How our Daan became a team e-bike

‘But just barely’ is my standard answer to people when they ask if I live outside Amsterdam. That I live just, just, barely outside. I live so close to the edge of Amstelveen that the parking app can suddenly switch to Amsterdam, and then you get a fine from the Amstelveen parking attendant, but that's beside the point. Amayzines headquarters are located in Amsterdam-Zuid, so you would think I would bike to the office. But I don’t. Nothing against my trusty bike, but I really don’t find it comfortable. It pedals so heavily that I arrive at the editorial office with a sweaty neck (and if you know me, you know I hate a sweaty neck more than anything) and red cheeks (also on the list of less favorite physical appearances).

The traffic jam, the search for parking spots (nowadays I have to search for so long that I end up parked almost in Amstelveen), the ridiculously high gas prices, and the nightmare of the ecological footprint I’m going to leave behind still don’t outweigh my need for comfort.

Until (yes, dear readers, there is a turning point in this story) I heard people talking about the e-bike. Ten years ago, the e-bike was still the domain of Tena Lady wearers, but for a few years now it has been trendy. Why? Well, because everyone is struggling with the scarcity of parking spots on the left, the ridiculously high parking fees on the right, the guilt for what we are doing to the climate, and so on. Moreover, there are all these super trendy models that allow you to arrive at your destination quickly, stylishly, and without sweaty body parts.

If I were to get one, I would really like one from Cortina. one from Cortina. And specifically the E-Nite. Why? Because they (I think) have the most beautiful models and because it is a reputable bike brand, as an e-bike involves a lot of technology and I wanted it to be safe and reliable.

In the meantime, my e-bike and I have become a pair. I can easily remove the battery (I don’t have a shed, so I can charge the battery inside without having to mess around with cords in the front yard), this E-Nite Cortina is unisex and therefore doesn’t have a high bar, allowing me to easily step on it in a dress without giving the neighbor a particularly pleasant morning.

So now I also bike to the office every day. Without guilt or parking stress. And I’m now so fast that it almost seems like I really live in Amsterdam.