I think I got had?

[Tek]

Or maybe not.

I was told to get some Time ATAC pedals because they would be better than my SPD's

So I go up on ebay and I got these:

Time ATAC ALUMIN

And I put them on my bike with the new cleats and they are the WORSE EVER. I am so scared taht I am going to break my ankle and they are much harder to get out of... (and I got these for X-racing ..btw.. I am a newbie)

So look and see they say ALIUM and not ATAC on there anywhere. So is there a differnce? Can I complain? Did I mess up? Do I just no know what I am doing?

I have the cleats on the correct shoes but I am about to change them just in case.

Please help. Thanks!

[snapdragen]

I don't think you got had, the Alium just means they are aluminium. Can't help you much more, here is a web page, maybe it'll help?

http://www.timesportusa.com/aliumdata.html

[Tek]

Thanks for helping me out

UGh... them maybe I am the only one in the world who hates these? I thought they were supposed to be so much better than Shimanos.

[pedalfaster]

I think this is one of those matter-of-opinion things. Everyone swears by his or her pedal system.

Like saddles, it's a personal thing.

What did you feel was *wrong* with your SPDs? What advantages where you hoping to gain from the ATACs?

People who tend to rave about ATACs usuall ride/race in muddy areas. They tout their mud-shedding abilities. The downside can be that it takes awhile to adjust to the "point of release". It's a bit different from the SPD.

I dunno...but after years riding and many muddy races, I've pretty much accepted the fact that all mtb pedals clog in the mud.

[Tek]

My SPDs sometimes "lock" even whit the tension adjusted. For example, if I put my full weight on a pedal.. say for like a dismount on the fly, I can feel my foot REALLY lock into the pedal and it takes a lot of effort to unlock-

Not good in traffic nor a cyclocross race.

I swear that these pedals are for people who must have stiff ankels or something. My ankle just twists and there is only so much twisting I can do.

I am having a lot of second thoughts about doing this cyclocross race. Its my first one and its getting to late for me to screw around with pedals and I have already slammed my kneecaps too many time. When I get it right and my pedals are okay, I can get off the bike- not fast (I am not expecting to win here, just finish) but I can do it.

But when I lock in..., =( I get hurt.

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Tek
I am having a lot of second thoughts about doing this cyclocross race. Its my first one and its getting to late for me to screw around with pedals and I have already slammed my kneecaps too many time. When I get it right and my pedals are okay, I can get off the bike- not fast (I am not expecting to win here, just finish) but I can do it.

But when I lock in..., =( I get hurt.

Uh-oh. When is the race?

First-race tips here.

Note #3.

How much time do you have to learn the new pedal system?

If the answer is "tomorrow", you'd probably (IMHO) be better off switching back to the SPDs, warts and all. At least they are a known quantity.

What you can do: disengage the cleat on your left foot (if you swing your right leg over on the dismount) right before the run-up/barrier. The nice thing about about a 'cross course is that it is short and predictable (in other words you know exactly when and where you will be getting off the bike on each lap). This way you won't have the problem of having to disengage under load.

Good luck whatever you decide!

[Tek]

Next Sunday.

I was actually thinking about taking the cleats off one side just to make sure that I have a free leg.

We'll see. I'll try the atacs again tomorrow and if I just can't do it, back to SPD until summer.

Criteriums, road races... it don't think it would bother me. For this, it will.

Maybe my ankle is just hyper flexible for atacs?

[massbikebabe]

The very first clipless pedals I ever used were Time and I darn near killed myself trying to get in and out of the things. Fortunately my LBS took them back and I opted for Shimano cleat/pedal type system which I ADORE because I ride thru a ton of traffic to get to my open road ride...once free I click in and I am gone... Sorry you had bad luck with the Time's, my husband and son really like them...

karen

[JanT]

My first clipless pedals were the TIME Aliums, which my mtn biking instructor swore by. I swore AT them for a year before I switched to SPD's which are adjustable. I'll never go back. People like the TIME's because they shed mud well. But I found them difficult to get out of. I was told to be patient, that they loosen up over time. Not enough for me. Even after a year, I still had falls as a result of being unable to unclip and put a foot down. This no longer happens with the SPD's. Since your pedals are so new, maybe you can take them back and exchange them. Or sell them on Ebay. Or, just let them sit in a box in the garage, like I do.

[emily_in_nc]

Tek,

It sounds like the Time pedals could cause you to injure your ankle if you're having such a hard time disengaging. Not to mention scrape yourself up if you fall.... Is there any tension adjustment on them you could loosen? If not, you might want to cut your losses and resell them on eBay. I've found that used bike gear sells quite well there and you'll often get close to full price if something is very lightly used.

You might want to give Eggbeater pedals a try. I got mine (Eggbeater Candy SLs) on eBay for a good price, and I absolutely love them. They are a breeze to clip out of. I mostly ride on the road but one of their big selling points is that they are supposed to be very good at mud-shedding. I found them a bit harder than my Speedplays to clip into at first, but once I cut away a bit of the tread on my new and very thick-soled MTB shoes (these pedals are on my touring bike), I had no further problems. I really like these pedals!

Good luck,
Emily in NC

[Tek]

Thanks.

I am thinking these pedals might cause me injury too. I am very flexible so my ankle doesn't want to "lock out" but turn with them.

Its pretty bad. I just thought these were going to be the be all and end all of greatness, ya know?

And I am thinking about getting a proper road bike over the winter as well as a track bike and the people I cycle with all seem to use LOOK on those bikes.

I am so new to it all.. But I now MISS my SPD....

Oh well, you live and you learn.

[han-grrl]

i don't know much about time pedals, but i do know that the cleats can be put in one direction for "hard" and one direction for "easy". maybe you need to turn your cleat around? my one friend had a nightmare of a problem with his time pedals and realized the cleats were on the "hard" side ...

[Tek]

Yeah, I switched them already to see. That was funny but not funny.

Fell over in my house, it was even worse if that is possible.

Dog thought I was crazy... or maybe she was sniffing me when I fell over to see if I was dead yet and she could finally eat me. Never know with her...

[CorsairMac]

roflmao - oh thank you so much for my afternoon giggles! I Gotta stop reading this board at work - I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. I'm sorry Tek - but I've done that too - fallen over on my bike inside my house - and both my dogs (read 50+ lbs apiece) were So excited I was on Their level - I think they thought it was a new game! Sorry I can't help you with your pedal situation - I ride on SPDs and Love them. also, very Very good luck on your Sunday ride! Be sure and let us know how you did!

[Twice Daily]

So you still have your SPD's?

I did my 1st x-race 2 weeks ago and my spd's were great...so easy to clip in and out of on the fly...mud, sand, dirt, gravel, and grass didn't seem to clog them up enough to make a difference...

I watched a UCI x-race last weekend (men's pro) and all the guys had either spd or egg beater...

I've never used the eggbeater pedals...

My very novice suggestion is to put those spd's back on because you're going to be terrified and silly on adrealine...familiar pedals will be one less thing to worry about...