In 2008, when I got my Kona Four full suspension with 9 gears and two chainrings, it was a total delight. The Merida road bike that followed, a mandatory requirement for speed skating training, also had 9 speeds. When I got the Ridley Orion, because the initial plan to share it with someone didn't work out, it was hard to let it go, plus Alex was away for months in training camps outside the country, and he already had 10 speeds; I thought, wow, in a year they came out with 10 speeds. Then in 2017, on the Merida Ninety-Six, I had 11 speeds and was super excited to have the new technology. A major change: it shifted like a clock, no longer needing the classic "assist" from the shifter to get it to shift up. Shimano SLX was already shifting flawlessly, going up and down without issues. I enjoyed two years with the super bike Merida 96 with 2x11 that I got in 2017.
The pandemic hit, they locked us in our homes, and suddenly I had more time to dedicate to bikes – the two hours a day I used to spend in the "go and come" traffic from work through the city. So I got specific tools and expanded my repair area until I included changing bottom bracket bearings, wheels, cups, frame, pedals with 50h and 200h service on RockShox and Fox forks and shocks, for everything I had at home, road bikes, MTBs, DHs, as needed. I had to buy another cabinet to fit the dozens of types of tools, brake oils, suspension oils, and all kinds of greases.
When I looked at what had come out on the market, I saw derailleurs with 12 speeds and a single chainring. I said, I want a 1x12 too, to have the latest generation! I get rid of the front derailleur, fewer parts, less cleaning and maintenance work. I ordered cogs, a derailleur, a shifter, but also a bottom bracket with centerline; I awaited them with excitement. The moment came, I started working: there were no issues with the bottom bracket and derailleur, I chose the shifter well on the brake lever system.
My first mistake: I chose the SLX derailleur and XT derailleur, that's what I found, I noticed especially during the pandemic that only expensive options were available, XT, I was looking for SLX... I had the same issue with the AV receiver. I wanted Denon but only found Marantz, now what can I do, I spent a bit more money, I have gold connectors in the back (no one sees them), it seems they are better parts, components, better relays, and operational amplifiers with discrete HDAM components, they enchanted me, I paid the difference, I'm an electronics engineer, I understood, I have great respect for the designers of hi-fi audio tools...
I found out that this combination doesn't work well, probably they have different parallelograms. I found out when after only a year the SLX shifter broke, a little spring broke that no one offers as a spare part, when I ordered another one I couldn't find SLX anymore and since I was in a hurry I took the XT shifter, more expensive, of course. But, surprise, the system started shifting perfectly!
Another pleasant surprise: how many gears can you shift up and down with the two models? From 3 I saw that I could shift up to 4 gears with a longer press, very useful when you suddenly find yourself facing a steep climb. And going down, the XT offers you the possibility of two, very useful when you start descending a steep slope.
Note: it can be even better: SRAM Eagle shifts 5 at once. Not the single click ones, made specifically for E-MTB, to prevent chain breakage for uninformed users.
I take off the rear wheel, remove the 11 old cogs, clean the hub, and when I go to put on the new cogs, surprise! I found out that I need a different type of hub with microspline, not >:D< like I had...
Since I didn't have a wheel centering system at that time, I had to buy a new wheel, so an unexpected expense of about 100 Euros. A super wheel with a hub that supposedly wasn't tubeless (I hadn't started that madness yet). Until this year, when a nice guy from BikeXpert service told me: "How can it not support tubeless? Put tape on it and it will work." That's what I did and now I'm enjoying it tubeless. By the way, about what it says in books, try it, certain things can be done.
When I thought I could recover some of the investment in 1x12 (there are no investments in bikes, just expenses...) by selling the 2x11 system, Alex suddenly moved them to his Kona Kula... What was I supposed to say? Then, when I switched to 4 pistons, he also transferred the SLX brake system.
In the meantime, I saw 13 cogs on road bikes; I told myself that things are starting to grow, another generation.
But in the MTB situation seemed stable at 12 speeds, everyone is focusing on wireless and integration with electric motors, as I presented in BikeVerse and tested in the field.
Until last week, when I started seeing reports from the famous exhibition in China. I was shocked: the Chinese jumped from 13 and went straight to 14 cogs on MTBs, not just on road bikes. Come on, tell me, who have they copied now?
⚡ The 14-Speed Revolution: Who are the "young wolves" that have outpaced the giants?
Until yesterday, 12 speeds was the "gold standard" and 13 speeds was an exotic experiment. But at the China Cycle Show 2026, local manufacturers showed that they no longer want to be just "copycats," but innovators pushing the mechanical limits.
WheelTop: EDS Series (TX, OX, and GeX)
Manufacturer page: https://wheeltop.com
WheelTop is undoubtedly the most aggressive player in the wireless electronic area. Their EDS (Electronic Drivetrain System) has been rethought for 2026 to be "speed-agnostic."
Product lines:
EDS TX (Road): Available in carbon or aluminum variants. Supports 1x14 or 2x14 configurations.
Product page: https://wheeltop.com/products/eds-bicycle-derailleur
WHEELTOP EDS TX Wireless Carbon Electronic Shifter/Derailleur (Road Bike): €659 (complete set price)
EDS OX (MTB): The "heavy-duty" version with an improved hydraulic clutch to manage trail vibrations.
Product page: https://wheeltop.com/products/eds-ox
WHEELTOP EDS OX2.0 Wireless Electronic Shifter/Derailleur (Mountain Bike): €399
EDS GeX (Gravel): Optimized for large cassettes up to 51T, with a carbon cage.
WHEELTOP EDS GeX Wireless Electronic Shifter/Derailleur (Gravel Bike): €599
There are 4 types:
75mm RD+HDB+Aluminum Shifters
93mm RD+HDB+Aluminum Shifters
75mm RD+HDB+Carbon Shifters
93mm RD+HDB+Carbon Shifters
Technical Details:
Configurability: Through the mobile app, you can set the shifter to work with any number of speeds between 3 and 14:
This means that if today you have an 11-speed cassette, you set it to 11, and when you upgrade to a 14-speed cassette, you just change the setting in the app.
Protection: Rating IP67 (you can ride in the rain, you can wash it without worries).
Battery: Range: 20,000 shifts per charge.
🛠️ Is it worth the step to 14 speeds?
Let's try. I decided to build a 14-speed system on my MTB, but where do I find cogs, a narrower chain, and maybe I need another chainring? Since I haven't found these answers yet, I'm ordering the wireless shifter for up to 14 speeds, testing it on 1x12, 1x11, 1x7 SRAM GX on my DH bike, and I'll keep you updated with the results. In the meantime, I'm looking for cogs, chainrings, and a 14-speed chain; so far, I've only found 13 for MTB, and I'll tell you in the next episodes what I've found, what I've ordered, and as they come, how they are.
