Trickstuff Home Visit - Uncompromising Commitment
The brake is probably one of the most crucial components on a bike, especially when it comes to safety and control. We visited Trickstuff!
On a mountain bike and gravel bike, the disc brake is indispensable, and even the road bike benefits from its power and reliability. Thus, this type of brake has now become the standard across the board.
The hydraulic disc brake has seen rapid development. In its early years, it was often quite vulnerable, prone to leaks, and needed to be bled quite frequently. As such, many skeptics dismissed it as unnecessary hype. However, thanks to continuous development and mass production, it has become more and more reliable and maintenance-free – so now, there's hardly any argument against these powerful calipers.
Over the years, several manufacturers have established themselves in the market with very good and reliable models, and nowadays, except in the cheap segment, it's hard to buy a brake that doesn't work satisfactorily and solidly.
There are brakes, and then there’s Trickstuff!
But there’s one manufacturer that not only makes functional brakes but is on a mission to build the best brakes in the world, without compromise – TRICKSTUFF. A few years ago, I visited them. Back then, their premises weren't much bigger than a private apartment and housed a handful of workers. But since their products have gained an extraordinary reputation in the market, the manufacturer has been able to grow to meet the now larger demand.
Welcome to Pfaffenweiler
So, Michael, Flo, and I were pretty amazed when we were welcomed to the new company headquarters in the cozy Pfaffenweiler near Freiburg. The company has grown significantly, with around 30 employees. The predominantly young team consists mostly of mountain bikers, allowing the ladies and guys to directly incorporate their experiences from the trail into the development process. I immediately felt that people here work with zest and enjoyment for the product – which kinda makes sense when hobby and career are so closely intertwined.
After the welcome, we first headed to the kitchen to get to know each other over some coffee, then started the “tour.” We had a look at the development department and watched CAD models, animations, and simulations flicker across monitors. Sadly, photos were off-limits here – the work is too sensitive. After all, the manufacturer wants to protect its “secret recipes” and future projects.
Marketing & Sales
Next, we moved on to the marketing and sales office. Here, brand presence is coordinated both online and at events, business affairs are managed, and everything related to the public perception of the Trickstuff brand is organized.
Customer Service
In customer service, customer inquiries are answered by phone and email. So, if you ever have a problem with a Trickstuff product or need advice, you’ll be helped here professionally and friendly.
The bouncer in the foreground ensures that the colleague in the back can handle your service issues in peace.
Workshop and Quality Assurance
The Workshop: A Trickstuff product is not a throw-away item, obviously. If something should break, you can, of course, send the patient right in. Thus, a brake can last for years with consistent performance, and with proper care, it may accompany you for your entire biking life.
Quality Assurance: To ensure that the brakes function at top-level, low tolerances and very high quality of components must be guaranteed. Here, only those parts that meet the highest standards are approved.
Production
Now to the nitty-gritty: In production, assembling, filling, and bleeding is done with great care. The employees are not under pressure but can work conscientiously and calmly to meet the high-quality demands. I could feel how meticulously everyone works; people really enjoy their job. To really understand the manufacturing process and to get to know the technology of the brakes better, I was allowed to completely assemble a brake myself – of course under guidance and supervision.
It's amazing how much detail work is necessary to bring the performance to a top level, as a brake is fundamentally a product of manageable complexity. Every detail is optimized, every component has been scrutinized for its properties to extract the absolute maximum - without compromise on material, development, and production costs. It's simply fun!
After assembly, we filled, bled, and thoroughly tested the brake – test passed. But don't worry: The brake I mounted as an “ambitious amateur” won't be sold. It will be used for practice and testing purposes. If you order a brake, it will exclusively pass through the hands of professionals!
"Every detail is optimized - without compromises!"
A home visit to a manufacturer from the mountain bike sector wouldn't be complete without a ride. On my last visit to Freiburg, I was on the Canadian Trail, but this time, the now legendary Borderline was on the agenda. For the ride, it felt like half the workforce had turned up – naturally, all equipped with Trickstuff brakes. The trail winds through the forest with a nice mix of flowy sections and some more challenging segments, steps, and root passages, and several super well-built jumps provide the sought-after airtime. A detour to Freiburg is definitely worth it if you’re around!
Afterward, we all headed to the Dreisam (a small river through Freiburg) for a beer after work, to properly round off the great day. It was especially nice to see how the Trickstuff company really is like a bunch of buddies who just love cycling and at the same time place themselves in the market with highly professional, state-of-the-art products.
"Damn, now I want a Trickstuff too! How about you?"
If you're not necessarily in the market for a new brake but could still use more performance, check out the Trickstuff brake pads.
The tuning pads from Trickstuff are available for the most important and common manufacturers and brake models. They offer more braking power and resistance against fading – give them a try!
