Market: The young Dutch manufacturer Cortina takes up the classic look of the Dutch bike and combines it with smart and innovative functions and designs. A large assortment of solid, stylish and at the same time very inexpensive everyday bikes with and without electric motors is ready.
"Of course you throw them in the canal" - but not a Cortina
The Dutch are world-renowned for their cycling culture, but it also has a dark side. As an object of everyday use, the "Fietsen", as bicycles are called in Flemish, is shown little respect: squeaking, lightless and with brittle "crème covers" (the classic matt white tyres) they are tormented over the cobblestones, and when nothing works anymore , the title of that short report by Jacques Faizant applies: "Of course they throw them in the canal".
At the same time, the classic Dutch touring bike has gained a large following of fans who love that simplicity and robustness that is in stark contrast to the high-tech material of modern city dwellers - but is perfectly adequate for everyday rides. High handlebars for an upright posture, the flat seat angle that keeps your feet safely on the ground when stopping, full chain protection that is kind to pants and chain, hub gears with freewheel and hand brakes - that's the classic Dutch bike, and oops! that's the U1 model by the Dutch manufacturer Cortina.
Dutch bike meets USB connection: charge iPhone while driving
Compared to the industry giants, some of which emerged in the century before last, Cortina is a young company. However, while the big Dutch manufacturers have moved further and further away from their roots, Cortina, founded in the mid-noughties, relied on proven forms and functional features from the very beginning. On the one hand very classic, as the Soul model shows - traditional frame shape, cloth chain case and skirt protection - or more modern, thoroughly declined on the Mozzo men's bike with its own frame shape, straight fork and eight-speed hub with toothed belt.
Incidentally, at just under 900 euros, this is the most expensive non-electrified model from the Dutch company – as I said, with a belt drive, and also with an innovative feature that shows the manufacturer’s progressiveness despite all the retro elements: A charging battery fed by the hub dynamo and USB are hidden in the stem -Connection; you can even charge your smartphone while driving.
Cortina: The e-bikes are pleasantly reduced to the essentials
Is that what the young, contemporary city dweller needs? Well, maybe more than sophisticated bicycle technology à la suspension and disc brakes, both of which are not exactly in the sense of the much-cited deceleration of everyday life - and both are noticeably absent from the Cortina. Which of course doesn't mean that you can't be fast on a Cortina; the Dutch offer a very respectable collection of e-bikes – again focused on the essentials instead of being in love with technology.
With a hub motor at the front and a luggage rack battery, models like the E-U1 only offer seemingly old-fashioned components. When you think about it, both make a lot of sense if you want to keep the look and frame shape of traditional bikes, and for everyday use a compact front-wheel motor is definitely recommended. Slight gradients and headwinds become less demanding, and that's what most electric cyclists are after. Incidentally, the interesting prices also speak for the E-Cortinas: A solid seven-speed electric bike with a 340 Wh battery for less than 1.300 euros, from a specialist dealer and not from a hardware store, is difficult to find elsewhere.
Whether bicycle or pedelec: Everyday use has a high priority with the Cortina bikes, and for many people that means a large payload capacity. Consequently, Cortina equips various models with a large front carrier - a stable solution that has the additional advantage that you always have the load in view and ready to hand. The rack is ideal for mounting a wooden box with a vintage look - or for one of the numerous bags and baskets that Cortina has in its extensive range of accessories. There are elegant shoulder bags that can be attached to the front carrier with a specially designed strap, as well as rattan baskets and of course backpacks with a classic look and beautiful colors.
Speaking of colors: Cortina's return to the origins of Dutch cycling culture has certainly not led to the uniform black of bygone times - several models are also available in fresh, fashionable colors that exude a lot of class. If you like it all black with the classic cream top, you will of course also find what you are looking for in the range - and for little money you can get a bike that is so beautiful that even after many years of use it will definitely not end up in the canal.