The most cost-effective way to upgrade your bike to electronic shifting in 2024
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In my case, that meant I could take my old Specialized Tarmac SL6 which was previously running mechanical Shimano Ultegra and upgrade it to electronic shifting without having to remortgage a house. As the drivetrain was in good nick, I was able to keep my cassette and crankset and my current KMC chain, and then bolt on the wireless mechs and replace the brakes.
All of that sounds rather good, but what's really going to determine whether this is a success is the price. This upgrade kit has an RRP of around £740 , and it's £70 less for the rim brake version. Realistically you can probably pick it up for a fair bit less than that – on the Wheeltop website it's reduced to £621.49 at the time of writing, and a quick online search reveals that on AliExpress you can find it for much, much less. For our reviews on road.
The next thing I like is the hoods – they're small, they're comfortable and, well, they're just a good shape really. Wheeltop's rivals have spent years getting all the hydraulic gubbins small so we don't have to have towers on our shifters and yet Wheeltop has managed to do it on its first go; they feel similar in the hand to the Ultegra R8170 shifters.
The shifters aren't perfect either – the rubber hoods are just a bit stiff. The easiest way to describe them is that they feel more plasticky and less rubbery than SRAM or Shimano hoods. They are nice and tight but rely on the textured finish for grip rather than the material itself. It also makes it trickier to bend them back to change your shifter position.
You can actually configure which one does which way using the Wheeltop app. You don't get any auxiliary plug-in buttons with the EDS groupset, so no sprint or climbing shifters, nor are there any buttons hidden under the hoods like you get on Shimano Ultegra and Dura-Ace shifters or the latest SRAM Red. You do get a little light, though. Both shifters are powered by CR2032 coin cell batteries.All that tech, low weight and clever features are pointless if you can't stop.
If the forums are to be believed then you'll have no problems using the Wheeltop shifters with Shimano brake callipers if you'd rather use those over these Wheeltop ones. One thing you don't get is any synchro shift modes, but you can change multiple gears at a time by holding down the button. I can't say I ever use Shimano's synchro shift functions, so this isn't something that I overly missed.
The app, for all of its functionality, just doesn't feel as polished as the ones from the big brands. Combine that with some broken English translations and it might take you a few goes to get your head around; it's usable, but don't expect it to be painless. Another consideration is warranty. Shimano has a huge dealer network and SRAM has been working hard in recent years to prove that it can compete with its own after-sales service. With Wheeltop you do get a one-year warranty, which should give some peace of mind, but realistically if something breaks you are likely going to be without your bike for longer.In my opinion, competition is always good, and Wheeltop has certainly put the cat among the pigeons.
Wheeltop says:"Featured with carbon fibre, the EDS TX is lightweight, extremely durable, sleek, and proficient in shock absorption, providing riders with a nimble and comfortable biking experience.' I agree that it is a cost-effective way of upgrading your bike to electronic shifting, and on the whole it's very good.It's well made but slightly less refined than Shimano or SRAM offerings . Would have been an 8 if not for the rubber grommet fitment.
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