Case Study: ROUVY scales from 1M to 21M monthly API requests with Tyk
Key results
The challenge
ROUVY, an indoor cycling app that lets users ride real-world routes virtually, initially ran its traffic through a Google Cloud Platform API gateway. Three years in, the gateway no longer matched its needs or budget, with limitations including only one authentication per endpoint, a single API definition file, no cost optimizations, and weak observability. When Google began deprecating the gateway, ROUVY looked for a replacement.
The solution
ROUVY deployed Tyk's open-source API Gateway, self-managed, for client authorization and OpenTelemetry observability. It integrated the gateway with Kubernetes and Datadog and adopted a backend-for-frontend pattern, managing configuration through code repositories in its CI/CD pipelines.
“We needed an API gateway solution that was easy to use and deploy. One that was secure, performance-oriented, had built-in observability and would support Firebase authentication at a reasonable price. Tyk is delivering everything we need.”
MKMatúš KockaCTO, ROUVY
The results, in context
ROUVY scaled from 1 million to 21 million API requests per month on Tyk's gateway, which now secures 1,300+ virtual cycling routes worldwide. The full configuration and deployment, including Kubernetes integration and OpenTelemetry setup, took eight days. The team reported operating more efficiently and innovating faster with lower traffic costs.