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First Thoughts On The Time Osmos 12
Crisp, clean, and ready for action. Time is back at the cycling shoe game! It’s been 6 or 7 years since their last shoe, and decades since they were a major player in professional cycling. Maybe, Time sparked a memory for me, since it was late in my High School and early college days that cycling started to make an impression. That was also when a certain Greg Lemond caused quite the stir as an American at the Tour de France. He happened to be wearing some iconic Time cycling shoes during the final Time Trail stage where he clinched the title. The French know a thing or two about cycling, so I’m excited to strap these Time Osmos 12 shoes on as I compete for sprint points at my local town signs.
23/7/1989 Tour de France 1989.
Stage 21 – Versailles to Paris.
Greg Lemond races with his tri-handled bike during the time trial.
Photo: Offside / L’Equipe.
Technical Details And Features
- Construction lower: Sensor 2 Mono Material
- Construction upper cuff: Microfiber, PU and Textile
- Lacing System: 1 Boa IP1 a 1 Velcro
- Sole: Carbon Composite & Carbon Insert
- Weight: 500 grams
The Fit Of The Time Osmos 12
I sized up for this shoe. I don’t know why, really. Maybe it has to do with age, and feet flattening out. I just don’t want my toes to be cramped anymore. At first, I was a bit worried thinking that I may have gone to large. After a few weeks of cranking away on the pedals, I made the correct decision. A little bit of extra space has not effected my power output. My last ride was a 45 mile sustained 23 mph effort in a large group. It was constant pressure, and my feet were nice and comfy. At around 500 grams, it’s really as if my feet were wrapped in a second skin with a solid carbon composite sole.
The heel cuff extra padding is such a nice touch. It is soft with a grip-like texture that hugs my ankle perfectly. No sliding or rubbing, and it’s the attention to detail which is a great touch.
Boa And Strap Closure System
The levels of the Time Osmos series has everything to do with how many of the fancy technological upgrades you desire. The level of Carbon in the sole plays a big role, and the closure system also steps up with the numbers. The 10 has one Boa dial, the 12 has a Boa dial and a strap, and the 15 comes equipped with 2 Boa dials. I am super happy with my 12 in that the strap allows me to play with the snugness of the toe while the Boa dial and it’s subsequent lacing wire uniformly tightens the rest of the foot.
The Time Osmos 12 has a Boa Bi-directional Closure system that delivers a semi-custom fit by tightening uniquely to your foot with a uniform cinching system. Comfort comes to the forefront. As I ride and experience different temperatures and efforts, a quick adjustment is easily made because of the Boa System. This may seem insignificant, but the slight little advantage over the course of a hundred mile ride and/or thousands of feet of climbing, may make a huge difference.
Carbon Sole Of The Time Osmos 12
The Carbon composite sole is lightweight, aerodynamic, and quite strong. The pounds of pressure or wattage are through the roof when we hit bumpy terrain at full speed. I am pushed to my limit to stay with elite riders. When I have to get out of the saddle the pain in my legs and lungs are evident. With every muscle in my body pushing down on my shoes, soles, and pedals, I can only hope that the energy is pushed down and through to my bike. I am managing to hang in with those great riders, and can certainly attribute that to my Time Osmes 12 shoes and Carbon composite sole.
Performance Of The Time Osmos 12
I’ve put hundreds of miles on this shoe with my longest day wearing them for about 7 hours. Never any hot spots, tightness, or any discomfort. Hence, I would say that these are a hit when it comes to me wearing and promoting them to my cycling buddies. Unfortunately, I’ve had to walk in them a bit, and some scuffing has occurred. That happens, and I personally like it when I have some cosmetic dings. New is too shiny, and I feel like I have to baby my gear. That’s not me, so I wear my scuffs and scrapes with pride. That said, I do expect these to handle several good years of solid riding. The technology and quality at this price point give me some confidence that will be the case.
My only beef with the Time Osmos 12 is the tongue. Every time I step into the shoe, the tongue has a tendency to double up or fold over inside the shoe. It occurs down towards the toes where it is connected. To circumvent the issue, I really have to open up the shoe’s lacing system completely, and then gently slide my foot in. Otherwise, the inside folds up double, leaving for a slightly uncomfortable bubble and fit. I’ve mostly got it figured out with time, but there has to be a solution to the problem.
With some crazy late spring snowstorms, testing in the heat was really my excuse for taking my time on this review. I finally got to take advantage of all those wonderful vents that grace the sides and top of the shoe. The airflow created for nice comfortable toes and feet. In part, this probably contributed to the overall comfort of the shoe to foot fit.
And To Wrap It All Up
I think I pushed the time limit on my review period, but it meant I got more saddle/boot time in. When I review an item, I test it with a certain set of criteria. That varies with the product, but the durability and/or longevity are never part of that equation. Some products do stand up to the test of time, while others start to show signs of wear too quickly.
The Time Osmos 12 are dirty and have some scuffs on it which I am totally fine with. I don’t baby my gear, and these cycling kicks have endured many miles to stand up to my use/abuse. These shoes are comfortable due to the adjust-ability of the Boa dial and velcro strap. The look is clean and crisp up until the point where I got caught in a thunder and hail storm. That said, the Time Osmos 12 are a solid top performer. Bike shoes will pay off in comfort and performance, and that does come at a price. These retail for around $300, and I think it’s worth making that investment. For more information and purchase please visit www.jensonusa.com/timesports.