first look at the rouvida e-bike

Join us as we test ride and review Cervelo’s groundbreaking addition to their lineup. 
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It has been a knockout year for cycling company Cervelo. Once a humble college project, they rocketed into the spotlight in 2023 when all three pro tours were won on their bikes. And Cervelo is not stopping there, not even close. 

Meet Cervelo’s groundbreaking e-bike–the Rouvida. Sitting at 27 pounds, the Rouvida is sleek, sexy, and utterly unlike anything on the market right now. Both road and gravel capable, it is a carbon chameleon thanks to Cervelo’s proprietary swappable frame inserts (more on that later). A fully integrated battery/motor means the bike looks as aero as it rides, and does not so much as whisper e-bike until you leave the group ride in the dust. 

The Rouvida packs a whopping 450W of max power, 250W sustained–all thanks to Fazua’s lightweight Ride 60 drive unit. This silent, powerful, and compact system exceeds expectations, and is the gold standard of e-bike motors. An A+ in our book–money could not buy you anything better than this. 

We love the ease of use with the Rouvida’s control center. Again–think slim and trim here, hidden and subtle. To engage the assist, press buttons hidden under the handlebars. Three levels (Breeze, River, and Rocket) will help you from a little to a lot. And if it is a lot a lot you want, just press both buttons and the Rouvida will go full send at 450W for a full 12 seconds. Because of the bikes’ max speed of 28mph, that is enough force to kick you up and out of the pack at a pro level.   

Optimal performance on this bike is not bound by terrain either, thanks to geometry inserts at the fork and rear dropouts. Rotate one way–the bike is a Caledonia copy for the road warriors out there. And the other? A gravel grinder Aspero. This tech is something special, and a massive value. Two bikes for the price of one! 

It is pure freedom. “Am I feeling 50 miles today?” That is a question of the past–the Rouvida will get you places you have never been. Running out of battery is no cause for concern either, thanks to Cervelo’s focus on aerodynamic design. Four watts is all the power you sacrifice in the event of losing charge. To us–that is impressive to the point of near impossibility.
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Our Overall Impressions: 

Big pros…

• Versatility: Swappable geometry inserts allows you to modify the bike to your riding preference.
• ​Perform in Style: Cervelo marries aesthetics and performance through the integrated battery and svelte geometry. 
• Universality: Because Fazua is standard across all bike shops, servicing the motor and battery is a breeze. 

And the cons…

• Low Weight Limit: Over 204 pounds? This bike may not be the most optimal ride for you. We’d love to see Cervelo streamline their designs for an array of riders in the future.