Time Xpresso 2 pedals

The relatively low price of Time Xpresso 2 pedals makes them a sensible place to start if you're a newcomer to road-specific click-in pedals. They're light, easy to use and very easy to adjust to different foot position and release preferences, but the low price shows in the limited durability of both the pedals and the cleats.

Time Xpresso pedals are popular because they're easy to click into, offer just the right amount of float adjustment for many riders and they're light. At about 220g per pair the entry level Xpresso 2s only weigh 25g more than the carbon Xpresso 8s at £124.99.

Weight isn't everything but Time's Xpressos also have a more supportive pedalling platform than many of their rivals (that includes Time's previous iClic models) and that's probably the main thing that makes them popular among both experts and relative beginners.

I would generally recommend click-in road novices to start with mountain bike style double sided pedals, but the wider platforms of road specific pedals like Xpressos are more supportive and energy efficient on longer rides so they're worth aspiring to as your abilities progress.

The click-in mechanism of the Xpresso 2s is intuitive and obvious in that their weight balance ensures that they always appear to be in just the right position when you set off. Complete novices still seem to fumble for a while but it's not a long learning process and the solid pedalling response is worth it.

The Xpresso 2's construction is fairly durable, with a steel axle, composite body and composite sprung blade for retention, but they don't have a very good reputation for bearing life. The bearings will often have developed a small amount of play before you get round to taking advantage of the replaceable pedal platforms and they're not serviceable.

Going up-market from the Xpresso 2s gets you a tougher pedal platform with a replaceable steel plate that and a slightly smoother feel to the float, but some riders will prefer the less obvious float of the plastic base platform on the Xpresso 2s.

Not all riders like the feel of float (in this case being able to freely twist your foot 2.5mm to either side without risking disengagement). All Xpresso pedals have a small amount of lateral cleat adjustment as well as the usual fore/aft adjustment and a minimal distance between the shoe sole and the pedal axle.

The release tension is adjustable, ground clearance when pedalling into corners is excellent and the light feel of engagement and the 15 degree cleat release angle seems to suit most riders. Cleats are included and are relatively cheap to replace, a good thing as they do tend to wear quickly.

Verdict

The relatively low price of Xpresso 2s makes them a sensible place to start if you're a newcomer to road-specific click-in pedals.