Review: Gevenalle GX Shifter Review
In this video I review the Gevenalle GX shifters from Portland, OR. They are a unique take on the brifter and while a little idiosyncratic in use, they do offer some unique benefits. For those that would rather read than watch a vide, here is the executive summary:
Pros:
-Easy Installation. If you can install bar end shifters, you can install these no problem.
-Shift a Shimano mountain bike with drop bars! Finally!
-Simple and robust design. Not a whole lot to go wrong here, perfect for touring in remote places. Less susceptible to dirt and dust.
-Huge gear jumps. Probably the only shifter where you can shift up and down the entire cassette in one move.
-Works well with rando bags and handlebar bags. Cable routing is more forgiving than other brifters.
-Friction mode! Envisioned as a bail out for CX racers it has a ton of other uses! Bent derailleur hanger? No problem. Non Shimano derailleur? No problem. Free yourself from group set tyranny!
Cons:
-Shifting takes some getting use to. It will take you a few rides to figure out how you should shift. No biggie though.
-Can’t shift from the drops. Unless you have go go Gadget fingers, it’s just not going to happen.
-Slight tendency to overshift in some gears. The chain will rub, but you can trim it back with the shifter. Not a huge problem, but something to be aware of.
-Availability. If you want them and see them in stock, buy them! Availability can be spotty.
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One more pro: Compared to touring bike bar-end shifters, you won’t hit your knee on Gevenalle shifters!
Can’t say enough good things about these, and I’ve used them since they came out as Retroshift.
The only other Cons/Things to be aware of:
– in certain gears, the shifters extend out beyond the bars, and you may give them an inadvertent hard knock if you brush by a fence, wall, etc.
– the “push” shifting action that you refer to may also move the brake lever when you’ve shifted into the smallest cog. In that case, you must use the rest of your hand to stabilize the lever while pushing to shift.
Good points:.
-Drop bars and Shimano MTB or trekking (even better) drivetrain is great.
-Just works well, really.
-Seriously tough. I crashed pretty hard which tore off the lever from the brake hood entirely. I was able to jury rig it with a shim and duct tape and ride 200km more this way until I got home, and it would still shift and – to an extent, brake.
-Customer service is awesome and they sent me replacement parts post haste, free of charge.
-Friction front shifting is kind of neat because you can be free of chain rub in basically any gear combination, even on a 3×10 like I use.
Cons:
– Well, shifting from the drops won’t happen. With my fingers it’s not easy even on conventional brifters.
– It requires some getting used to because you have to move your hands a bit more.
-The friction front shifter means using it with a 3x is a bit fidgety. You have to get the position right and that takes a bit of muscle memory.
Would highly recommend, all in all.