Race Face has added a new 1.25"-rise option to its aluminum Atlas bar.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Race Face Trigger kit is intended for cross-country use with its lightweight quick-dry fabrics.(Image credit: James Huang)
The new Race Face Trigger gloves feature a lightweight mesh back and unpadded palms reinforced with Kevlar.(Image credit: James Huang)
The carbon fiber chainring tabs on the Race Face SixC DH crank measure 4.5mm thick for extra durabilty.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Race Face SixC carbon crank range gains a downhill variant for 2012.(Image credit: James Huang)
Race Face's Next SL carbon cranks continue to be one of the lightest cross-country options on the market.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Khyber and Ambush shorts are more generously cut to accommodate pads.(Image credit: James Huang)
The hidden side pocket on the Khyber and Ambush jerseys doubles as a goggle wipe.(Image credit: James Huang)
The women's-specific Khyber kit gets new colors for 2012.(Image credit: James Huang)
Race Face gives the women's-specific Khyber shorts a durable, tweed-like fabric.(Image credit: James Huang)
Race Face has also updated its hardshell and d3o pads with open-backed leg fittings and new elbow-only models.(Image credit: James Huang)
The graphics on the new Race Face Atlas crank pay homage to the company's home turf.(Image credit: James Huang)
Race Face has trimmed 50g from the Atlas crank while also making it easier to live with with the updated EXI spline interface.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Race Face Trigger shorts are built with surf-inspired quick-dry fabrics. Zippered vents add even more airflow when needed.(Image credit: James Huang)
Despite the recent turmoil surrounding its business, Canadian component company Race Face is not only managing to soldier on but has found the resources to introduce some solid-looking new products for 2012 – along with the promise of a much harder hitting collection for 2013 now that things are stable again.
Building on the success of its SixC carbon fiber cross-country cranksets, Race Face has added a downhill variant with a similarly impressive complete weight of just 650g including a 36T chainring and 83x165mm bottom bracket – a shocking 400g (0.88lb) savings over a comparable Shimano Saint unit.
Durability upgrades over the standard SixC include tougher arms, beefier 4.5mm-thick chainring spider tabs, and steel pedal thread inserts.
Race Face will offer the new SixC DH crank in both single and double-plus-bashguard variants in 165, 170, and 175mm arm lengths. Bottom brackets will be offered to fit conventional 68/73mm or 83mm threaded shells or even BB92-equipped press-fit frames. Prices will vary between US$549-599 depending on configuration.
Race Face has updated the workhorse Atlas forged-and-machined aluminum crankset, too, with a more aggressively milled spider that saves 50g from last year's version despite thicker chainring tabs – claimed weight for a complete 36T single-ring setup is now 822g. Last year's straight spline has also been swapped for Race Face's new EXI spline interface for easier installation and removal.
Finally, there's a new 1.25"-rise option for the alloy Atlas riser bar.
On the soft goods side, there's the new Trigger cross-country kit built with surf-inspired quick-dry lightweight fabrics on the shorts and a matching jersey constructed of Chitosante Interlock – a wicking quick-dry fabric that's supposedly naturally anti-microbial thanks to extracts derived from crabshells. The matching gloves continue the lightweight theme with their mesh backs and padding-free, Kevlar-reinforced palms.
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Tougher assignments will instead call for the new Ambush kit, built with a heavier and more durable DWR-treated tweed-like fabric for the shorts and a matching jersey constructed of Repreve recycled polyester. The shorts also feature a range of pockets and thigh vents while the jersey includes a hidden zippered side pocket that doubles as a goggle wipe.
Race Face hasn't forgotten its women's audience, either, treating them to the new Khyber kit – the analogue to the men's Ambush series. Similar fabrics and features are included top and bottom but the cut and colors are specifically tailored for a better fit.
