Cervelo Rouvida or BMC Roadmachine?

[Sirolo]

I am interested in buying my first electric (road/gravel) bike but need some assistance.

My background:
I am living in the Apennine mountains in Italy; constantly going up or down (usually 1000-1500m/ride). I ride about 4 hours per day (or 6000km pa), mostly paved roads (90%) but some gravel roads if necessary (10%). Gravel roads in my area are typically hard and dry. No off-roads/trails, touring or bikepacking. No biking when wet.

My options:
I particularly interested in Cervelo Rouvida (Fazua 60) or BMC Roadmachine AMP (TQ). As you know, Fazua is more juice and bigger battery than TQ. Both bikes have road and gravel versions with the following specs:
- Groups: Sram Rival AXS or Shimano GRX.
- Chainrings: all bikes have 44 or 46 (1x), except BMC road, which is 48-31 (2x).
- Cassettes: all bikes have 10-44, except BMC road, which is 11-34.
- Tires: Gravel versions have 40mm (Cervelo) and 35mm (BMC). Road versions have 30mm (Cervelo) and 32mm (BMC).
- Weight: all bikes are 12-13kg.

My FAQs:
1. Do I need Fazua or TQ wld be sufficient for me?
2. Can I occassionally ride on gravel roads with the above road bikes?
3. What would you choose if you were me?

Any views highly appreciated!

 

[Blackvipergts]

I am interested in buying my first electric (road/gravel) bike but need some assistance.

My background:
I am living in the Apennine mountains in Italy; constantly going up or down (usually 1000-1500m/ride). I ride about 4 hours per day (or 6000km pa), mostly paved roads (90%) but some gravel roads if necessary (10%). Gravel roads in my area are typically hard and dry. No off-roads/trails, touring or bikepacking. No biking when wet.

My options:
I particularly interested in Cervelo Rouvida (Fazua 60) or BMC Roadmachine AMP (TQ). As you know, Fazua is more juice and bigger battery than TQ. Both bikes have road and gravel versions with the following specs:
- Groups: Sram Rival AXS or Shimano GRX.
- Chainrings: all bikes have 44 or 46 (1x), except BMC road, which is 48-31 (2x).
- Cassettes: all bikes have 10-44, except BMC road, which is 11-34.
- Tires: Gravel versions have 40mm (Cervelo) and 35mm (BMC). Road versions have 30mm (Cervelo) and 32mm (BMC).
- Weight: all bikes are 12-13kg.

My FAQs:
1. Do I need Fazua or TQ wld be sufficient for me?
2. Can I occassionally ride on gravel roads with the above road bikes?
3. What would you choose if you were me?

Any views highly appreciated!

Hi Sirolo ,I'm also leaving in Italy close to Como&Lecco[a well known area for its iconic hills like Ghisallo ...] ,riding about 9.000 km/ year ,mainly on tarmac but with a good 10% on gravel road & path. I have owned both the bikes You are quoting and looking for...now the Cervelo is my main e-road bike with already 6.000km in the last 9moths...With the Bmc AmpRoadMachine01 I rode for about 2 years ,climbing on Colle delle Finestre,Col du Nivolet,Colle dell'Agnello ...and many others for about 16.000 km and over 25.000mt elevation gain...
Both are excellent bikes ,with very nice drivability and general riding the big difference is the motor...Personally I find the FazuaRide60 more efficient and responsive particularly on steep climb [ over 10%] where the Mahle X20 is loosing much of its efficiency. In terms of usability with the Cervelo I can ride over 100km and 2.000mt without any extender [ anyhow for Fazua not yet available.The battery reach 430Wh] and something more with the Bmc but with the Extender [ main battery 360+185]..
You can read much more about ,particularly opinion and experience about Mahle X20, on the Italian forum www.ebikes-mag.com.
Regards

 

[Sirolo]

Thank you for yr prompt reply.

BMC is no longer using Mahle but TQ which is more powerful but not as powerful as Fazua. I assume yr experience is based on Mahle? My local bike dealer told me that Mahle is not a mountain motor.

The other issue is the gravel. I assume yr BMC was the road model, not gravel (“X”). How well did it perform on gravel roads?

Saluti da Sirolo.

 

[Blackvipergts]

Well Bmc is using TC on its Gravel version while Mahle was on the road indeed[ Amp 01 road Amp X gravel].Tq vs Fazua: Tq surely is more silent and energy consumer but surely a very good option also considering the Extender is already available.Friends of mine have it on the Trek and all are very much satified.FazuaRude60 had some problems [ I must change under warranty two engines for high noisy and climpsy problem] but as it now all seems to be solved.Fazua is now 100% under Porsche ownership which could be a further guarantee for assistance.
On the Bmc I was mounting 32 tyres while on the Cervelo I have now Pirelli Cinturato All terrain 700x35 combined with TPU camera [35gr] offering a quite good flexibility even for a < light gravel>.The total weight included pedals is for 12,5kgs about 500gr more than the Bmc Amp01

 

[Sirolo]

Well Bmc is using TC on its Gravel version while Mahle was on the road indeed[ Amp 01 road Amp X gravel].Tq vs Fazua: Tq surely is more silent and energy consumer but surely a very good option also considering the Extender is already available.Friends of mine have it on the Trek and all are very much satified.FazuaRude60 had some problems [ I must change under warranty two engines for high noisy and climpsy problem] but as it now all seems to be solved.Fazua is now 100% under Porsche ownership which could be a further guarantee for assistance.
On the Bmc I was mounting 32 tyres while on the Cervelo I have now Pirelli Cinturato All terrain 700x35 combined with TPU camera [35gr] offering a quite good flexibility even for a < light gravel>.The total weight included pedals is for 12,5kgs about 500gr more than the Bmc Amp01

Thanks for yr replies!

1. You mentioned that some of your friends are happy w TQ and that you are living in Como/Lecco area which has similar hills/mountains as my local playground 400 km further south. Are you suggesting that TQ is powerful enough in your area or do you still need Fazua?

2. I understand yr BMC was a road bike, not gravel? Any experience with the 32mm tires on gravel?

3. I see that yr Cervelo is a gravel bike. Why did you migrate from road to gravel? Happy with your gravel tires on tarmac?

 

[Blackvipergts]

Thanks for yr replies!

1. You mentioned that some of your friends are happy w TQ and that you are living in Como/Lecco area which has similar hills/mountains as my local playground 400 km further south. Are you suggesting that TQ is powerful enough in your area or do you still need Fazua?

2. I understand yr BMC was a road bike, not gravel? Any experience with the 32mm tires on gravel?

3. I see that yr Cervelo is a gravel bike. Why did you migrate from road to gravel? Happy with your gravel tires on tarmac?

For sure TQ50 is much more present in the e-road/e-gravel bikes while Fazua is more common for the so called light E-Mtb.In terms of pure power Fazua with its 60Nm vs 50Nm is more powerful but I'm not so sure this is making a huge difference in the real world...For my standard tours in the PreAlps& Alps [ 80-100km and 1500-1800 mt elevation gain] the Fazua is more than enough also thank to its tunable assistence via App..The longest journey, till now, has been for 135km and 2050 mt gain ...
Being Cervelo not really too much popular or common in the e-bike' s sector, I didn't have any real opportunity to choose but barely take what was available in stock, that's why the gravel.Being more flexible I try to use such as a benefit and be more free in choosing the route...for my rides the 35mm are the good compromise offering also excellent safety in deep descent...[Pirelli Cinturato AllRoad].
Finally as per experience I would suggest to consider which kind of post-sale assistance You can get from the seller...As reported I experienced two engines replacement under 100% warranty and with very quick assistance and this is a very important matter.Once You shall finally decide let's know the candidate

 

[Sirolo]

For sure TQ50 is much more present in the e-road/e-gravel bikes while Fazua is more common for the so called light E-Mtb.In terms of pure power Fazua with its 60Nm vs 50Nm is more powerful but I'm not so sure this is making a huge difference in the real world...For my standard tours in the PreAlps& Alps [ 80-100km and 1500-1800 mt elevation gain] the Fazua is more than enough also thank to its tunable assistence via App..The longest journey, till now, has been for 135km and 2050 mt gain ...
Being Cervelo not really too much popular or common in the e-bike' s sector, I didn't have any real opportunity to choose but barely take what was available in stock, that's why the gravel.Being more flexible I try to use such as a benefit and be more free in choosing the route...for my rides the 35mm are the good compromise offering also excellent safety in deep descent...[Pirelli Cinturato AllRoad].
Finally as per experience I would suggest to consider which kind of post-sale assistance You can get from the seller...As reported I experienced two engines replacement under 100% warranty and with very quick assistance and this is a very important matter.Once You shall finally decide let's know the candidate

You convinced me that TQ wld be sufficient for the mountains. I also came across with two separate reports on TQ with a conclusion that you can reach well over 100km and 2000m of elevation gain in one go:

https://velo.outsideonline.com/ebike/2023-trek-domane-plus-e-road-bike-review/

https://www.bicidastrada.it/test-pinarello-nytro-e7-road-elettrica-ma-che-gusto/

I still need to see how to deal with gravel roads with a road bike. As said, mostly tarmac but some gravel is expected.

 

[Blackvipergts]

All it depends how often ,how far you ride on gravel and in which contest...If you ride short track on white road, river coast ,field paths...good tyres 700x35 or 700×40 mounted tubeless or with Tpu inner tube and ...go without roblems.If you wonder to explore mountain off-road, wood path ..etc a specific gravel bike is suggested like the Specialized Creo...
In between the two bikes You quoted in the enclosed , without any doubt Trek is much more flexible and suitable to well cover road & light gravel...Give also a look to the Scott Solace probably even more competitive on price [ surely against Pinarello ].

 

[Blackvipergts]

I don't know if You can find useful or of any interest, I enclosed the today's data just as example of typical consumption.As showed 85km/823mt ascent,total battery consumption 23%.
I'm 177cm×77kgs..classified as Young-Senior even not sure being over 70...

 

[Sirolo]

All it depends how often ,how far you ride on gravel and in which contest...If you ride short track on white road, river coast ,field paths...good tyres 700x35 or 700×40 mounted tubeless or with Tpu inner tube and ...go without roblems.If you wonder to explore mountain off-road, wood path ..etc a specific gravel bike is suggested like the Specialized Creo...
In between the two bikes You quoted in the enclosed , without any doubt Trek is much more flexible and suitable to well cover road & light gravel...Give also a look to the Scott Solace probably even more competitive on price [ surely against Pinarello ].

Thanks for your comments. I would like to find the best tires for roads, which would also work on gravel if need be. However, I usually spend 90% on road and 10% on gravel. No off-roads/trails, mud or rocks, touring or bikepacking. No biking when wet either.

 

[Sirolo]

I don't know if You can find useful or of any interest, I enclosed the today's data just as example of typical consumption.As showed 85km/823mt ascent,total battery consumption 23%.
I'm 177cm×77kgs..classified as Young-Senior even not sure being over 70... View attachment 190234View attachment 190233

Very useful indeed. Fazua is a real mountain motor! Based in my research above, TQ would also work for me although Fazua has more juice (60Nm vs. 50Nm and 432wH vs. 360wH).