These quill-style track pedals – so-called because the cage swoops to a point on the underside reminiscent of a quill pen – were the pedal of choice prior to the arrival of clipless designs, and are now the pedal of choice for classic bikes and the fixed gear community.
The Genetics aren’t just a carbon copy of that style, though. As well as the mirror polished finish of the main body and the myriad cage colours available, the design itself has a modern twist: essentially single-sided (the quill tab is there so you can flip them the right way up with your foot), the main body is scalloped to make for maximum foot contact with a flat-soled shoe.
The prominent cage is grippy enough in the dry, but in the wet they are somewhat slippy, though it’s not something you’d worry about if you were using them with a set of clips and straps. Genetic offers classic-styled double-strapped toe-clips designed specifically for these platforms for £14.99, with leather straps an extra £19.99.
At 100g a pedal, these are seriously lightweight and the fully sealed bearings have stood up to our wet British summer exceptionally well. They add that perfect finishing touch to a classic styled fixer, and at £30 are great value.
To get the best performance out of them, though, you’ll need to add those clips and straps – adding an extra £35 and a reasonable dent in their value. The Genetics are available in a silver body with either blue, black, gold, silver, purple or red anodised cages.