There is a small fly in the ointment before I get too excited. The XC 8’s appear to suffer from the infamous ‘Time creak’ which on this pair has just started at 6 months on the left. It’s an odd noise and I’m not sure if it’s the shoe sole creaking on a dry pedal mechanism or a creak from the internals. Light lube applied to the mechanism (you can actually get cleat lube from Finish Line) seems to prevent the noise in some cases and I’ve also found that flipping the pedal over 180˚ on a climb can stop it, but not always. Whether it annoys you is very subjective, but I’d prefer it wasn’t there, and is a shame in an otherwise perfect score sheet. In terms of serviceability Time will ask you to talk to a SRAM-approved dealer should you need bearing changes and the like as they are classified as a sealed pedal which is definitely less home mechanic friendly than the Hope or Crank Brothers approach. ATAC cleats are available in two options, a 10° "ATAC Easy" option that is easier to disengage from, and recommended for riders new to clipless pedals, and standard ATAC cleats. The standard ATAC cleats have a 13° or 17° release angle. Adjust the angle by changing the orientation of the cleat installation. Like all Timemountain bike pedals, the ATACMX8s employ Time’s Auto Tension Adjustment Concept (hence the acronym name ATAC). The idea behind ATAC is to provide a system which allowsoptimal rotational and optimal float along with a wide entry window and secure cleat retention, all while maximizing power transfer. The springs themselves resemble Crank Brothers Egg Beaters, but unlike Egg Beaters, the upper and lower springs operate independently from one another.

ICLIC cleats can be moved between the right and left shoes to increase or decrease the Q-factor of the pedal. ICLIC cleats have a release angle of 16° when using the standard ICLIC cleat and 17° when using the fixed cleat. Over the last couple decades, I have used a variety of pedals from many manufacturers, both widely known and obscure. The one big name that has escaped my cranks until now was venerable French component manufacturer Time. When the opportunity came up to review Time’s current offerings, I was jazzed to be able to round out my pedal experience with this brand I’d heard so much about but never experienced. Time designed the ATAC MX8 for the aggressive trail/enduro-style rider, so it’s aimed right at me and it became my natural choice. Time for ATAC MX8 Tech Talk ATAC cleats are only compatible with 2-bolt cycling shoes. TIME pedals that use the ATAC cleat system include:The one caveat to this marvelous capability is that it does require the right shoe. A super stiff carbon-soled shoe isn’t going to flex enough to make perfect use of the platform. To be able to maximize the clipless/platform combo, the shoe must have a semi-flexible sole which can simultaneously sink into the clip in the center, while the perimeter reaches around to grab the points of the platform. If you find an item at a lower price with another commercial internet retailer, you will receive it from us at the same price, provided the conditions listed in the link are met. The XC 8 carbon body provides enough of a platform to help support your shoes on long rides and prevent hot spots in the soles of your feet even if you haven’t got the latest top-flight race carbon soles – I haven’t. If the items we have sent you are faulty, damaged or not as we described, we will cover the cost of collection and the delivery of the correct item. TIME pedals that use ICLIC cleats are only compatible with 3-bolt style road cycling shoes; these include:

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