Trace Velo - A frustrating experience - Wheeltop EDS-TX bike build

Description

There has been a lot of hype around this Chinese electronic groupset fromWheeltop, but to be honest, I've found it slightly frustrating…

SIROKO CLOTHING – 10% off (automatically applied via link below): https://srko.co/tracevelo

A Chinese company called Wheeltop released an electronic drop bar groupset earlier this year that was set to rival Shimano Di2. It’s fully wireless, can support anything from 3 to 13 speed cassettes, is available in hydraulic disc or rim brake configurations, and offers great value costing around £500.

I did an unboxing a few months ago (A Chinese Wireless Electronic Groupset - Wheeltop EDS TX - First look), and was very impressed at the design and overall build quality. However on this new bike build, I included this groupset, and have come away with some small frustrations.

The main issues revolve around the usage of the companion app, and some issues trimming the front derailleur. Due to the limitations with adjustment, I get chain rub on the front derailleur cage in several gears, and the companion app can be confusing when looking to diagnose and adjust the issues with indexing.

However it appears most of the issues could be fixed with a firmware update, and after another few hours of tinkering, I have managed to eliminate some of the chain rub I demonstrated.

I will continue to use the groupset, and will soon compare directly to the updated L-TWOO eRX, so stay tuned!

Shout-out to Grant over at @GCPerformance18
And the Ribble Valley Cyclist @ribblevalleycyclist

Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:46 – Bike build part list
02:02 – Drilling the stem
03:37 – Bike build
06:03 – Bleeding the brakes
09:25 – Cost and weight
10:24 – Siroko Sponsor
11:52 – First shakedown ride
13:32 – Wheeltop groupset issues
17:41 – Conclusion
20:51 – Bonus clip - Crankset fix

Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tracevelo/

Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com

Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.

In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!

Keywords: Chinese carbon bike build,Aliexpress bike build,Wheeltop EDS,Wheeltop electronic groupset,wheeltop groupset,wheeltop EDSTX,Chinese electronic groupset,Chinese carbon road bike,Budget electronic groupset,13 speed electronic groupset

Bike part mentions in this video

WHEELTOP EDS-TX Wireless Carbon Electronic Shifter/Derailleur (Road Bike) Hydraullc Disc Brake Groupsets/Cable Brake Groupsets

Created: August 24, 2024

The reviewer discusses their experience with the WHEELTOP EDS-TX Wireless Carbon Electronic Shifter/Derailleur groupset throughout the video. They mention that the build went fine initially, but they found the groupset to be quite frustrating in practice. The reviewer highlights both positive and negative aspects, including the ease of setup and bleeding the brakes, but also significant issues with front derailleur performance and chain rub. They compare it to higher-end groupsets like Shimano Di2 and LTwoo's ERX, noting that while it doesn't match their performance, it offers a more affordable electronic shifting option.

AI-Summary

Pros

  • Fully wireless electronic shifting
  • Decent hydraulic brakes
  • Easy to set up on the bike
  • Straightforward to bleed the hydraulic brakes
  • Comfortable ergonomics of the shifters
  • Fast and reliable shifting at the back
  • Accommodates 3 to 13 speeds at the back
  • Affordable compared to big-name groupsets

Cons

  • Front derailleur lacks adjustability in the app
  • Chain rub issues in certain gear combinations
  • Slow shifting from small to large chain ring
  • App design is not intuitive
  • Rubber on the hoods is difficult to pull back when bleeding brakes
  • Shifters rattle on rougher roads
  • Non-standard parts may cause compatibility issues

Key Points

  • The groupset is fully wireless with hydraulic brakes.
  • The front derailleur automatically trims but lacks adjustability for trim positions.
  • The app allows initial calibration but lacks fine-tuning options for the front derailleur.
  • Shifting at the back is fast and reliable.
  • The reviewer experienced chain rub in specific gear combinations.
  • The groupset is compared to Shimano Di2 and LTwoo's ERX, with the latter being a more fair comparison.
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