The e-gravel bike duel: Expensive vs. cheap: Cervelo vs. Van Rysel

Sporty pedelecs with a drop bar, i.e. a classic road bike bar, are currently the category with the most completely new models on the market, virtually the last sector to be electrified. Road bikes and especially gravel bikes with motorised assistance are, apart from special models such as cargo bikes, also the most exclusive and price-intensive category, as their counterparts without a drive cost a good €1,500 to well over €10,000. The price range for sporty pedelecs starts at around 50 per cent higher than for biobikes, and the current upper limit is even slightly lower than for professional racers without a drive. However, this is more due to an irrational price explosion in the top class with weights of less than seven kilos. Such minimalist lightweights cannot simply be upgraded with a motor; framesets had to be completely redeveloped in order to integrate the drive and battery while keeping the weight low and the rigidity high.

Gravel e-bikes: a lot or more for the money?

The wide spread of prices for sports pedelecs made us curious. What do you get for 7,500 euros more? A duel was needed. The challenger had to be the cheapest possible standard bike and a real gravel bike, not a trekking bike with a drop bar designed for sport. The 2,899 Euro of the Van RyselAt the time of the test, the was the cheapest bike according to these criteria, and at the Eurobike you could also see some for around € 2,600. On the other hand, we weren't necessarily looking for the most expensive, but an E-gravel bike with maximum equipment and all the technical refinements, but without unnecessary frippery.

The Cervelo Rouvida was not only one of the first models here, but is also one of the most complete of its kind. In addition to a low weight, it was important to us that the motor was well integrated, especially in terms of weight distribution, and that the frame was stiff enough for sporty gravel riding. The Fazua integrated into the down tube with its comparatively high torque promised a great compromise between power and weight. In the test version with SRAM Force, the bike just scrapes the 10,000 euro mark. The version with SRAM Red and more carbon parts would be another 2,000 euros higher, but it can't take wide gravel tyres! The Rouvida frameset is not only the basis for an E-gravel bike, but also for two E-road bikes.

Fully-fledged e-bikes

Basically, both bikes offer everything you would ask for on a "normal" gravel bike, with the integrated light and on-board computer on the Van Rysel and the electrically retractable seat post on the Cervelo for a quickly adjustable seat height on a wide variety of terrain. The fact that you can also shift gears electrically on the Rouvida is more of a gimmick in everyday use, and the very short shifting times and precise gear changes only help with a very sporty riding style on steeper terrain.

The one extra gear compared to the mechanical gravel groupset of the "E-GRVL AF HD X-35" has little positive effect on e-bikes. Despite the similar STI value, the quotient of the height and length of the frame, you actually sit on the Rouvida like on an above-average sporty gravel bike, while the handlebars, stem and head tube of the Van Rysel are higher, which results in a more suitable position for everyday use. On the other hand, control of the front wheel and steering dynamics are noticeably slower off-road or when riding fast.

The inexpensive challenger prefers to go straight ahead, while the exclusive top dog has more pressure on the front tyre and can be steered very safely even on loose ground. Despite its rather narrow dimensions, its tyres sit firmly on the ground and provide a lot of control thanks to their supple sidewalls. The "French" tyres - Van Rysel is a brand of sports giant Decathlon - do the same, but more thanks to the grippy tread. On tarmac, this costs a little smoothness, but the rear motor easily compensates for this.

Speaking of the engines. They are quite different, especially in the way they are used, although both are pleasing in their own way. The quiet and not quite as powerful rear-wheel drive in the low-cost bike constantly feels like mum's hand on your back. The 40 Newton metres of torque help out inconspicuously, generating no vibrations and only minimal noise, perfect for relaxed cruising in the forest. Removing the rear wheel is pleasingly simple thanks to the plug-in connection on the cable. When things get really steep - or during "lightning starts" at traffic lights - the Mahle drive seems a little lacking in power at the top, at least compared to a Bosch SX or the Fazua 60 of the Rouvida.

You don't feel it at all in normal use because the lightweight, aerodynamic bike itself runs so well that you can easily exceed the 25 km/h limit for pedelecs. It's only on tough passages, e.g. through deep ground or on ramps, when the speed drops, that you are supported as if being pulled by a rubber band. Of course, the bar motor does not switch off; if you ride at a slower speed, you can enjoy the continuous support of the superbly integrated system. Disadvantage: Thanks to the voluminous carbon frame, the Rouvida is extra light and stiff, but at the same time it is also a sound box. The whirring of the power transmission at the bottom bracket is therefore somewhat audible. The maximum power of 450 at 60 Nm pushes the limits of what is possible for every cyclist. This makes climbs possible where the difficulty is not so much pedalling, but rather keeping the front wheel on the ground.

Gravel bikes: cost details

But does that legitimise the price difference? Minus the electric Sram drivetrain and slightly more sensitive brakes on the Cervelo as well as the dropper post seatpost, it comes to around 6,700 euros; a lot of money for 50 per cent more power and 50 per cent less weight. In addition to these two key facts, it is the details that make the difference in terms of both price and performance. The sensational transitions from frame to fork and great integration of the drivetrain and all the cables into the bike may not be essential, but they are beautiful and also streamlined and, for pragmatists, easier to clean. The Van Rysel, whose lightweight brand brothers recently impressed at the Tour de France, conveys a similarly stiff, secure feeling as its competitor, even on high-speed descents, but at the expense of weight.

Both can be switched to different riding modes using buttons on the lower handlebar. On the Rouvida these are wrapped in the handlebar tape, on the Decathlon the clamp is not quite as elegantly positioned on top. The Van Rysel uses more spokes at the rear because of the rear-wheel drive, while the Canadian Cervelo has been given luxury rims of different heights that turn super easily without any technical necessity. It also has ovalised aero handlebars, while the Van Rysel has classic round ones. We couldn't detect any real difference in the quality of the saddle and paint finish - bravo to France! In terms of accuracy of fit, the point also goes to France: there are six frame sizes against four, so the sporting goods giant has really made an effort in the design.

Conclusion: The winner in an unfair duel?

Of course, you can't compare the driving dynamics and technical data on a one-to-one basis, nor can you do that with the Bentley Continental and Golf Diesel. The answer to which wheel we would choose depends on a practical and a philosophical question: Where and how do I use the wheel, and how passionate am I about my hobby? In times of leasing, where the purchase is not quite so painful, the exclusive Cervelo Rouvida is even a realistic option for some people.

If you want to commute to work on a sporty pedelec in the future, you should still opt for the Van Rysel E-GRVL. The motor power is fully sufficient, the higher weight does not play a dramatic role, the quality of the components promises many brisk kilometres, and the seating position and lighting system are even a real plus in commuter traffic. And even if the threads for the pannier rack, for example, are set at an angle, it will certainly be possible to fit a model. The bike is therefore also ideal for relaxed tours. We managed just over 80 kilometres on one battery charge during the test, but always stayed close to the 25 km/h limit; 110 km is certainly possible. In contrast, we were unable to run the Cervelo's Fazua drive unit empty at all; the bike constantly "ran away" beyond the magic limit.

After well over four hours of gravel biking, the test rider gave up in front of the battery. The Rouvida is so much fun that the conclusion for sporty use as a gravel bike or e-road bike can only be: Anyone who can somehow afford the 10,000 euros, even if it is financed for years, should treat themselves to this bike. Apart from illegally modified drivetrains and unsaleable prototypes, the Cervelo Rouvida is the fastest pedelec in MYBIKE history and is definitely one of the top 3 on the market. While you always feel like you're riding a very fast pedelec on the Van Rysel, the Rouvida rides like a top-class racing bike that gives you unimagined power reserves. Does this ultimately justify the almost fourfold price? In the end, we have to say: for enthusiasts and technology freaks, somehow...