RaceFace ERA Crankset Long Term Review [Employee Review]

Words & Photos by Jared Erickson

RaceFace has a storied history of creating quality components that stand the test of time. After plenty of abuse, it turns out their ERA crankset is no exception. This unique crank features a stainless steel plate that prevents shoe rub and protects the carbon crank from rocks and trail debris. Check it out!

Overview

I've been running these RaceFace ERA Cranks for over a year now, and they have continued to impress me in more ways than one. I first had these installed on my Mondraker Raze which I immediately took to the Rocky Mountains for a week-long Chasing Epic MTB trip in Durango, Colorado. Talk about a great place to shakedown a brand new crank. Despite being bashed by rocks the size of grapefruits, smashed into logs and shoved into a shuttle rack that was specifically designed to ruin carbon cranks, they continued to look great and showed very little signs of wear. After several months on that bike, they migrated over to my El Jefe where they have lived for about a year now and over a thousand miles. 

These cranks blend all of the elements of the ideal mountain bike crank. You get a lightweight crank that's arguably the most durable carbon crank ever made, impervious to the infamous foot rub, and they are remarkably stiff so all of your power is translated directly to the ground. The only element that is not quite ideal is the price. At $499 they are not exactly cheap, however, they are priced in the same ballpark as other premium crank offerings from brands like SRAM, 5DEV, e*thirteen, and others. When compared to other carbon cranks, they are in a similar weight range, however, their stainless steel plate gives them the durability edge over basically every other carbon crank in the market. Some might be quick to judge the steel plate as gimmicky or marketing hype, but after using it in the real world, it is properly functional and appreciated.

When it comes to cranks, there are really only a few things you can truly evaluate in the real world. Is it stiff, durable, and light? Or is it noodly, weak and heavy? Overall, I have been very impressed by this crank. It isn't the lightest carbon crank on the market, but it will happily survive the abuse you dish out from plain old trail riding to gnarly shuttle laps - and I personally would trade a few grams for that peace of mind any day. It has given me zero issues despite all of the abuse it has taken, and it has continued to look great in the process. Not only does the stainless steel plate do its job to prevent general wear and tear, it helps deflect rogue rock strikes and it adds some style and flair to the cranks. The CINCH chainring interface remained trouble free throughout the test period, and the self extracting mechanism allowed easy removal and installation of the cranks. If you are into adding some more spice to your ride, these cranks are also offered with colored logos so you can coordinate and get all matchy matchy. 

Final Thoughts

The RaceFace ERA Crankset is an impressive and refreshing take on a mountain bike crank that breaks the mold. It combines light weight with stiffness, durability, and style. If you are looking to upgrade to a carbon crank but are worried about durability, these could be just the ticket.