No retirement yet: Ginie’s experience with the Huka Cortes tricycle
Louise Jonkman
Marketing manager at Huka
No retirement yet — that’s Ginie’s (73, from Hoogeveen) motto. She shares how the Huka Cortes tricycle has transformed her life. “It all started at the tricycle discovery day in Dwingeloo. That’s where I got to try different tricycles. The Huka Cortes stood out because it felt so stable. Thanks to the Cortes, I can now approach intersections and traffic lights calmly without getting on or off the bike,” Ginie says.
No retirement yet, despite health challenges
“My body has been through a lot,” Ginie explains. “I’m a kidney patient, and in 2017 I was diagnosed with leukemia. Last year, I suffered a brain hemorrhage. It became apparent when I fell off my two-wheeler near home. My knees were locking up, and we didn’t understand why. It turned out I had fluid on the brain. Many people with similar symptoms don’t make it home, but I was lucky. That makes me extra grateful for everything I can still do — like going everywhere with my husband on my Huka tricycle.”
A test ride at Ellerie Tweewielers
After her fall, her daughters told her: “Mum, you’re not riding a regular bike anymore.” Ginie agreed. “I knew right away this wasn’t a good idea. I’d been lucky to come home instead of ending up in a care facility. So, I started looking for a new way to cycle. Things moved quickly: I fell in February, and that summer we bought the Cortes from a Huka dealer in the Netherlands. Ellerie Tweewielers was very professional and friendly. I got to take a test ride the very next morning. My husband and I cycled through Elim during the test ride. We ordered the bike, and within weeks, it was delivered to our home.”
No retirement yet: enjoying life together on the bike
“It’s been a year now, and I’m so happy with the Cortes,” Ginie says. “I’ve rebuilt my fitness, and we regularly cycle 40 to 50 kilometers. Sometimes I can go even further, but my husband can’t — he gets saddle soreness,” she laughs. “We have our favorite stops for good food and drinks. We make it a fun outing, cycling to the local ice cream farm, having a sandwich on a bench along the way, or visiting our old neighbors in Beilen.”
Practicing on the cycle track
At first, Ginie needed to adjust. Her husband Johan (74) shares a tip: “If you want to cycle but find it difficult, practice on the cycle track. It’s quiet and spacious. We went there three times with Ginie, and then she felt confident enough to ride on the road.”
No retirement yet: keep moving, keep enjoying life
Ginie says: “A lady in my neighborhood also had a stroke and wants to cycle but says she’s not ready for a tricycle. But you shouldn’t ask yourself if you’re ready; you should ask yourself if you can still do it. Thanks to the Cortes, I can do so much more again. I’d recommend it to anyone who still wants to cycle but no longer feels safe on a two-wheeler. Just keep going! Don’t limit yourself. It gives you freedom. With the walker attached to the back, I can go wherever I want.”
Johan adds: “We manage together. No retirement yet — we’re not done enjoying life within our limits.”
Would you like to know more about the Huka tricycle or would you like to experience the Cortes by taking a free test ride? Please contact us on +31 (0)541-572 472 or send an email to info@hukabikes.com.
Louise Jonkman
Marketing manager at Huka
As Marketing Manager, Louise played a key role in Huka’s growth from 2018 to 2024. With her strategic vision and dedication to quality, she took marketing to the next level. Thanks to Louise’s efforts, Huka’s products and brand are more firmly anchored in the market and with our customers. During her time at Huka, Louise wrote engaging blogs and news articles in which she shared her knowledge and insights about the brand with our readers.
