roccobike, Thanks for the input but my issue isn't getting out of the pedals - it's getting into them in the first place. I've been using 105 pedals on my road bike for a little over 20 years. I think back then they were manufacured by Look for Shimano. I just replaced them last year and they look a little different but work the same, even the old cleats work. These pedals are ass end heavy and align themselves no matter the crank position so getting into them is as easy as dragging my foot across the top of them until I feel engagement on the front part of the cleat and push down. Takes longer to read it then it does to do. The M505s on the mountain bike are double sided as you mention so they just spin around with the crank. trying to get into them usually involves a bunch of riding in circles kicking the pedal to get it level then trying to get my cleat into it without spinning it out of position. Doing it on flat asphalt is hard enough, I can't imagine doing it on the trail. I will say though that I don't have a lot of time with them so maybe there is a learning curve with them. I was just hoping for something that I can mash my foot on in a hurry and it clips in.

I certainly don't mind spending money to a point. If an extra $50 gets me a much better working pedal then that's OK, if that extra $50 is getting me the same pedal mechanically only a few grams lighter due to exotic materials then I'm not up for that. I'll look into the Times as there's already two votes for them but I've seen these ones by Crank Bros that look like an egg beater. On one hand it looks like they'd be able to just mash a cleat into them, on the other hand there is no extra meat around them to guide the cleat in so I wonder just how easy they really are to get everything aligned and get into.

[edit] BTW osco that is a sexy looking machine! [/edit]