Gevenalle GX Shifters: Checkpoint


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Gevenalle GX
The Gevenalle GX shifters allow the use of Shimano wide range DynSys derailleurs and cassettes on a drop bar set up like this.

After a period featuring some cold, frigid Wintry stuff, I am back out on the Gevenalle GX shifter set up introduced back in January here on RidingGravel.com. (Click here for the introduction post) These shifters provide the path to getting the wide range DynaSys mountain bike cassettes and the rear derailleurs that work with them on a drop bar bike set up without funky adapters or compromises. Essentially, Gevenalle has modified a Microshift brand bar end shifter and mated it to a drop lever via their machined and anodized aluminum mount. So, that’s what it is and what it does in a nutshell. How does it all really work though?

Gevenalle GX
Gevenalle GX is designed to work with derailleurs like this DynSys SLX clutch type and mountain bike 10 speed cassettes.

Checkpoint: Initially the Gevenalle GX set up seemed spotless. I was able to get shifting which I felt was on par with my older Gevenalle/Retroshift levers and Shimano bar end shifters. Clean, crisp shifts up and down. However; as time has gone on, this has changed somewhat. It is more than just cables and housing settling in too.

As stated above, the shifter lever itself is a modified Microshift produced bit. I am a bike shop mechanic, and as such, I stay in touch with several in the trade. Microshift bar ends and thumbshifters have a reputation as having a “Nearly Indexed” feel and function. What is meant by that is the shifters have free play and do not settle into an indexed position very clearly, in some cases. This can cause the operator to actually pull too much cable before the lever gives the rider feedback that it is “stopped” into it’s indexed position, as with other shifters. This “free play”, or “nearly indexed” operation results in a slightly over-shifted resting position for the derailleur going up into larger cogs. This typically results in noise, and in worst cases, a jumping, clanking chain. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

At first this only manifested in the repair stand when I was retuning the cables after an initial ride or two. Then recently I have gotten this to happen on rides. It occurs when I shift into a lower gear, and I can hear the “tick-tick-tick” of the next lowest cog’s pick up ramps trying to lift the chain off the cog it has been shifted to, becuase the shifter “over-shifted” slightly and needs to be trimmed back a hair. Of course, you can do that, but if you have to treat the shifter like a friction shifter you may as well put it into full friction shifting mode, right? Well, you don’t have that option with Microshift products.

So Far….. In the repair stand the shifter was a perfect match to the SLX Shadow Plus Clutch type derailleur that I installed to run for this review. The shifter clicked off the gear changes well all the way up to the big 36T ring. However; now this “over-shift” condition, not uncommon to Microshift levers, has arisen. It is annoying, but a rider can adjust for it. I’ll get more miles in on these to see if this gets worse, or if I can find a way to tune that out of the shifter. Stay tuned for my “At The Finish” post coming up…….

NOTE: Gevenalle sent these levers to RidingGravel.com at no charge and we are not being bribed nor paid for this review. I will strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

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Author: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted hails from Iowa. Home of over 70,000 miles of gravel and back roads. An inaugural member of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame and Co-creator of Trans Iowa in late 2004- Guitar Ted has been at the forefront of the growth of gravel events and riding since then. Creator of Gravel Grinder News in 2008, he produced the premier calendar of gravel and back road events. GT joined forces with Riding Gravel in late 2014.

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8 thoughts on “Gevenalle GX Shifters: Checkpoint

  1. Mark,

    Not good if lever is not slipping back as designed to provide proper shifting. Aside from obvious (loosening lever to move more freely and a squirt of lube) this might be a bad lever (this was MicroShifts first batch for us). Please let us know if we can send a replacement lever (any customer should expect the same).

    Cheers,

    Goats

      1. Mark,

        Just checking back on this. Think we sent a new lever but also some other possible solutions to working with lever to remedy. Were you able to fix existing lever or end up using replacement?

        Goats

  2. So you say:

    Of course, you can do that, but if you have to treat the shifter like a friction shifter you may as well put it into full friction shifting mode, right? Well, you don’t have that option with Microshift products.

    I thought one allure of these was that you could shift into full friction mode… Is that not true?

    I was considering these for a touring bike.

    1. Kelly- Interestingly I was working on a Surly Straggler build with the Gevenalle GX shifters and noticed that they indeed DO have a friction shift option. This was confirmed with Gevenalle as well.

      Sorry about any confusion. I will be making this clearer in my next update on the levers.

  3. @Kelly: The Microshift products do not switch, or convert to friction shifting mode. SRAM TT shifters do not allow for this either. Shimano bar end shifters are the only ones that still allow for this feature. However; Gevenalle does offer an “Audax” model that is a friction only version. You can find the shifter/levers on Gevenalle’s product page here: http://www.gevenalle.com/store/products/shifters/

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