I was at the MKS booth at Interbike, and in addition to checking out all of the great pedals, toe clips, and toe straps for track bikes and fixies, I met Grant Petersen of Rivendell and Bridgestone fame, as well as the President of Merry Sales. (Last year at Interbike, I met the President of MKS at the booth.) Merry Sales, which designs products under the Soma Fabrications name has quite a history. Located in South San Francisco, it is one of the oldest bicycle parts and accessories wholesaler in the United States. They started in 1906 after the big earthquake.
Anyway, the pedals that Rivendell designed and MKS of Japan manufactured are a grippy platform pedal that you can ride without toe clips. They are aluminum, made to corner well, and have little metal octopus-like suction cups all over them to grip the sole of your shoe. They come with attached reflectors so do you don't get pressed at night. (I know you think I can see you, but at least twice a week, I almost get run over while on my bike by another cyclist riding with no lights, no reflectors, and dark clothing.)
You can read more about the pedals on the Rivendell site. I plan to get the Grip Kings in the shop. They retail for somewhere around $50. I really like the MKS track and touring platform pedals, as do customers. MKS pedals are reasonably priced, look good, and hold up to daily wear and tear.
Another pedal that is well-conceived is a street & track pedal, the Sylvan Steam 2, designed to hold your soft-soled shoe in place. It has grippy teeth sawed into the pedal cage. I got some in the shop today in black and silver. (The all-silver ones are pictured below.)
The MKS RX-1 sealed-bearing pro-level track pedals spin for days. And MKS also makes the Custom Nuevo sealed-bearing track pedal that has a wider body, if you need more room for your feet. Both are pricey, but pro-quality kit costs some clamshells.
Below are double toe straps, adjustable toe clips for unique-sized or differently sized feet, leather toe-straps in classy colors, leather-covered toe clips for when you need to go to a formal engagement.
Photos above of the Grip King and MKS booth at Interbike taken by Wheelgirl at Interbike Vegas 2007. The track pedals and the MKS Sylvan Stream 2, were lifted off of the MKS site or the web.
