After the launch of their Vault hub technology, Race Face has been slowly upgrading their wheels. Coinciding with the kick off of Crankworx, it should come as little surprise that the latest wheelset to get the Vault treatment is a little more gravity oriented. OK, a lot more gravity oriented. Designed for long days in the park or knocking down fast lap after lap, the Atlas wheels look like a worthy addition to the Race Face line up…
Lately for Race Face, it’s all about that hub. The Vault hubs use a massive hub shell for improved torque transfer that houses wide set bearings, and a 6 pawl drive mechanism with the ratchet ring on the freehub body itself and 120 points of engagement (3°). In this case, the hubs are available in 20 x 110mm front and 12 x 150/157mm rear with Shimano/SRAM 10/11 or SRAM XD freehub bodies. Using 28 2.0/1.8mm butted straight pull spokes per wheel laced in a 3x pattern, the wheels should be plenty durable while keeping the weight low. There are also five spare spokes included with the wheels when it comes time to replace them for that inevitable rock strike or major crash.
Sticking with 6069 aluminum for the rim, the Atlas features a 30mm internal width that is also 22mm tall. The rims also use a 4.5mm offset for the spoke bed to improve overall spoke balance and a “dent and flat resistan” bead design. Tubeless ready, the rims are black anodized with water transfer graphics.
All of this adds up to a complete wheelset weight of 1950g (claimed), which puts them in pretty good company for a DH wheelset. And at $994.99 for the set, you’ll save some money over a set of carbon hoops for that lift pass.
Ready to break up with gravity? Apparently, Dylan Forbes is as well…
Along with the Atlas wheels, Race Face is also introducing a wider version of their SixC bar. If wider is better, these will get you there at 820mm. The carbon bars are rated for Enduro all the way up to DH and feature a 35mm bar clamp, 20mm or 35mm rise, and 8º Back/5º Up sweep. Claimed weight is 235g for the 20mm rise, and price is set at $174.99.
