SRAM has announced it has purchased the entire range of pedals, cleats and related patents of Time Sport from Rossignol Group.
Founded in Nevers, France, in 1987, Time began manufacturing clipless mountain bike pedals in 1993 and they were the favored choice of XC racing legend Julien Absalon. Apart from Truvativ flat pedals and the
now discontinued PowerTap pedals, SRAM have not been a major player in the pedal market. Following the acquisition completion on February 18, Time now joins an extensive list of SRAM acquisitions, including Rockshox, Avid, Zipp, Truvativ, PowerTap and Quarq.
| Time is a legendary brand and was the first to focus on ergonomics through the pedal stroke. We will work to preserve Time’s history and heritage, and continue their legacy of innovation and quality.— SRAM President Ken Lousberg |
This news comes at an interesting moment as SRAM discontinued its support for PowerTap power meter pedals and hubs earlier this month. With the purchase of Time, it looks like SRAM still have plans to stay in the pedal market. Could we see PowerTap, or something similar, returning on future Time branded pedals?
While SRAM have purchased the pedal side of the business, the bike and frame arms of the company have been bought by Cardinal Cycling Group. The ownership of the Cardinal Cycling Group includes Tony Karklins, founder of Allied Cycle Works and past Orbea USA Managing Director and Martial Trigeaud, former elite racer and industrial engineer.
| I’m thrilled that we have found two exceptional buyers for Time. Each brings unique strengths to drive the great Time brand forward.— Rossignol Sr. VP Bike Division, Scott Rittschof |
Both owners will continue marketing any new products under the Time name with SRAM using the Time Sport branding and the Cardinal Cycling Group using Time Bikes. Time customers can expect to see no change in service and support through a transition period until the middle of the year.
Once again not saying this should be the way forward, but there are improvements that could be made if we were willing to change this standard.
> there are improvements that could be made if we were willing to change this standard.
This is how it all starts... :-D
You create a ton of leverage from your own weight and the bearing needs to be oversized and wide enough to take the loads for ages, leading as well to a massive increase of weight.
Also a wide bearing would decrease the amount of space for frame design on chainstays and seatstays.
Imagine a car engine having the crankshaft bearing offsetted to the edge of one side of the crankcase, the force from the pistons/rods would bend the crankshaft and overkill that big single bearing.
That's why crankshaft bearings are located as close as possible to the rods and on both sides. Same story for its gearbox...
I REALLY hope that SRAM does not mess this up.
I have several pairs of ATACs, one pair probably 15 years old and they work perfectly and have taken plenty of abuse.
Unfortunately I also had a few of their earlier (round spring) "enduro" offerings and they were crap.
But the WORST is the Speciale that is featured in the picture above. I can't ride that on any rocky technical trails in New England without having to replace the spring after 1 ride. They are beautiful, otherwise durable, but that spring has got to be made out of aluminum foil.
You know there are issues that SRAM can fix when a 15 year old XC pedal is more durable than their top of the line 2019 Enduro offering.
Plenty of potential!
Ended up getting a pair of XT M8120, 30% cheaper, great platform and survive a nuclear holocaust.
You should also listen to a recent podcast where pro cyclist Maghalie Rochette interviews SRAM CEO Ken. He talks about SRAM's preference to leave acquired teams in their existing locations, precisely so that culture and knowledge is retained: open.spotify.com/episode/18sxAtZkoLJFQlinNvLsK5?si=-eRgd7RaTeWL2y5nB0Yo5w&nd=1
Please don't bugger up TIME ATAC pedals. They are already perfect. They have been perfect since I fitted my first set in 1999, and they are still perfect. I have some XC4 (Gravel), XC6 (Road), Link (Pub/Fixie), MX6 (MTB) all still in service, as well as some Z Controls and Alium in a box for when I hire bikes on Holiday. The only issue is the cost of the SP12 and SP8.
Thanks.
Long TIME ATAC User.
Really? I came back for the Speciale's too and that spring cannot withstand a rockstrike... I've bent 4 of them... their customer service rep took pity on me and sent me a half-dozen springs last time.
Perhaps I'm a bit clumsy, but certainly not heavy... and the old ATAC XCs have taken all sorts of rock strikes without issue. I'm surprised you've had such good luck.
I think it's a design flaw... that "front spring" (which becomes the trailing spring when upside down) is too exposed. On the old ATACs, if you had a strike on it, it would only move so far before the pedal body itself would stop it and sorta reinforce it before bending... on the Speciale it is well above the CNC'd pedal body and out on its lonesome.
Old pre-2015(?) were straight bombproof, just soooo heavy especially with so many newer options.
I wish I could share some photos with you of my badly mangled Speciale's
I actually bought them because they went back to the squared off springs rather than the round ones on the MX (which I agree would lose tension). But they were (in my mileage) worse. If you look back at the old ATACs, the shape of the spring was longer, with a lower angle (say 30 degrees) when it came back to the pedal-body. On the speciale, the front spring (or trailing when underside) has a >90 bend to it when it comes back to the pedal body... so that means it narrows from the "clipped in" flat part to where the actual spring meets the spindle. I wonder if that is the issue...
Anyway... I can't use them around here, just far too unreliable. I save my "enduro" speciales for flowy XC style trails.
I've had a CB Mallet sheer at the pedal axle but I've never had to limp out or walk out on Times.
I would be so happy if Sram take their ATAC patent and put it into something reasonably priced to compete against Shimano.
I hope competition improves all players in this case
When reading buyers reviews about those pedals nearly everyone mentions problems about those bolts...
They can have it, I love my HT’s
Sram decides they are tired of only having inferior drivetrains and brakes. See great opportunity to scoop up another product that will NEVER be as good as Shimano.