$700 Wheeltop EDS Review: Why the Shifting is Great, but I’m Still Swapping it Out

What’s up, guys! I’ve been running the Wheeltop EDS on my new build, and here’s the kicker: I actually think the shifting is pretty great, but that’s not why I’m swapping it back for my SRAM Force. Let’s be honest, the primary job of a groupset is to shift, and Wheeltop delivers on that. I managed to get it working perfectly, but it took some effort and a lot of on-the-go indexing.

The biggest advantage Wheeltop has over the "Big Two" is also its biggest headache: infinite customizability. You can index every single gear individually. While this is fantastic for running any cassette you want, it means you might find yourself cycling around with the app open, tweaking gear by gear. Also, having "Casual" and "Racing" modes makes zero sense to me. Yes, Racing mode feels firmer and more powerful, but I’m convinced it slightly shifts the indexing, causing annoying ticks. I wish they’d just pick one mode and make it flawless.

So, why am I taking it off? It comes down to ergonomics and confidence. The hoods are simply too small. I’m 5'11", and there’s just not enough rubber to grip onto. When I’m descending or hitting bumps, I don’t feel secure; it feels like my hands could slip off. Then there's the rattling . On UK roads, the constant "shake, rattle, and roll" from the levers drives me nuts. When you build a bike yourself, any rattle feels like something is wrong. At $700, it’s a brilliant piece of tech for a commuter or a budget project, but for my main racing rig, the ergonomics and the noise are deal-breakers.