Cyclists debate the important matters; things like which brand makes the best pedals. In that debate, Time has amassed a devout following to contend with companies like Shimano and Speedplay that are better known among certain groups. Its most recent announcement doesn’t have anything to do with pedals though unless you count what’s on them; after a six-year hiatus, Time is again making cycling shoes.
Time’s new collection of cycling shoes is called Osmos, and it includes three models. Each is built based on a concept of bioperformance, which looks at how the different parts of the body move most efficiently while on a bike. Time’s engineers made the last and inner sole with the action of pedaling in mind and chose materials that would facilitate that moment as well as provide comfort and support. Time also employed manufacturers in Montebelluna, Italy, a town that’s something of a birthplace of modern outdoor footwear and where brands like Scarpa, Dynafit and La Sportiva still produce boots and shoes, to bring its vision to bear.
Why return to cycling shoes after six years? After the death of the company’s founder, Roland Cattin, in 2014, business slowed slightly until Rossignol purchased it a few years later. According to Time’s PR, Rossignol knew that any new product had to compete with the best available from other brands while maintaining Time’s unique position of offering a clear advantage for riders and being made in Europe. Reasons aside, the new Osmos shoes look excellent, and we’re excited to take them for a spin.