Shimano Finally has a Competitor! WheelTop EDS TX Wireless Groupset Reviewed: The Ultimate Retrofit Upgrade!

The WheelTop EDS TX wireless electronic groupset I have right here is easily the most exciting upgrade for your bike in 2024. Why? It’s not just because it's significantly more affordable than Shimano or SRAM, but because of its real genius: you can choose the number of speeds via an app, ranging from 3 all the way up to 14! To demonstrate this, I’ve retrofitted my Fairlight steel bike, replacing an old 10-speed mechanical rim brake setup with this wireless electronic system and hydraulic disc brakes. This makes it the perfect solution for modernizing any older bike without needing to replace your existing cassette or crankset. While the big brands are stripping away choices—forcing you into 12-speed and abandoning rim brakes—WheelTop is giving that choice back to the riders.

Out on the road, my first impressions are very positive. The hoods are incredibly ergonomic and well-shaped, honestly better than SRAM in my hand, though the rubber material is a bit more slippery. The shifting logic is clever: two buttons on the right for the rear derailleur and a single button on the left that toggles the front derailleur up and down. It feels like a smart mash-up of Shimano and SRAM’s best features. As for battery life, it’s claimed to last 2,000 km. While the rubber flaps for the charging ports are a bit annoying and don't always stay in place, the shifting speed is impressive—quick, precise, and quiet, both on the road and in the workstand.

However, as a first-gen product, it’s not without its wrinkles. The hood rubber is quite stiff, making it tricky to fold back for bar taping or brake bleeding. Also, the front derailleur is quite chunky, which might cause clearance issues if you're running tires wider than 45mm on a gravel bike. The pairing process is also a bit clunky compared to the mainstream competition. But one thing that truly amazed me: when I ran into a setup issue, WheelTop’s support replied within 24 hours with a personalized video showing me how to fix it—you won't get that from Shimano! If you’re looking to upgrade an older bike for around £600 rather than spending £900+ on a full 105 Di2 kit, this is a no-brainer.