Jou(le) & I – Karlien chooses QiO: compact riding in the heart of Ghent

Ghent… that means tram tracks and cobblestones. 🫠 Not exactly the easiest playground for cyclists.

But our Account Manager & Partnership Lead, Karlien? She found her match in a QiO electric compact bike. More grip, less hassle, and most importantly: easy to bring inside her townhouse. This is her story, with wide tires, a bike basket, and 99J of energy.

Why a QiO?

It all starts with… tram tracks. 🥲

“I once fell on tram tracks with another bike. Ever since, I really pay attention to grip.”

That experience turned into a clear checklist: wider tires, more stability, and above all, more confidence in city traffic. But there was something else that mattered too.

Karlien lives in a townhouse in Ghent. No endless storage space. No garage that fits eight bikes. Her bike not only had to ride well — it also had to be practical.

“It’s lighter, more compact, and I can easily bring it inside. I can even take it with me in the car.”

Karlien’s favorite feature

Ask her about her favorite part and you might expect: the motor, the battery, the design.

Nope.

“The bike basket! There’s no better feeling than putting your stuff in that basket and just riding freely.” Laptop in. Groceries in. Jacket in.

It’s that small comfort that makes the difference between “I have to bike” and “I want to bike.”

Turbo without guilt

Karlien’s bike hack?

“Don’t be afraid to use turbo. Eco is when I want to work out, turbo is when I need to get somewhere fast, haha.”

In other words: your bike can just be practical.

Not every ride has to be a workout. “Arriving at the office not completely sweaty is nice for me, and for my colleagues!”

Sometimes you just want to arrive quickly, fresh, and without detours. That’s exactly what turbo is for.

Riding through Ghent

Her favorite route? From one side of the city center to the other.

Volderstraat. Vlaanderenstraat. Small alleys. Side streets. Terraces full of people enjoying the sun.

“I love passing all the cool little spots in Ghent and seeing people sitting outside on terraces.”

That’s the beauty of commuting by bike. You’re not stuck in traffic. You’re part of the city.

What does Karlien do at Joule?

During the day, Karlien combines two roles: Account Manager & Partnership Lead.

In her role, she actively looks for new companies that want to offer bike leasing through Joule. At the same time, she makes sure existing clients stay up to date and get the most out of their bike plan.

She also works on the bigger picture: strengthening Joule’s position in the market. She does this by building strong, long-term collaborations with different partners across the mobility ecosystem.

Or, as Karlien puts it herself:

“The variety and the contact with people are number one for me. But what I enjoy most is being part of a team that is as driven, passionate, and motivated as the Joule team.”

That creates a huge sense of momentum.

“You feel that energy every day. It’s why I go to work with so much enthusiasm and get a lot in return.”

Best Joule memory?

She had to think about that one, as there are quite a few.

The moment a major partner said “yes” was definitely frame-worthy. But if we keep it fun, the winner has to be Joule Midweek 2025.

“Pieterjan and I were behind the DJ booth together and it was amazing to get everyone dancing.”

As if that wasn’t enough, they decided to channel their inner Daft Punk by putting two large serving bowls on their heads. What started as playing a few tracks turned into a mini festival moment. 😎

The Joule energy meter 🔋

How much energy does Joule give her, on a scale from 0 to 100J?

“99! I already had 1 by nature. The other 99 come from Joule.”

We’ll gladly take that as a compliment.

This or that?

• Riding through the city vs. riding along the water
• Wearing gloves vs. “it’s not that cold”
• Music in your ears vs. riding in silence
• Tram tracks vs. cobblestones
• Cold winter ride vs. sweaty summer ride
• Bright color vs. neutral color
• “I know the way” vs. navigation on your phone
• Leaving early vs. arriving just on time
• Suspension saddle vs. “awtch, I’ll be fine”
• Mud as a badge of honor vs. cleaning your bike
• Fastest route vs. most scenic route

The right match makes all the difference

For Karlien, it’s not about the biggest bike or the most powerful motor. It’s about what works. Grip in the city. Easy storage at home. A basket that carries everything she needs. And the freedom to choose: eco when she wants to exercise, turbo when she needs to move fast.

That’s the beauty of bike leasing with Joule. You don’t choose a standard solution. You choose a bike that fits your life.

Curious which bikes the rest of the Joule team chose? Dive into the other stories in our Jou(le) & I series and discover how we improve commuting every single day, each in our own way.

• Jochen and his Gazelle
• Lauren and her compact QiO
• Jules and his VELO DE VILLE
• Elisa and her longtail Riese & Müller
• Tibe and his VELO DE VILLE
• Nicolas and his Lovens cargo bike

Would you like to get started with bike leasing too? Fill out the contact form below and we’ll look at it together. 👇