Posted: 8/9/2025 9:30:39 AM EDT
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Started riding on the road/paths clipped in earlier this year. Got a set of Time Xpresso pedals. They are great, easy to get in and out of, low stack height, perfect amount of float. Holy crap do the Time cleats wear out quickly...I walk as little as possible (a few crosswalks across some major roads), but they are lasting like 3 months / 1000 miles tops. Reminds me of the old days where you'd buy an inkjet printer/scanner at Sam's Club for like $75 and then pay through the nose for the ink refills forever: the cleats runs $20-30 every time, only paid $30 for the pedals on sale. Are my expectations of cleat life unrealistic? Is there a more durable brand? Thinking about trying Shimano. I could try printing some, I have a file but I am guessing even PETG will wear out fast. |
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I would be totally good if they lasted a year. I don't care how they end up looking. The problem is the Time I-Clic cleats gradually stop clipping in easily and then begin to get hard to release easily, which of course can get exciting. I am going to put in an email to the manufacturer and see what they say. I did order a set of entry level Shimano SPD-SL pedals and rode about 20 miles with those today. They are actually a lot easier to get in to than the Time pedals when setting off. The Times have a more 'solid' connection though and the float doesn't interfere with the pedaling. The SPD-SL's I got have the 6 degree float cleats, I may try the 3 degree ones to see if they are less loose than the current ones. If I did need to walk a ways yeah I would get some covers, but it is nuts to me that I can't walk up/down my driveway and across a few intersections where the path goes across some very busy roads. |
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Update. Time sent me a couple sets of new cleats, they look a bit different and appear to be from another factory. I will see how they hold up eventually. Still riding the first set of SPD-SLs. They are definitely wearing but still clip in/out like they should. Trying to make more of an effort to walk on my heels too. I also tightened up the release, and now they don't wiggle around at all but still come out when you need them to or crash like a dumbass. |
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Originally Posted By flynbenny: Started riding on the road/paths clipped in earlier this year. Got a set of Time Xpresso pedals. They are great, easy to get in and out of, low stack height, perfect amount of float. Holy crap do the Time cleats wear out quickly...I walk as little as possible (a few crosswalks across some major roads), but they are lasting like 3 months / 1000 miles tops. Reminds me of the old days where you'd buy an inkjet printer/scanner at Sam's Club for like $75 and then pay through the nose for the ink refills forever: the cleats runs $20-30 every time, only paid $30 for the pedals on sale. Are my expectations of cleat life unrealistic? Is there a more durable brand? Thinking about trying Shimano. I could try printing some, I have a file but I am guessing even PETG will wear out fast. |
Living in the free state of Texas
| I tried road cleats for a short time them went to the mountain bike style. What I found is as a hobby cyclist they work just as good, I can walk in the shoes so I can leave my work shoes in my locker at work and walk from the bike rack in my bike shows. They also last forever. |
Peter had been right, always right; the power to cause pain is the only power that matters, the power to kill and destroy, because if you can't kill then you are always subject to those who can, and nothing and no one will ever save you.”