{"id":1833437,"date":"2026-03-18T21:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T18:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1833437"},"modified":"2026-03-18T21:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T18:02:00","slug":"race-face-era-sl-crankset-and-handlebars-claim-to-be-lightest-in-class-for-downcountry-mountain-bikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1833437","title":{"rendered":"Race Face Era SL crankset and handlebars claim to be lightest in class for downcountry mountain bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Close-up<\/a>
Photos provided by Race Face.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We\u2019re entering a new Era<\/em> when it comes to lightweight mountain bikes and components for trail riding. Though the \u201cweight doesn\u2019t matter\u201d camp is still quite vocal, some trail riders are pushing back and demanding lighter gear. The new Race Face Era crankset and handlebars are here to oblige, and the BC-based brand claims both are the lightest in their respective categories.<\/p>\n

Race Face SL crankset<\/h2>\n

The Race Face SL crankset features a carbon-fiber body with steel wear plates for durability and an aluminum alloy spindle. The crankset is offered in 160, 165, 170, and 175mm crankarm lengths.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n

A 170mm crankset with a 32-tooth chainring is claimed to weigh just 422g. Race Face says the Era SL is the \u201clightest XC crank you can buy,\u201d and while Singletracks is unable to confirm this, it\u2019s pretty dang close. Competitive Cyclist says a SRAM XX1 Eagle DUB SL Crankset<\/a> weighs the same (422g), though it\u2019s unknown which crankset dimensions they\u2019re using; other real-world weights shared online put the actual XX1 weight closer to 480-490g. Shimano\u2019s XTR crankset<\/a>, according to our own tests, weighs 585g.<\/p>\n

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The $576.99 crankset comes with crank boots, pedal washers, and spindle spacers, though chainrings are sold separately.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/a><\/figure>\n

Lightweight 35mm diameter handlebars you can flip<\/h2>\n

The $198.99 Race Face Era SL carbon handlebar is \u201cdesigned for Downcountry, suitable for trail riding on bikes with up to 140mm of travel, [and] on e-bikes,\u201d according to the brand. The bars feature a 35mm clamp diameter with an 8\u00b0 backweep and 5\u00b0 upsweep when rolled to either the positive or negative starting position. Based on the width of the clamping surface, the Race Face Era SL handlebar is not compatible with direct-mount stems.<\/p>\n

Riders can flip the handlebar to achieve either a +6\u00b0 or -6\u00b0 rise. Some riders choose a negative rise for a more aggressive racing position. We\u2019re also seeing negative-rise setups on early 32ers to help some riders achieve a better fit.<\/p>\n

Close-up of two black bicycle handlebars displaying the \"ERA SL\" branding, set against a blurred background of green ferns and foliage.<\/a><\/figure>\n

Race Face says the Era SL handlebar is the lightest in its 35mm class, and a quick check shows that most carbon bars weigh well north of 200g. However, note that the Era SL handlebar is just 760mm wide, while many modern carbon bars start off at 800mm. A note in the press kit for the 35mm-diameter Era SL handlebar recommends cutting the bars no narrower than 720mm, as beyond that, the bar will be undesirably stiff.<\/p>\n

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Race Face unapologetically embraces downcountry<\/h2>\n

Race Face is diving headfirst into the downcountry category with their new Era SL components. Though some may dislike the term, it\u2019s hard to argue with lightweight components that are durable enough to withstand more aggressive descents.<\/p>\n

The Era SL crankset and handlebar join previously released Race Face SL wheelsets and stems.<\/p>\n

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Related articles<\/h4>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
Trail Bikes<\/a><\/div>\n
The Allied Fitz is a sub-27lb trail bike with 140mm of travel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A<\/a><\/p>\n
Trail Bikes<\/a><\/div>\n
The Ibis Ripley SL downcountry bike is made in USA, blends Exie and Ripley designs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Close-up<\/a><\/p>\n
Brakes<\/a><\/div>\n
SRAM Motive Ultimate MTB brake review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A<\/a><\/p>\n
Stems<\/a><\/div>\n
Race Face Turbine SL reversible stem has positive and negative rise, fits 35mm bars only<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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Photos provided by Race Face. We\u2019re entering a new Era when it comes to lightweight mountain bikes and components for trail riding. Though the \u201cweight doesn\u2019t matter\u201d camp is still quite vocal, some trail riders are pushing back and demanding lighter gear. The new Race Face Era crankset and handlebars are here to oblige, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,274],"class_list":["post-1833437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-singletracks-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1833437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1833437"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1833437\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1833437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1833437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1833437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}