Affordable 1x Electronic Shifting: Wheeltop EDS GeX Gravel Build

[@Paul-gd2lp]

After a few years of riding my MTB here (Florida, USA) on gravel, I finally finished a gravel bike build that I started 2 years ago... Built up a GR300 w/SRAM Apex XPLR/Cane Creek cranks, stem, BB & seat post. So pleased by how it rides, shifts and feels.... Very different from my MTB & so much fun!! See you at the trailhead!

[@GravelCyclist]

I don't know where in Florida you live? (I reside much of the year in North Florida). I alternate between the 10-44T cassette when I am out of state with XPLR, and a 10-36T cassette for flatter terrain / rolling hills. Good luck, glad your build is working out, Apex XPLR is a gamechanger.

[@Paul-gd2lp]

@@GravelCyclist Hey GC - home is Miami and I made the transition from Trail to Gravel a few years ago after a bad break... Gravel is more age appropriate :( (Bones take too long to heal at we "mature" lol). Home is SE Fla but I travel the state as part of my work. Always, loaded on my vehicle is my bike that I loudly transport through many hotel lobbies... Head office knows that after the work gets done - I go for a few miles of trail therapy... Looking forward to browsing through your videos & identifying new gravel trails throughout Central & NFla 🙂... Ride safe & keep the videos coming!

[@bcm1013]

shop pups are always a welcome sight especially in Santa attire.

[@ianhaigh9786]

Interesting, those are the old style calipers. Mine came with the new style. Loving the groupset after half a dozen rides. I took a bit of a gamble on this groupset, but very very happy so far, lets hope it's durable over time. I had the same experience with the brakes, no bleeding necessary which was a blessing for me as a 'non bike mechanic' fitting the grooupset. Also, for the long cage, wheeltop told me that their tests showed it will run 52t on most frames, but not all, hence they officially specify to 51t to be safe.... I'm runnning a 50 with consumate ease, would love to try a 52 as I reckon it'd work - making it a Sram competitor against the loved 10-52t Eagle cassettes

[@GravelCyclist]

Question about the calipers, are yours the dimpled style? Thus far I have run 10-44T SRAM cassette, and 11-36T Shimano cassette, both 12 speed with a Shimano 12 speed chain. Next experiment is the 13 speed SRAM cassette with a flat top SRAM chain.

[@buzzboykin9982]

Sorry for a little off subject but thought you might find it interesting as a several times visitor to Phoenix City. Back in the early 50s, Russel County and Phoenix City were crawling with corruption. An Alabama politician, Albert Patterson, ran for Attorney General in 1954 on a platform of cleaning up the corruption. He was finally declared winner on June 10th. As he left his law office on June 18th, he was assasinated. I was in the sixth grade in South AL at the time and remember the headlines. There may be historical markers around.

[@GravelCyclist]

Appreciate the local history intel, thank you. I've ridden up and down the riverwalk on the Alabama side a few times, and noticed some of the historical markers present.

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

But on a smaller note, I hope SRAM picks up the individual cog triming and number of cog's in cassette!

[@GravelCyclist]

Agreed, this is a game changer. It really proves that manufacturers control these derailleurs with software, there is no indexing like with a mechanical derailleur... I expect if you had the know how, you could have a 10 speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 derailleur shift 13 cogs...

[@aybee69]

Hmmm... Curiouser and curiouser... Btw, is that your OG Pro GR?

[@GravelCyclist]

Good afternoon, this is a Lynskey GR300, kindly provided for this little project. My OG Pro GR is spending life with a friend, while I still possess the polished PRO GR that not too many people have seen.

[@aybee69]

@GravelCyclist Ah..gotcha. The round tubes should've given it away. I've seen that polished one...SLICK!

[@hansschotterradler3772]

I'm considering this for my GR250. I'm still running the original 105 groupset (5800 series) with cable discs. I do think the app should be pre-programmed for the majority of cassettes.

[@GravelCyclist]

Indeed, that would be a good improvement. The spacing on the 12 speed was close, but as you saw in the video, we had to tweak it for some cogs.

[@timh6837]

Hey Jom, what tires are you riding on that bike? Thanks.

[@GravelCyclist]

Hey there, current tyres are Panaracer Gravelking SK, 700c x 43mm. That will likely change as I run a few different wheelsets.

[@timh6837]

@@GravelCyclistThanks!

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

I think there is a winter sale on Alixspress $440 Shifters, brakes and rd.

[@GravelCyclist]

Pretty hard to beat that deal.

[@alainpryt9641]

👏👏👏👍🇫🇷🚴🏻‍♂️

[@dempsey1231]

Loud salesman in the background 😅😅

[@thedownunderverse]

Interesting watch, but I personally avoid and boycott Chinese products wherever possible. Don’t feed the beast!

[@jevgeniardassov]

Where do you think SRAM and Shimano stuff is made? 😂

[@bengt_axle]

The beast has acquired Rotor components of Spain. Wheeltop purchased a majority stake in Rotor of Spain a few months ago. I think we will see some interesting products from this partnership, namely a competitor to SRAM, with a greater choice of cranks and chainsets.

[@thedownunderverse]

@@jevgeniardassov Taiwan and Japan, respectively. Shimano also manufactures in Malaysia. Crucially neither are headquartered in China and their profits do not enrich China. Thanks for asking!

[@GravelCyclist]

Thanks for the intel, I was unaware of this sale. Definitely a good collaboration with a lot of potential.

[@bengt_axle]

@@GravelCyclist Wheeltop is one of the few still making electronic shifting with rim brakes. I think this is a deliberate strategy to accomodate legacy chainsets (7-12 speed). But I also think they should get Chris Froome as a brand ambassador, because we all know how much he loves disk brakes.

[@crack0n]

finger tighten pedals for 25 years...they cant come undone by pedaling..

[@GravelCyclist]

Pete disagrees.

[@crack0n]

@GravelCyclist He should ride more