The brake is the most important component on a bike. It sounds extreme, but in certain situations, it can mean the difference between life and death. The range of products is huge, and at the very top of the list are Trickstuff brakes—they’re considered the absolute top of the line. But can you really trust your life to this almost delicate-looking brake?

The star pupil in the wheel department catches the best in class when it comes to brakes. Or to put it another way: DT Swiss is getting brake specialist Trickstuff on board. DT Swiss also wants to establish a foothold in Freiburg im Breisgau with the acquisition.

Brake production does not always succeed without visual flaws. Although technically flawless, such stoppers usually end up as scrap metal. Trickstuff is now deciding against this throwaway policy: brakes with visual defects are being refurbished in matt black and are being sold as a limited special edition. But the company is also opting for more sustainable packaging solutions with immediate effect.

The Black Forest is not only a great biking region, but also the breeding ground for numerous small but excellent companies in the bike industry. We have extensively tested five products from this region in recent months.