Welcome to my channel! I share weekly ride vlogs, practical tips for riders of all levels and honest gear reviews for stuff you'll actually be interested in. From testing the latest cycling tech to exploring scenic routes, my channel is all about the love of cycling. Join me on this journey and connect with a community passionate about porridge powered, two wheeled transport.
The bike looks fantastic and based on this video, yes, I would buy the frame and handlebars. The other thing about the round post as it should allow for a dropper set up, which is great for lots of terrain and especially for descending. Are you doing a ride review? That would be great.
Frankly, I'll stick with analog shifting, b/c electronic shifting fixes a problem that _I_ don't have. I don't want to have to charge my otherwise self-powered bike.
I will be getting the wheel top gravel group set as I'm looking to build a carbon one. Give my boardman 8.9 to my son. Not seen a bad review on them yet. Some small problems that can be got over and extra money to go on the build.
@@petertreadway it needs absolute precision for it not to throw the chain over crank side. There's a few provided setup tools but my god, you need to go out on a ride with an allen key 😂
@@chrisje1991 Ah, that's frustrating then! Nothing worse than changing up in to the big ring, ready for a sprint and finding your chain has come off! 🤦 Thanks for the info and hope you get on better with Shimano but I can definitely highly recommend the Wheeltop though. 👌
It's a Toseek integrated bar and stem from AliExpress, Brian. I bought it about 4 years ago though, so they don't seem to make it anymore but this is a similar sort of thing they do now: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEx54nL
I think it really does. Not only with a rim brake option but being able to change your cassette size at the tap of a button in the app is game changing. No more need to swap out expensive bits of kit to upgrade. I'm super happy with it. 👌
the motor assist start is not connected to the rear hub motor type, it depends on if the bike is fitted with a cadence sensor or a torque sensor, most bikes have the cheaper cadence sensor and require a little bit of pedal movement before the motor kicks in, Engwe also has rear-hub motor e-bikes with a torque sensor (Engwe Engine Pro 2.0 for example) where the motor kicks in right a way as force is applied to the pedals
Check your updates. My wheeltop has worked with my garmin for Over a month . And I'd advise your friend to get a magene pes 505 power meter although check sram chainringcompatibility. Mine has been fantastic and it's really cheap
Ooooh, there's info I wasn't;t aware of!!! Cheers for that, I'll go take a look now. As for the Magene, funnily enough I've been looking at them recently, so will likely grab one soon for my road bike. 👌
Nice video again Mr Treadway, no offence but you have convinced me to stick with what I have. You did not say what you had for breakfast , that is the most important bit. See you next Sunday please. Enjoy your week.
Sorry for missing out that vital bit of info, Richard! I had a lovely sausage and egg sandwich on toasted sourdough bread, with lashings of brown sauce! Also, so long as my videos are helping people come to some sort of decision, it maters not to me what that decision is. I'm just happy to have helped. Thanks as ever though, and I'll see you next Sunday. 😉
For me the main upside of the Wheeltop system is its compatibility. I ride a rim brake bike, which makes this tempting as an electronic shifting option, especially with my rough shifting habits causing the rear shifter cable to tear inside the shifter housing approximately once every year. Beyond support for rim brakes, I would be able to use it with my current 10-speed cassette, and then upgrade to 12-speed at a later time without needing to replace the whole drive train. It is annoying that the big brands deliberately prevent this compatibility. A software or firmware controlled system is the ideal platform for this kind of flexibility, but instead they lock you down, forcing you to replace everything. The open question about Wheeltop is long-term reliability and repairability. I'm very sceptical about spare part availability, not just the battery, e.g., can you purchase just the derailleur? Apparently not. It's relatively inexpensive, but this goes out the door if it breaks and cannot be repaired. There are apparently teething problems too, from poor app design to badly fitting charge pin covers, weak magnets, and cheap rubber hoods. I'm on the fence between sticking with mechanical shifting or giving this a try, perhaps when the next generation is released or the price drops significantly?
As you suggest, Joachim, I think Wheeltop have played it really well by offering rim brakes and the ability to change your cassette size with the push of a button. Regards your questions though, I have to agree with your concerns, as most of them are things I discussed in my review video of this group a couple of months ago. The app can be a bit clunky and the charge port covers are something I've suffered with. However, I'm hoping that Wheeltop will take all of this feedback on board and later iterations of the hardware and software will be much improved. Time will tell, I guess.
Neither, I love my Di2 105 and now thanks to the "front shift next" update In love it even more. I don't need to pine for the hidden buttons any more, because all I wanted them for was to be able to flip my Garmin pages, and now I can. But if I had to choose, I'd go Wheeltop, nothing against SRAM really, it's purely practical, most aftermarket drivetrain consumables from expensive to dirt cheap are Shimano/HG clones, so it's simpler and cheaper to keep things running, alongside my other Shimano-ish bikes.
You've put in to words something that's always nagged at the back of my mind with SRAM, Chris and that's that it just seems a little more obscure or niche than Shimano, at least in terms of getting compatible parts. The ease of maintenance/replacement of parts for the big name brands (in my head at least) goes Shimano, SRAM, then Campag.... although one day I would love to run a Campy set up, just to see what all the fuss is about! 👌
Honestly? I'm up in the air now. My eR9 is now giving me grief after being flawless; the v2 has vapourised and Di2 is just out of reach full stop even in 105 form. I'm beginning to lean towards the EDS TX
The wait for the LTWOO v2 does seem to be getting on now. I remember you mentioning it quite some time ago now, so it's a shame it hasn't;t materialised yet! I can definitely recommend the Wheeltop group though. It seems robust, it works well and after around 500 miles, I'm still het to charge it up again. I can't complain at all, Sam. 👌
I confirm the robustness of these elite ent gravel wheels. I have a 35 mm set and clocked 5.5k km so far with several bigger potholes and stronger root hits. No issues whatsoever, they stay true. The are a really good value for money. And the standard 6-pawl freehub is ridiculously loud. As for wheeltop I am considering swapping my ltwoo gr9 brifters and grx 812 rd setup for eds gex because I am not satisfied with the shifting performance, but first I need to see some reviews.
That's really reassuring to hear, although I was fairly confident in the Elite Wheels ability thanks to the road wheels I already have. As for the GeX, I'm hoping to get my hands on it at some point, but in the mean time, Dave Noakes and the Ribble Valley Cyclist both have videos of it, if you havent already checked them out. 👌
One thing that bears mentioning with SRAM is that you’ll also need the bottom bracket, probably. My bike has BB86 and with the 30mm crank axle diameter, this means that the BB ends up with pretty puny bearings in it. I’m sticking with my Shimano 2x11 mechanical 105 for the time being. 😉
Oh that's an interesting bit of info I wasn't aware of! I mean, I'm sure the bearings still work well, but yeh, there's always a little more concern for smaller parts wearing quicker. Thanks for the info.
Good point well made, Phil. I’ve just never tried tubeless and every time I think of giving it a go, I see another photo of someone with sealant all over their back and frame where they’ve had a blowout and the sealant hasn’t worked! 😂 I’ll give it a go one day, I’m sure. 👌🏻
TBF, this frame is likely designed for electronic shifting, so I probably created more problems for myself by needing to install 4 cable housings/hoses! 🤦🏻♂️
I have a 2 x 11 speed Ultegra, 2x SRAM force 12 speed, and 1 x SRAM Apex 12 speed, all electronic, also have a bike on my trainer 105 rim brake mechanical, I’m thinking of investing in the wheeltop set, good see that some manufacturers are thinking of upgrade, rather than total replacement. Enjoying the videos, nice to see some English countryside, for change.
Cheers Steve, glad you enjoyed it. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. As you say, Wheeltop is a great option to upgrade and I think they’ve stolen a march on the big name brands with that and the rim brake option. 👌🏻
@@petertreadway I have the eGR on my gravel bike. I can't say I've tried the Wheeltop, but from videos I've seen the actual installation and setup using the app seems way too painful compared to the LTWoo. Microadjusting a gear anywhere anytime, visually seeing the derailleur move as you click your screen vs having to shift and check, shift and check is just too much to give up. I want to get the eRX, but my budget doesnt allow it yet. Yeah, its not "fully" wireless, more like Shimano, but for me and I think most users non power users, that difference is negligible.
@@PeterSmithCA, the difference between fully wireless and needing cables routed to a central battery is not a negligible detail if one is trying to upgrade a bike that wasn't designed for such a battery and associated cable routing. Fully wireless is the only realistic option in that case.
@@joachimachtzehnter4772 This is true. I really only got into cycling in 2019, and nothing I've bought hasn't been built for this. I kinda would like to refurbish an old 70s 10 speed, so might be an option there. I hope they improve their app from videos I've seen at least. But I need a budget first - lol
Until Wheel top have service centers in UK and Europe its not worth the the hassle sending stuff back to China and leave you with out a bike for a month or more.
I would NOT buy Sram, 10 tooth smallest is a big engineering mistake by Sram. Persolly I am not a fan of electronic groupset, and I will not switch from mechanical, currently on Ultegra, adn planning to change to Campagnolo/ Mechanical groupset will always be far more reliable, simple, faster, and independent of any soft bugs, and battery failures, etc. If any electronic groupset I would vote 100% Shimano Ultegra 12 speed, much more efficient drivetrain. in general.
The trouble with going lower than a 10t cog, is that you’re really cutting down your choice of cassettes and wheels/hubs you can use them on. XD hubs are the obvious choice, but then there’s the inefficiency of using smaller cogs and the argument that if you need a top gear that small, you’re better off just using a big chainring at the front. I agree that there is far less to go wrong with mechanical though. 👌🏻 Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Really appreciate your input and take on the different groupsets. 💪🏻
How much time does anyone really spend in their 10t cog? I do _not_ have current SRAM AXS w/ 10t, but I previously had 11sp DoubleTap w/ an 11t small cog. Waaay back when I ran Ultegra with 53/39 & an 12-25 cassette, I probably used that top gear less than 0.5% of the time.
Nice comparison. If i had to choose, defo SRAM - the removable batteries make all the difference to me. Then again, I don't see myself EVER getting an electronic groupset unless I'd get it gifted. My 2x11 mechanical setup (Ultegra) works like a charm and all I had to do after 3500 km was turning in the cable adjuster at the RD a bit. :) There are too many things I have to charge already when going for a ride (lights, headunit, phone, headphones). To each their own ofc.
I must admit that charging things the night before a ride has become the bane of my life, despite building myself a charging station to make it easier. Incredibly though, I haven't had to charge the Wheeltop since putting it on back in the summer. I've probably done around 500 miles since then and it's only just hit 50% battery. The removable batteries on the SRAM are enticing though, especially with being able to swap them out if one dies mid ride! 2x11 Ultegra is a more than decent setup though, so can understand you not wanting to change.
Took me a LONG TIME to go from shimano mechanical to eTap (the gearshift movement) which I've had for at least 4yr I think 🤔, the 1st issue (non-disc) & even on the 1st batteries (charging when they need to have it) and I've rode it in every weather condition also 👌 - thanks for the video Peter 👍
Cheers Lee. 👌🏻The SRAM setup does look nice and, as silly as it sounds, I think it’s mainly to do with the flat top chain. It looks so cool! 😂 May consider installing SRAM on my bike in the future, but for now I’m really happy with the Wheeltop group. 👌🏻
@@petertreadway Oh truly Peter, if I was buying electric now, it'd be your stuff (Wheeltop) - id have to get that as I'm still in the past with my old-fashioned rim brakes 🤣
Cheers Scott, glad you enjoyed and felt compelled to comment. Healthy debate is what it’s all about and part of the reason I love making these videos, to see the views that you guys have on a range of subjects. 💪🏻
@@petertreadway A healthy debate is always welcome. If you get five years of reliable shifting then £600 (or whatever it retailed) is worth every penny!
A real issue with these Chinese bicycle components is the after-sales/warranty/part replacement. Six months is a long time in Chinese terms and they run through components fast and rarely stock parts after the production line has ran. Some Chinese parts are so well made and easily rival the Western brands but at much lower price points. This particular product needs to be more competitively priced to worth a gamble. Sigma sports currently has Ultegra di2 for £1100 (I like the programmable buttons on the hoods).
A real issue with these Chinese bicycle components is the after-sales/warranty/part replacement. Six months is a long time in Chinese terms and they run through components fast and rarely stock parts after the production line has ran. Some Chinese parts are so well made and easily rival the Western brands but at much lower price points. This particular product needs to be more competitively priced to worth a gamble. Sigma sports currently has Ultegra di2 for £1100 (I like the programmable buttons on the hoods)
So you’re right about some Chinese parts being difficult to get warrantied but there are a few reputable Chinese brands coming through now who stand behind their products and will give suitable customer care. People forget that DJI was once a ‘cheap, Chinese’ drone manufacturer but is now the largest drone company in the world. I think a lot of Chinese companies have seen that they can sell products themselves that are as good as the products they’ve made for big name brands for years, only now they get a big cut of the sale. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a lot more Chinese companies wanting to make a reputable name for themselves over the next few years. Regards the price though, I agree it is very close to other full kits, like the 105 Di2 I mention in the video, however, this is still a great upgrade kit for someone not wanting to shell out for parts they already own. 👌🏻
Unfortunately, the Wheeltop hoses don’t have the little eyelets on the end to attach an old cable, so this was the best way to feed them through the frame.
@@petertreadway there is an adapter that can screw in both ends or even tape them. The cable guide you used is great tool too. Great step by step well put together video
Finger gloves are completely useless depending on what part of the UK you do your winter riding. Riding on the south coast and riding in the Pennines northwards all the way to the tip of Scotland it’s a helluva lot colder, more chance of ice. Then there’s windchill - can I suggest wearing Mitts. More warmth keeping your fingers all together. Wearing a good pair of bib shorts under your bib tights. Can’t understand why they now only make bib tights with a chamois.
@@scotiavelo1405 good tip about mitts, although my Galibier deep winter gloves did me well on a -5c ride back last year. 👌🏻 As for tights without a chamois, you could always wear thermal running tights.
@@sankarpai I’m not denying that some of the frame sets from all of those companies are made in Taiwan, but all of them have at least one lineup made in mainland China.
Because people who spend upwards of five figures on a big name brand bike, like to think that somehow their frame was crafted by skilled artisans in a French or Italian barn Alps somewhere, when in reality they are mass produced in China exactly the same as these frames. My reason for pointing it out is to inform people that, so long as they do a little research on the Chinese company they’re getting their frame from, they can get exactly the same quality of frame as the big name brands for a fraction of the cost.
🤣 You're not the first to notice and likely won't be the last. No idea how it happened, but assume the form spun without me seeing it as I was tightening the expander plug in. It made me scratch my head for a second when I finally realised!
Nice to see your son's passion for cycling when most of his age play videogames in house. As for your question, one can't have too many bicycles...I have a lot around the house, with a special purpose for each one...wife is not thrilled though😅
Oh, given half a chance he’d be on his Xbox too Rui, which is why I want to show him the beauty of cycling. It is nice that he forgets all about his Xbox when he’s on the bike though. 💪🏻
I bought a 1000 lumen 'Plazma' branded light from Planet X. It has 8 light intensity modes, with the dimmest lasting up to 80 hours! I tend to use setting 3 or 4, which seems bright enough for dimly lit roads and then briefly pump it up to 1 or 2 when I was on my own or in the depths of the countryside, with no other light around. It worked really well, plus it has a powerbank built in, so you can use it to charge your phone or head unit, etc. as you're going along. 👌 planetx.co.uk/products/plazma-vigor-1000-lumen-powerbank-front-bike-light
