Interesting thread I own and current use 3 different pedals M520, M540 and these Ryder SPD elite. Largely I have to agree with all comments above, my experience using them: I have been using these Ryder pedals on my roadbike for the last year without too many problems. I assume this is mostly because they aren't exposed to mud, sand water etc. Even with them being spared from the MTB environment I have noticed that the cleating in and out has changed over time. In the beginning it was nice and even right across all 4 surfaces but now I feel like I have adjust them constantly and have eventually given up and come to live with the varying stiffness of cleating in and out is different on the sides. I will not be purchasing these again and will stick to the 520/540
