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review

Time Xpro 10 pedals

8
£144.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Expensive yet light and durable pedals with a really nice engagement system
Weight: 
129g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Time's new Xpro 10 pedals have some notable improvements over the previous Xpresso range, with a wider pedal body, a redesigned cleat that is really hardwearing, and very easy engagement. I really like them and prefer the engagement system to that of Look or Shimano, my only issue being a peculiar squeaking noise that I was getting (but a road.cc colleague didn't), which Time says it is trying to get to the bottom of...

  • Pros: Wide pedal body, light, easy to get in and out of, durable
  • Cons: Unexplained squeaking noise that Time is looking into

Although it gives both Shimano and Look's higher-end pedals a run for their money in terms of price, the Xpro 10 is actually the least expensive of Time's three Xpro pedals. While the Xpro 10 has a hollow steel axle and steel bearings, the Xpro 12 (£259.99) has a solid titanium axle with steel bearings and is lighter at a claimed 94g per pedal. The top-end Xpro 15 is a whopping £399.99, weighing just 87g per pedal (claimed) with CeramicSpeed bearings and a hollow titanium axle. Essentially, all three are identical in shape and you get the new carbon fairing on the Xpro 10s, so unless you're really fussy about weight and really want ceramic bearings, they're probably the best to go for.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Time says the carbon fairing on the underside toughens the pedal up and also has aero credentials, although I'd suggest any watt savings are likely to be extremely marginal. Time's patented Iclic engagement system has been improved, and it works by remaining in a looser, more open position when you've clipped out, ready for the next time you clip in, making the process seem effortless.

time_xpro_10_pedals_-_detail_2.jpg

There isn't quite such a firm 'snap' as you get when clipping into a Shimano pedal (the sound is a bit more subtle, like I perceive most Look-compatible pedals to be), but I think it's easier to 'find' the Time pedal without having to really look down. This is helped by the improved pedal surface area compared with the Xpro's predecessor, now a nice and wide 725mm2.

Time's retention system is courtesy of a carbon blade as opposed to a spring as found in most clipless pedals, and this has three adjustment settings to alter the tension. The cleat has a standard three-bolt formation, and Time told me at the launch that it's been toughened up after some reports of the previous versions wearing out a little too fast. I'd concur with this: after a long test period, they're still pretty much intact after lots of heavy use and inadvisable, awkward cleat-walking. Speaking of which, they're not even that awkward to walk in because the surface area of the cleat is pretty large, so they're quite cafe stop friendly. They're left/right-specific, but switching them around actually gives you a slightly wider stance, if you prefer some extra Q factor (the width between your pedals).

> When should you replace your cleats?

The stack height is just 13.5mm, which makes you feel engaged with the pedals and able to eke out every ounce of power. There's also plenty of float when you need it, but out of the saddle I didn't sense any unwanted lateral movement. The float is courtesy of Time's Bioposition technology, which allows for 15 degrees of frictionless lateral movement and some angular float that is designed to move with the natural movement of the ankle, knee and hip joints.

time_xpro_10_pedals_-_detail_3.jpg

All positive so far, but about a week into testing, and thereafter, I started experiencing an odd squeaking noise. It doesn't appear to affect the performance whatsoever but is just a tad irritating, and I was curious to see if I was the only one. After a month of use I handed them to road.cc editor (and regular Time pedal user) Tony to use for a couple of weeks and... there was no sound from them, just plenty of positive comments. Here's exactly what Time's distributor told me when I put it to them:

"We have heard of this issue before but only on a few occasions, and given how popular these pedals have proven to be it's clear that it's only affecting a small amount of customers. Time have been made aware and are investigating the issue to determine what is the root cause in these small amount of cases. However, from what we have found it would appear the noise is stemming from the interface between the cleats and the pedal body. Given the large platform area of the XPro pedals we feel that with some people's riding style and shoe set-up it's possible for the cleat and pedal platform to cause some friction causing the squeaking noise that you report. We have found that a small amount of Teflon spray to the main pedal platform can often resolve this issue. It's important to stress that this does only seem to be affecting a small amount of users as you have found yourself."

So, just in case you didn't get the message, it's definitely a small number of us who are experiencing the squeakiness! I tried them on multiple pairs of shoes to no avail, and the Teflon spray seemed to stop it for a while only for the noise to return a few days later. So my own anecdotal theory is that it's something to do with excess friction exacerbated by my grinding pedalling action and low cadence putting extra pressure through them (and my super-huge power output, of course).

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best clipless pedals

Price-wise, as mentioned before the Xpro 10 is comparable to second tier pedals from the competition. Shimano's latest Ultegra pedals come in at £149.99 (but can usually be found for much less) and Look's Keo Carbon Blades with a chromoly axle have an rrp of £155.99.

Overall, I was impressed with the improvements in Time's new Xpro 10. They're not cheap by any means, but the carbon fairing looks great, clipping in and out is a simple affair, and they're nice and light. I'll try to get to the bottom of the squeaking and update if and when, but based on the testimony of my colleague and most other users, it appears this is only affecting a minority.

Verdict

Expensive yet light and durable pedals with a really nice engagement system

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Time Xpro 10 pedals

Size tested: One

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Time says: "The Xpro 10 is the perfect pedal for road cyclists, from enthusiasts to competitive athletes. The body of this pedal has been reinforced thanks to a new design and a more durable carbon material. Power transfer and stability are improved with a pedal surface of 725mm2 – 25mm2 larger than the Xpresso (700mm2). The lower fairing was created to improve aerodynamics and protect the carbon blade. The Iclic system has been redesigned to allow for a more positive cleat engagement and to be more comfortable. The adjustable carbon blade has 3 positions of clip-fin tension. Like the Xpresso, the stack height is low, keeping the cyclist's sole as close to the centre of the pedal axle as possible. This, along with the large pedal surface area results in incomparable pedalling efficiency and comfort."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Injection-moulded carbon body

Hollow steel axle, steel bearings

725mm2 pedal surface

Iclic system for a more positive cleat engagement

Adjustable carbon blade, 3 positions of clip-fin tension

'Bioposition' - angular and lateral float

13.5mm stack height

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The carbon body is tough and durable, engagement system is very well made and easy to get in and out of as Time claims. They're impressively light considering the surface area.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Apart from the slight squeaking I experienced they performed well – comfortable and secure yet still allowing your joints some freedom thanks to the float.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Both the pedal and cleat appear to be impressively durable – after months of use they still look like new.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10

Impressively light, lighter than most of the competition.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10

Plenty of float to give you a comfortable pedalling experience.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Certainly not cheap, and these are the least expensive in the Xpro line-up.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Everything was great except for that bit of squeaking I experienced. They're simple to clip into, feel smooth and appear to be very durable.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The engagement system, the looks, the amount of float.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The strange squeaking sound I experienced... which Time is looking into it (it's affecting a small number of riders, Time says).

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

This is the least expensive of the three pedals in the Xpro range and it's comparable with the price of Shimano Ultegra (second from top in the range) and Look Keo Blade Carbon pedals with chromoly axles (also second tier) – so they are comparably quite expensive.

Did you enjoy using the product? Mostly

Would you consider buying the product? If I could resolve the squeaking, yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? To most cyclists, yes.

Use this box to explain your overall score

I really liked using these and was happy with the pedal body, the low weight and the simple engagement system. If Time can work out how to resolve the squeaking I experienced then the score would be higher still.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 179cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride: Road bike (currently Specialized Tarmac)  My best bike is: Ridley Chronus TT bike

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, triathlon races

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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2 comments

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chocim | 5 years ago
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When using some winter shoes with cleats I also experience such squeaking with SPD (MTB style) pedals like the PD-M520s from Shimano. As the manufacturer has sensibly remarked here, a bit of teflon spray makes the sound go away (for a time of course - then rinse & repeat).

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peted76 | 5 years ago
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Big fan of time pedals, wish there was one of those cleat setting up foot beds available for them  2

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