About Me
My name is Bart, founder of BATT Cycles.
My fascination with bicycles began in the late eighties on a BMX. What followed were years of racing, long rides, daily commuting, and eventually building bicycles myself.
What started as a hobby gradually evolved into a combination of two passions: cycling and engineering.
Engineering as a Foundation
After my time in the Air Force, I worked across a wide range of technical disciplines, from machining and overhaul work to fabrication, design, and mechanical engineering.
By deliberately exploring different trades and industries, I learned the manufacturing process from multiple perspectives: designing, building, repairing, and improving.
Today, I work as a mechanical design engineer, where the same principles that guide my bicycle projects apply every day: functionality, reliability, and attention to detail.
The Road to Frame Building
Over the years, I built countless custom bicycles. At first by modifying existing parts, and later by designing and fabricating more and more components myself.
In 2024, I completed a frame-building course and began constructing complete frames using traditional brazing techniques. It brought together a long-standing ambition: to design bicycles and build them entirely by hand.
Why BATT Cycles?
BATT comes from the initials of my full name. Every bicycle that leaves the workshop carries that personal signature.
I work from my own workshop in Twente, building in small numbers and focusing on craftsmanship rather than volume. This approach gives me the freedom to experiment, explore new ideas, and give every project the attention it deserves.
My work exists somewhere between craftsmanship, engineering, and a healthy dose of individuality.
Because a bicycle should not only function well—it should have character.