’ve never seen a roadie with ATACs… but with the stiffness of soles these days the size of the pedal platform is less about performance and more about preference. There’s no reason you couldn’t use ATACs on a road bike. City riders/couriers use MTB pedals because walking in SPD-SLs is crap.

I use SPD-SLs on the track bike and have never had a problem. I’d say that most of the riders at my track use SPD-SLs without straps, certainly during training.

i think nickcee rides atacs on his roadie. just saying. but i could be wrong.

Thanks all.

Just triggered a set of the basic ones to start with :slight_smile:

Will see how they go and then pick up a set of the fancy ones later.

They all pretty much have the same mechanisms, difference comes down to weight and appearance. Don’t think shaving 100g on your bike will make much difference ay Simon? :wink:

also, +1 to SPDs for fixed, I know a few people who do it and so long as you keep the tension up tight it should be fine.

Haha, 100g on my bike is a ~0.001% weight reduction!

(had fancy ones in mind more for roadie)

even at ridiculous tension levels I was coming unclipped using SPD’s when skidding. It all boils down to differences in technique, more specifically how much you pull up over pushing down.

Since getting my ATAC’s it’s never happened.

They are FUCKING ugly and heavy tho if you’re a bit of a namby pamby and care about that stuff, i’m considering swapping for some crank bros eggbeaters, which I hear have a similar mechanism.

I think it does come down to technique as well. When I started with Atacs I remember clipping out quite a bit, but that was because I developed a bad habit of twisting my ankles when I was riding with clips + straps.

In order to stop clipping out I swapped the cleats around so that it had less float which consequently makes it significantly harder to clip out. Haven’t really had an issue since.

More float means you need to twist further in order to clip out… wouldn’t that mean that less float = easier to clip out?

Not necessarily, this is a common misconception, its much tighter with less float and requires more force to clip it out, whereas the lower float setting has less tension and pops out easily.

if that makes sense…

If float is adjusted by flipping the cleat, the tension (generated presumably by the springs in the mech) stays the same?

Sorry, but I disagree completely and that is contrary to the concept of the pedals:

Exactly.

you are right, but its because im lazy and dont want to run multiple pedals and shoes between bikes. oh and i am too slow to care about the extra weight/performance decrease between road pedals and mtb pedals, or i have more important things to work on.

Ok, so I ripped out the instruction manual and you guys are right.
theres two degrees of float, done by swapping the cleat.

  1. 13degree release angle for beginning or recreational cycling:
    Which is what i started with, and clipped out on several occasions.

  2. 17degree release angle for competition cycle:
    Which is what I’m running now and haven’t had any problems with.

I’ve got 3 pairs of Alium’s, Roady, Fix and polo. Great pedals, i used to ride with SPD but they feel like shit compared to the Time.

I have had pair of alium’s for 3 weeks. Awesome pedals terrible finish but awesome function. Been riding spd’s for the last 15 years with no problem but noticed riding fixed would pop out at the worst times. I tried crank brothers but found they had too much float and felt like i was going to fall out all the time.

The only bad thing that I have noticed is i am getting a little more knee pain since i have been riding them. maybe my knee has not developed the correct stabilizing muscles to deal with the float. Any ideas as i thought the more float the better?