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Old 06-11-05 | 09:17 PM
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Wurm
acciaio is real
 
Joined: May 2005
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From: Earth (for now)

Bikes: Yes, bicycle(s) I own!

...as I agreed with jitteringjr I'd opine after a few miles on them (about 80 at this point).

At first, I tried the innermost Q position, but the shoes - which are a bit wider than normal width - were rubbing the cranks, (Specialized Comp's size 46 & FSA Team Pro Issue cranks. My feet are US size 11.5 EE). Setting the cleats at the outer Q position, I have just enough clearance.

As a starting point, I set the cleats at "0" degree position. But I found that on the bike, my toes pointed slightly more outward than I like. It was a simple adjustment of the cleats towards the "5" degree position, and my feet were pointing nearly parallel to the bike frame the way I like it.

Entry is fairly easy the first few times, a little stiff from being new of course, and after a dozen or so times they're easy as pie to engage/disengage. Not a big deal to get used to. The Time's aren't 'front-heavy' like my old Chorus Pro-Fit's that would always point towards the ground. It's easy to flip the RXE's and clip in, and often after you clip out they will stay top-side up.

The cafe cleats are low to the axles (8 mm. stack height) and feels great - the idea being that you're wasting less energy the closer the ball of the foot is to the axis of the axle. The cafe cleats aren't bad to walk in, and are pretty grippy on sidewalks and floors. The float is plenty and feels good, and for my tastes has just enough friction so as not to feel loose and slippery. Also, they bend to fit the shape of the soles when you crank the screws down.

IMO, the most important thing with pedals is the bearings. That aspect of a design often gets lost on those who worry too much about float and how easy it is to clip in or out. These bearings are very smooth and high quality as Time's usually are, and at least as good as the Chorus Pro-Fit's. No wasted energy with the RXE's bearings.

Overall, they feel like a very solid platform, with a snug grip on the shoes especially when pulling up on the pedals, and light. I've had no hot-spotting yet.

Speaking of weight, for the street price of $65. I consider these light. Mine weigh 254 gm. + 90.7 gm. for the cafe cleats w. the 6 short screws = approx. 345 gm./pr. total. (6 longer screws are also provided, but were not needed with the Comp shoes) Here's what you get with the other RX models:

~ RXS, $100.: Same grey composite body & steel axle as RXE (ie: same weight), but adds float adjustability. More graphics.
~ RXS Carbon, $150.: Black composite body reinforced w. carbon, steel axles, save maybe 10 gm./pr. over RXE/RXS if you're lucky, float adjustment, even more graphics.
~ RXS Ti Carbon's, $225.: Same as RXS-C but w. Ti axles. You save 55-60 gm./pr. and graphics are blinged-out.

I don't have any problems with the RXE's thus far, and I think they're one of the great bargains or "Best Values" in clipless pedals right now.

Miles will tell the tale better, as always.

Last edited by Wurm; 06-12-05 at 12:34 AM.
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