Time Xen Pedals

gkerr4

I have a bit of a knee injury at the moment which is hampering my mileage - in fact i went out this morning for the first time in months.

anyway - i was contemplating a change to time RXS pedals for their lateral float - they seem to receive a few positive comments from people with less than perfect knee's. I currently have SPD-SLs

anyway - looking for the RXS i notice they do a cheaper model called 'Xen' - has anyone got any experience of them? are they the same cleat as RXS just a cheaper pedal? are they a newer or an older model than the RXS? they seem to have the same lateral and angular float characteristics as the RXS.


any thoughts?

thanks,

Graham

Mettan

gkerr4 wrote:

are they a newer or an older model than the RXS? they seem to have the same lateral and angular float characteristics as the RXS.


any thoughts?

thanks,

Graham

They're newer - the Xen, Xen E & Xen S are all 2008 pedals - haven't tried them but am thinking of giving them a try after SPD SL's (current).

gundersen

As far as I know they have the same cleats as the rx series
The only difference is the pedal height from centre of axle to shoe. The rx series are closer to the shoe

I use the rx series and have been using Time pedals for about 20 years because of the freedom of movement compaired to Look style pedals (shimano)

Philcart

If it's any help, I had knee surgery 2 years ago, and the surgeon, who is also a cyclist recommended TIME pedals because they give the most lateral and angular float He uses them. I took his advice, and have been using the ATAC version ever since for touring and commuting without any problems, and am thinking of getting some XEN ones for my road bike. I find entry and exit much easier than Shimano SPD I had before.

Phil

gkerr4

so is the general feeling that I should try the xen ones as a cheaper entry route to the 'time' float experience?

Or would i be missing out on an important feature by going for xen over the rxs?

gundersen

"THEY" say that the closer the shoe is to the pedal axle the better the power transmission.

I have no idea.

gkerr4

ok..

so I bought a set of the std Xen pedals - got them from wiggle for £30 which seemed ok and I knew I could trust wiggle to get them shipped quick.

ordered yesterday and arrived this morning - how crap do they look???

I know they are time's entry level pedal and are only £30 - but they look and feel about a fivers worth - at most! - they are just plain grey plastic with sharp edges where they have been poorly moulded / not finished.

in contrast my current shimano SPD-SL 5610 (105) pedals - the new shape SPD-SL's - are also £30 and are a work of art - aluminium bodies, neat well finished plastic parts - nice.

are the more expensive RXS pedals better finished? are I asking too much? I'll give these a go on the bike but if I like them then I will need to upgrade - i'm not leaving these things on the Roubaix - they look like the fell out of a cheap christmas cracker!

sps137

i agree with you on the 'quality' issue, I have a white set and they looked awful after only one ride (ingrained dirt), and they just feel cheap. However, they do give good float and are pretty forgiving on your knees.

jason74

I have just got some of these pedals after many years with look ones. I have found theses new ones extremely difficult to engage but too easily exit. I have adjusted the allen key bolt settings to make exit harder but not sure as to how to make engaging easier, any advice would be appreciated.

gkerr4

i agree with you!

they are very difficult to engage after my SPD-SL's - and far too easy to disengage

I don;'t have any adjustment on mine - you must have posher models than me.........

The give a nice 'floaty' feeling right enough and I'm going to see how I get on with them.

redddraggon

Are they safe/strong enough to keep your feet attached during a powerful sprint?

jason74

I am hoping that its just a case of getting used to them, it seems a bit strange to have so much movement while clipped in, it makes you feel as though you might accidently unclip as you start to pedal harder ie sprints/uphill, and then not be able to clip back in.

gkerr4

i just gave them their first run out - just a gentle 14 miles - no sprints as I am supposedly recovering from a knee injury / nursing a dodgy knee.

however - there was the odd bit of out-of-the-saddle 'go' to deal with traffic and they felt remarkably secure - in fact, the best comment I can make is that you forget they are there - you have the freedom of movement but still able to pull forcibly up if you wanted to and overall you simply forget that they are there!

They are difficult to get into though but once in the click-in with a satisfying metallic clunk

easy to get out of though and again, very definate metallic clunk to unclip.

i'll keep them for a bit - for the difficulty they cause tring to get into them - they make up for in comfort while in use.

gkerr4

hmm - i'm quite taken with these things - they feel great in use!

so much so that the SPD M520's on my fixed gear felt awful tonight - they felt very restrictive and 'tight' - i am now wondering what the time ATAC's are like - does anyone know if the ATAC range used the recessed cleat like SPD's so I can put them on the shoes that I walk in?

sps137

yes, i've used ATAC's on most of my bikes. They are very similar to standard MTB cleats (i.e. recessed) but with the advantages of plenty of float. I actually prefer them to the xens in normall use but for long rides (50m+) I'm gratefull for the extra support of the Xens.

gkerr4

oh right - you have both thats interesting.

which ATAC's do you have - the regular ones? or the alliums? - the regular ones seem to have been replaced by the 'ROC' range - don't suppose you know anything about them do you?

thanks,

Graham

gkerr4

i'm updating this post in case anyone cares and to help them avoid a similar mistake..

you may, like me, have a set of Xen / RXS time pedals on your roadbike and think they are the business - comfy, floaty forget-they-are-there loveliness.

DO NOT think that that attacs will have the same feel as the rxs' but in a concealed cleat version - they do not!

I ordered a set of the ROC ATTACS on monday, they came yesterday (good ole wiggle) - fitted them last night and within about 200 yards i knew I had made a terrible mistake - they are so springy they just hold your foot in the "straight ahead" position - regardless of you actually want to have your feet on the pedals (i know I need to be heels in slightly)

you can actually twist your foot - they do have a degree of 'float' - but you have to constantly fight the spring in a lower-leg twisting motion to move your feet - completely ruining any protection of the knees you were seeking.

very annoyed!

anyone want a set of Roc ATTAC 'S" pedals?
- going cheap..

sps137

sorry graham, a little late on my reply. I have the alliums (4 pairs now) and I've not experienced the issues you have with the ROC's. I 'heel in' quite substantially and have not noticed the springiness you describe, whether this is down to a change on the ROCs or just a difference in expectations between us I couldn't say. I'm hoping the latter as it would be a shame if time have wrecked a good design

SteveR_100Milers

I have been using RXE/RXS pedals for last 2 years on both summer and winter bike. Great in use, lots of float (and on the RXS and above you can adjust the resistance in the lateral plane which helps if you have really knackered knees).
The big problem with them is engaging them is very difficult. I have even late started TT's because I couldnt get my cleat in despite 30 frantic seconds of trying. Don't ever stop on a steep hill! I think it's because the cleats wear so quickly, and in this respect they are utter crap. So much so, that I am thinking of switching all my pedals to either SPD-SL's or Look Keo (which I have used on a track bike many times)

That said, once enaged I have never managed to pull out of them, and you do need to give your ankle a good twist to disengage, to the point where its easy to miss it and fall off :oops:

Madcyclepath

I've been riding atac pedals on my mtb and commuter for a while now after I started having knee problems (originating from running).

They've been great, really secure (no accidental unclipping like I've experienced on spds when bunny hopping) and lots of float. I've been using the bottom of the range Aliums and I don't know if it's a feature of the whole range but the pedal body is a little chunky and may foul the tread on mtb/leisure shoes - I've had the same problem on 2 different pairs of shoes but I'm in the process of cutting the tread down around the cleat hole to allow for better movement.

I've been thinking of switching from old style look pedals on my road bike too and have been thinking time xens but have been a little confused as to whether keos, eggbeaters or speedplays might also be good.

Think I'm gonna stick with time for the lateral float.

alan_sherman

I think it's because the cleats wear so quickly, and in this respect they are utter crap.

I'd have to disagree completely with the above statement. The RXS cleats only wear ont eh cafe pads (ie.e. the bits you walk on). the engagement and contact surfaces don't seem to wear appreciably at all. I've been riding the same cleats for 4 years approx 12,000 miles and the only part that is apprreciably worn is the walking pads.

fluff.

Madcyclepath wrote:

IThey've been great, really secure (no accidental unclipping like I've experienced on spds when bunny hopping) and lots of float. I've been using the bottom of the range Aliums and I don't know if it's a feature of the whole range but the pedal body is a little chunky and may foul the tread on mtb/leisure shoes - I've had the same problem on 2 different pairs of shoes but I'm in the process of cutting the tread down around the cleat hole to allow for better movement.

I use the Aliums on 2 of my bikes, and the lighter / more cut away XS models on my poshest machine, which would probably be easier to fit into cleat recess that the Alium. I know the `instructions' with Spesh BG shoes makes special mention that you may have to cut away the sole for ATACs though.

Rich-Ti

Roc ATACs on my MTB and I love them. Had Xens on my road bike last week and didn't get on with them, although I had RXS on a previous road bike and loved them (but my buyer tells me they shattered on an uphill).

8)

Croxted Avenger

alan sherman wrote:

I think it's because the cleats wear so quickly, and in this respect they are utter crap.

I'd have to disagree completely with the above statement. The RXS cleats only wear ont eh cafe pads (ie.e. the bits you walk on). the engagement and contact surfaces don't seem to wear appreciably at all. I've been riding the same cleats for 4 years approx 12,000 miles and the only part that is apprreciably worn is the walking pads.

Totally agree - not had to replace the cleats in 2 years and about 5k miles. If anything the engagement gets easier over time (maybe through experience). Comapre that to x2 sets of Look freearc cleats a year (and they were a b*gg3r to walk on too).

I have the old composite bodies ATACs on my commuter too - great pedals and after trying them after SPDs I was amazed Shimano are still in the pedal business...such is the power of marketing.

shoei

Whats the build quality like on Time Xens?
Read reviews of the front snapping off.
Not the lightest of riders (just over 15 stone) but the thought of the front snapping off does slightly worry me.

gkerr4

they are ok-ish

I can't see the front snapping off - they aren't that bad a build quality - anyway wasn't that the early RXS models?

They do look crap though - just really cheap looking plastic
- I have the basic Xen models - I was devastated y how shit they look. I bought them as I was building up my new S-Works campag build roubiax - i remember getting them at work and one of my non-cycling colleagues coming in and seing them on my desk and saying how smart they were - only for a cycling friend to walk in and say "you're not putting them on that new Roubaix are you ????"

sums it up really.

Nickodemus

I went from Dura ace spd-sl's to RSX ULTeam Ti Carbons and love them to bits! Like has already been said i did find them really tricky to get in, but i recently cleaned the whole bike and ended up getting some of that spray lube stuff on the pedals....clipping in is so much easier now! Was a bit worried about them slipping out, but have given them a good testing on a TT and some sprints up hills and stuff, and they're as secure as ever. Might be worth a try for those really struggling....

shoei

Looking at replacing my M520's and Xens seem to get the nod regards float.
How do Xen's compare to Look Keo classic's regards float?