> Best Hardcore Cranks 2005: While there's a load of ultra heavy, ultra strength cranks out there to choose from, there's only one crank to match the new tough but lightweight 'all mountain' bikes. Race Face's Atlas crank gets a reinforced axle and bottom bracket that's tough enough for Steve Peat to race DH on but isn't much heavier than a normal XC crank. Marvellous.

> Needless to say these are awesome cranks, well strong, easily handle 5 to 6 foot drop offs. Had some real nightmares with external bearing systems recently but these RF ones are impeccable, buttery smooth BB performance and perfect shifting every time - rings still look as good as new even after 700 miles.

> These cranks are even more 'bling' than the other Race Face offering, I don't reckon they could have done anymore machining if the'd tried. They may have had lots of material taken away but they have enough left for 'All Mountain' riding as Race Face like to call it. In normal speak that simply means both strong and light enough to be used for almost any riding, maybe just leave out the 40 foot drops though. Like their bigger brother (which would be much more suited to that kind of lunacy), these seem very stiff, which is no doubt helped by the use of the same bottom bracket arrangement. Unlike the Diabolus though, they do not have a steel pedal insert, but thanks to the quality of the aluminium, stripping threads should never be a problem. The cranks and BB are available without rings, but considering the rings you get shift as well as a Shimano, last longer, and are very strong, you'd be wiser not to take that option. If you want to run a triple set-up, and you love the styling, then these will certainly not disappoint.