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When we talk about the Esker Howdy Ti, we could focus on its cutting-edge linkage design. Or its titanium frame. Or its pretty good value. But what stood out for Travis is how much fun it is … That, and the fact that it’s a cutting-edge titanium bike that’s a pretty good value.
Terms like “supportive,” “capable,” “stiff,” and “compliant” are well worn bike-review cliches. But Travis thinks they’re far overshadowed by one little word that, for better or worse, is essential when discussing gear. You’ll have to read his thesis to find out what it is, but here’s a hint: Everybody’s got one.
Most of today’s cross-country bikes are luxury items made only for racers. But the Specialized Chisel Comp takes a more affordable approach to the fast lane. So, Travis put on some lycra, swapped some parts, swapped some back, and crossed some country.
Steel handlebars are timeless and elegant. But Travis doesn’t care about that stuff. He owns two pairs of 4130 steel DOOM Lucky Riser bars because they instantly make any mountain bike more capable and more comfortable…
CrossWorx’s German-made aluminum frames combine brutalism and futurism with surprising elegance. Travis reviewed the trail-oriented CrossWorx Lite 290, finding that it punched well above its weight. And that’s saying a lot for a frame that is definitely not “Lite.”
The tiny Trickstuff Piccola brakes were first called out to Travis from a tiny booth at Eurobike 2017, but the tiny German brand that made them was slow to expand into the US. Now, after being acquired by DT Swiss in December of 2021, Trickstuff is finally scaling up. There have been some growing pains, which we’ll get into, but from first squeeze, we can assure you these were worth the wait.
There are no trail gnomes. Trails don’t maintain themselves, especially after flash flooding and fires. In steep and relentless terrain like Los Angeles’s San Gabriel Mountains, a few crews look out for trail users. In these mountains, one group, in particular, the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club, keeps those ribbons of stoke running smoothly. Read on for a look at the Lowelifes and the crew’s contribution to the trails of the San Gabriel Mountains, presented by Fox Racing…
While Travis was growing up in the Midwest, the Illinois winters forced him to find new ways to pass the time. But now that he’s in California, its the summer that pushes him outside his comfort zone. His picks reflect the adaptations he’s made in 2025.
Old Man Mountain Racks used to only make racks, hence the name. But they’re swiftly transforming into a full-service cargo company. Their quick-release Hemlock bags and FLiP system are innovative parts of that transformation, and Travis has spent a few months flipping its switches.
In this installment of For A Change, we meet Gnargo Bike Co.. They reincarnate old steel mountain bike frames into high-quality front-load electric cargo bikes. Their bikes are made to order in northwest Arkansas, are more affordable than off-the-shelf alternatives, and every one of them comes standard with a soul. Travis talks to founders Zach and Elysia, who credit their unique community for Gnargo’s success, but believe their business model is bigger than Bentonville.
We’d like to thank Schwalbe for sponsoring these stories…
This is more than just a review of the Spot Mayhem 140. It’s an exploration of what suspension does, what we want it to do, and what happens when a small company throws a small chunk of titanium into the works. It’s also an excuse for Travis to talk about leverage curves.
Shimano’s new XTR group is here. It’s wireless, it’s compatible with existing 12-speed Shimano cassettes, and the derailleur mounts to a normal hanger. There’s also a new compact drivetrain, plus new cranks, new wheels, and new brakes that solve an old problem. Travis has been on it for four months, so there’s a lot to talk about.
When we highlight a destination, it’s usually home to great riding, a special event, or a unique shop. The town of Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina is different. That’s where, more than 120 years ago, two midwestern bike mechanics changed the world. Travis, a midwestern bike mechanic himself, tells us about his surprisingly cathartic visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
While doing research for an unrelated story, Travis came across a SRAM patent application for what looked like a two-speed hub. But the more he read, the more it seemed like this isn’t meant as a copy of the Classified Powershift hub. It’s something much weirder.
Does seeing a nice, tall curb-cut ever remind you of the first time you got both wheels off the ground? Travis had been chasing that dragon for decades until a leg injury brought him swiftly down to earth. But then he found an unlikely path back to dirt jumping when it finally became possible to find a really good public bike park.
German-made Trickstuff brakes are possibly the most sought-after components you can buy… if you can even buy them. There were often months-long waiting lists, plus the red tape required to import them into the US. And they aren’t cheap.
A few years ago, Trickstuff was acquired by DT Swiss, which gave us hope that they might scale up and become a bit more accessible. Today, we can finally share some news about how that will look. DT took their time, preserving everything that makes Trickstuff so desirable. We asked DT for the deets, so here is everything we know until we get our review set in later this season.
*Note: On May 5th 2025, a couple weeks after we initially shared this news, DT Swiss sent out a press release saying they would be moving production of Trickstuff Brakes to one of their own production facilities in Poland. Scroll to the bottom for their statement.
Will the brakes be any cheaper?
This is a new offering for the North American market. In the USA, MSRP/MAP for Maxima brake sets is $1,395, while MSRP/MAP for Direttissima and Piccola brake set models are $1,180.
Do you expect there will be a shorter waitlist?
Yes. Since Trickstuff was acquired by DT Swiss, one of the primary goals has been to improve availability. On top of process improvement, we have been building up stock at our global headquarters in Pfaffenweiler, Germany (where Trickstuff brakes are assembled) over the past year. We have done this in preparation to launch Trickstuff into North America.
Additionally, we have built up a safety stock of Trickstuff products in Grand Junction, CO. Since 1996, DT Swiss has had a subsidiary in Grand Junction, CO, which includes its American service center and production of spokes and wheels. With this in place, this has allowed us to add a Trickstuff service center, build up stock, and quickly support requests from partners and consumers.
It’s worth noting that, on top of stock and service in Grand Junction, CO, we have partnered with a set of IBDs that will stock Trickstuff brakes from the time of launch. This is an expanding list but currently includes: Basalt Bike Ski / Cripple Creek Backcountry, Cyclepath PDX, Fanatik, Gravelo Workshop, Marin Service Course, and World Wide Cyclery.
Has Trickstuff increased its manufacturing capability?
Yes, again, this has been a major priority over the past few years. The goal has been to increase capacity while still maintaining the premium qualities Trickstuff has come to be known for.
Will the brakes and service parts be sold through retailers or consumer-direct?
For brake systems, we will work directly with key IBDs. Over time, we intend to add additional partner IBD’s as demand and inventory can support. Our IBD partners will also have access to the majority of our service parts, tools and accessories so they are able to support customers quickly.
Additionally, distributor BTI will stock service parts, tools, and accessories. Any IBD with a BTI account will have access to these items.
Lastly, as noted previously, we have a full US-based Service Center at DT Swiss, USA in Grand Junction, CO. Should there be any service or warranty needs that shops are unable to address, our team can support quickly via this Service Center.
Will there be any US assembly of brake systems?
For now, all of our brake assembly will continue to take place at Tricksuff’s global headquarters in Pfaffenweiler, Germany.
*As noted above, this has changed. Please see the statement at the bottom of this post.
Can customers still mix and match some levers and calipers?
It depends.
All possible pump and caliper combinations are represented in our product line already. Some of the models do share components, though, such as:
We will not be offering custom color builds like we have done in the past. The number of moving parts with build customization like this led to constraints. To improve capacity and lead times, we have refined and distilled product options. That said, from time to time, we will offer special edition options like the recently released Direttissima Artic Blue.
Are there any OEM discussions happening?
Stay tuned.
Will all models in the Trickstuff catalog be available in the US?
Yes, all models will be available in the US. We have built up stock of all models, with stock increasing for the final addition to US inventory: Piccola Carbon. We will begin to see quantities of the Piccola Carbon in the US market starting in June, with additional quantities available later in 2025.
*Trickstuff statement about moving production to Poland is below:
The Board of Directors of DT Swiss Group AG and the Managing Director of Trickstuff GmbH have decided, for economic and strategic reasons, to relocate the registered office of Trickstuff GmbH from Pfaffenweiler to Oelde as of July 1, 2025. The establishment in Pfaffenweiler will be closed as of June 30, 2025. Trickstuff will remain as a brand and provider of high-quality brakes and brake components. Sales, market development and customer service will be based at the new registered office of Trickstuff GmbH in Oelde. Engineering, product management and marketing are handled by DT Swiss AG in Biel. The assembly of Trickstuff products will then be carried out by DT Swiss Polska SP. z o.o. in Oborniki.
The dynamic market development of the last three years and especially the challenges in the MTB market segment make these measures unavoidable. The goal is to continue ensuring the competitiveness and independence of the Trickstuff brand.
“The decision to close the Pfaffenweiler establishment of Trickstuff GmbH in the Freiburg-Im-Breisgau region and thus to make the redundancies was not easy for us. The employees of Trickstuff have worked very hard on the development of the brand and the company in recent years,” explains Frank Böckmann, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AG. He further emphasizes: “We are aware that the enthusiasm of the team and the location in the Black Forest are a large part of the brand’s identity. Therefore, it is very important to us to carefully accompany the affected employees. We are conducting individual discussions about their professional future, with the aim of providing individual advice and support.”
The business and brand partners of Trickstuff were immediately informed about the upcoming changes after the internal communication on May 5, 2025 to enable a smooth transition. Ensuring service quality and the availability of spare and individual parts are the focus. The existing product portfolio of Trickstuff will continue to be available in consistently high quality and quantity through authorized partners (https://www.trickstuff.com/en/support/dealer-locator) as well as through the Trickstuff webshop (https://webshop.trickstuff.com).
See more at Trickstuff
Our second installment of For a Change tells a surprisingly optimistic story about e-bike battery recycling. In a refreshing act of cooperation and environmental stewardship, dozens of brands voluntarily channel money to fund the transport of spent batteries to special recycling centers. Those centers can reclaim as much as 95% of a battery’s metals while making a fraction of the impact that mining would. Travis takes us from a tiny lithium atom to a 5-million-square-foot recycling plant, with just a few stops on the way to discuss state and federal laws.
We’d like to thank Schwalbe for sponsoring these stories.
Saddle choice is personal. Maybe that’s why WTB makes so many of them, and why they just made a few more. Travis got to ride three brand new saddles; the short-nose Solano and Solano SL, plus an updated Rocket. They’re not for everyone, but they’re not supposed to be.
