When the Outlier brand hit the market, every rider took a look at the pedals, scratched their head and thought, “what in the actual f?” They’re so dang crazy looking. But why would anyone make these? And do they work? Designed in Calgary and machined with aerospace-grade precision, these pedals challenge everything we’ve come to believe a pedal should be with their low-profile, high-traction innovation. But the story behind Outlier isn’t just about engineering; it’s about perseverance and a commitment to being an outlier.
Take my money: a viral launch
When Outlier announced the launch of their pedals, the response was immediate and overwhelming.
“We launched Sunday,” says co-founder Cameron Belisle-O’Donnell, “and it’s been a wild ride ever since. We didn’t anticipate this level of interest.”
The pedals went viral, selling out the first batch almost instantly. Pre-orders followed suit, with demand rapidly pushing production timelines into the next quarter.
They have two models; the Void and the Pendulum. The Void is a two-sided platform pedal that sits as close to the center of the axle as is possible. The Pendulum is a one-sided pedal with the platform sitting six mm below the center of the axle.
Born in a brain
The origin story of Outlier pedals starts, like many great innovations, as an idea that wouldn’t go away. A rough prototype in the mid-2000s, dreamed up by co-founder Peter Cowling showed promise but failed to last more than 30 meters on the trail.
“It detonated almost immediately,” laughs Belisle-O’Donnell. But the idea of a low-profile pedal, engineered for stability and traction, stuck. Through years of tinkering, collaborating with engineers and testing prototypes, the Outlier team perfected a design that stood up to the most rugged trails.
The final product? A pedal machined in Calgary by Fidelity Manufacturing, a facility known for aerospace and oil-and-gas-grade precision.
The science of staying low
At the core of the Outlier pedals is a design that prioritizes lowering the rider’s center of gravity.
“It’s like the difference between wearing platform shoes and sneakers,” the co-founder explains. “A lower pedal height allows you to corner better, feel more traction and stay more connected to the bike.”
The team also optimized the pedals’ shape to reduce rock strikes and improve durability. With tapered edges and a unique hole-through design, these pedals look seriously…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…