The Urban is available in two Dutch frames: a traditional roadster design in matte black, and a step-through model with a few extra flourishes like rimmed wheels, tanned grips and saddle. The design of the frame forces you to sit upright more than a mountain or racing bike. It took a few rides to adjust but overall I felt a little safer in this position; I could see more of the traffic around me, and I was more visible to the traffic.

I was a little nervous the roadster would be too big for my tiny little legs; I’m 172cm tall, and worried I’d look like Kermit the Frog riding this thing. Thankfully the crossbar has a slant that makes it easy to step over, and while the saddle sits far back from the handlebars I was able to comfortably control the bike. But the long length of the Dutch design gives the bike a real sense of stability; you wouldn’t want to take it off-road, but cruising through bike paths and city streets is incredibly comfortable. The built-in bike rack comes ready for shopping, or you could attach a pannier for more options.

Powering the bike is a massive 374Wh 36v battery. This battery can push a hefty 10.4Ah power to the bike. But ignore the numbers, just know the Ultimo Urban tackled hills far better than my current model. Also welcome is a battery that slides out of the frame very easily, allowing you to charge at your desk at work, and making the bike less attractive to thieves.

As with most entry-level e-bikes, a brushless motor is built into the rear wheel. This gives the pedal assist a bit of a jolt when you first kick off, and is less pleasant to ride than bikes with central motors built into the frame. I’ve seen people complain about the kick of a rear wheel motor, but I’ve never thought it was unpleasant enough to pay the premium for a centre motor. And thanks to the long, solid frame, the jolt is smoothed out a little.

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A Shimano seven-speed shifter wraps around the handlebar, and it feels great sliding between gears, although there is the standard crunch if you switch gears at a standstill. To avoid this, I kept the bike in a middle gear when on busy roads, and instead adjusted the power of the pedal assist; turning it all the way up to push off from traffic lights, then turning down again to blend in with peak hour traffic. Only on long winding bike paths did I really adjust the gears.

On the other side is a tiny little onboard speedometer that also shows how much power is left in the battery. If you’d like more details of your route, there’s a built-in USB charger and accompanying smartphone app. The frame includes bright front and rear lights, powered by the main battery, to make riding a little safer at night.

Overall this is a fantastic cruiser, ideal for shorter commutes and quick trips to the shops. Aldi is selling it as a limited Special Buy this Saturday, but I hope — like its Expressi Coffee Makers — this becomes an all-year product.