Mountain Bike Action Product Test: Time Speciale 12 Pedals

Time Speciale 12 Pedals

In the world of clipless enduro pedals, Shimano and Crankbrothers dominate the scene; however, there is a French pedal brand with very high standards knocking at their doors. Time pedals have long been known for their performance and durability. Their ATAC (Auto-Tension Adjustment Concept) pedals have been proven to shed both weight and mud for cross-country riders. Time also offers a bulletproof downhill pedal. Stepping up to the plate with the big names, Time now offers a selection of enduro pedals.

For our testing, we focused on the highest-end Speciale 12 model. Enduro-ready pedals need to provide grip on a stable stomping platform, handle big hits, be durable, and work well during clipping and unclipping. So, what does the Speciale 12 come outfitted with to take on this mission?

Tech features:

We have to come straight out and say this: Rather than considering the budget-minded rider, Time has spared no expense with this $350 set of pedals. Why do they cost so much? Time wanted the best-performing pedal possible for competition, and they used quality materials for the entire pedal construction.

Time mills the pedal body from premium 6106-T6 aluminum. Instead of having two pieces sandwiched together as other manufacturers do, the Speciale 12’s body is machined from one piece of material. To further maintain a robust build, a hollow steel axle is fitted into the pedal body. Included with the set are eight adjustable pins for riders to tune their preferred grip.

The Speciales have an adjustment for the engagement of the cleat, something that is not offered on the downhill pedal or any of the ATAC  cross-country pedals. Yes, the ATAC cleat is used for all their mountain bike pedals, but the tension adjustments remain unique to the Speciale’s engagement system.

Field test results:

We spent a lot of time pounding out laps at the bike park to see how well the Speciale 12 would stand up to our testing. Cleat release really comes down to personal preference and what you are most comfortable with. We really liked being able to customize the amount of tension for how the pedals release. The ATAC cleat has a great engagement touch, but with more of a spring release than a Shimano pedal design. We ran all eight pins in each pedal to allow better contact with the shoes and to offer solid support.

We had the misfortune of bashing some rocks and…

 

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