TIME Speciale 8 pedal keeps pace with lower price, lighter weight

Written by Zach Overholt Feb 20, 2019 8:00 p.m. ET

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Continuing their efforts to rejoin the head of the pack when it comes to pedals, TIME has another new Enduro pedal to check out – the Speciale 8. Following in the cadence of the Speciale 12, the 8 changes a few things up in order to offer a pedal that is not only less expensive, but lighter as well.

Like the Speciale 12, the 8 uses TIME’s ATAC (Auto Tension Adjust Concept) spring which offers easy entry and exit no matter what the conditions. Because of this, ATAC pedals have always been my person favorite in heavy mud or snow & ice. The 8 retains the spring tension adjust found on higher end pedals, and it uses the more squared-off spring profile compared to the completely round springs of old ATAC pedals.

The differences start with the size of the pedal which is slightly smaller at 90mm x 64mm and 21mm thick. The aluminum body also uses only two traction pins per side compared to the four per side on the 12. Along with a hollow steel axle and stainless steel bearings, the pedals check in at a claimed 196g per pedal or 392g per pair. That drops about 12 grams from the Speciale 12, which isn’t much but the Speciale 8 is also less expensive.

Priced at $125, the Speciale 8 is substantially less expensive than the $350 Speciale 12, and offers almost the same performance. Sold with TIME ATAC brass cleats which offer 13° or 17° release, the Speciale 8s will be available late February.

time-sport.com

Zach Overholt

5,633 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Exodux

5 years ago

I love my Time ATAC’s, which I use on all bikes, XC, enduro, cross and gravel bikes. I will lok into these pedals for my enduro bike which the current ATAC’s work great but would like a larger platform

BBB

5 years ago

My knees always loved Time ATAC but the tabs on my XC2 snapped for no reason on both pedals within a year of commuting… AFAIK my case wasn’t isolated.

What is the quality control like at Times these days?

Turtlehead

5 years ago

Dear Time,

Please figure out how to make reliable pedals again.

My pair of 90’s time ATAC carbons (which I bought heavily used) never needed bearing service, always spun well, and outlasted multiple frames. Every new pedal I bought would fail within a year of riding. I was never able to bring my set of ATAC XS Titaniums back from the dead even though the spindles were fine. The last pair I bought had an axle with threads machined off-axis from the spindle centerline. You never replied to my warranty claim, so I bought four pairs of crank brothers. I threw the pair of XC 6 in the garbage and sold my beloved set of ATAC carbons.

The speciale series is made out of aluminum, and that’s great. But the spring doesn’t look like its actually made of spring steel which isn’t so great. And the spindle design looks a lot like the one being used in the XC series which isn’t so great.

I want to believe you have changed. I want to believe these will hold up like your old designs. But… I… just … can’t. :'(

Cheese

5 years ago

“the spring doesn’t _look_ like its actually made of spring steel”
Wait, what?

Dr Sweets

5 years ago

This is the pedal* I’ve been waiting for from Time. I’ve ridden Times since ’95. They’ve remained the most predictable and bulletproof pedals I’ve ever owned. I have far preferred their alloy base level (Z’s, Aliums) offerings for feel and durability. I look forward to getting a pair.
*The only thing that would make the Speciale any better would be to dump the tension adjust and just use the original ATAC spring. This would also likely lower the cost and up the durability if history repeats itself. We’ll see.