Over Mij
My name is Bart, also known online as BartRidesEternal. I’m based in Twente, in the eastern part of the Netherlands. My relationship with bikes began in the late eighties, riding BMX on the streets and later racing at a local club. Those early years shaped my appreciation for simplicity, durability, and the direct connection between rider and machine.
After several years of championship racing, I joined the Air Force. Working on aircraft and helicopters introduced me to precision engineering and a deep respect for mechanical systems where failure is not an option. It was here that my fascination with materials, tolerances, and craftsmanship truly took hold. A hobby in custom cars and rat rods was also present in that time period.
Driven by a constant need to learn and refine my skills, I attended evening classes in both practical and theoretical mechanical engineering for nearly a decade, ultimately earning a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. Along the way, I deliberately moved between workshops and roles to learn the craft ‘from the ground up’ fabrication, machining, toolmaking, gearbox
overhauls, servicing, and problem-solving at the workbench.
Today, I work as a mechanical design engineer on a wide range of naval products, from high-end technical systems to robust, purpose-built tooling. That same mindset: function first, honest materials, and work done with care forms the foundation of everything I build.
BICYCLES
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve seen how my love for cycling and engineering intersect. Cycling has always been a part of my life, but it really took off around 2018, when I started commuting daily, year-round. I got really strong and fit, stripped things down, and began riding single speeds after my Nexus 8 hub gave out. That simplicity, the elegance of a well-
engineered coaster brake hub that I needed to repack myself, reignited my passion. I even sold my 10+ speed mountain bike to build a Klunker bike: coaster brake only, inspired by the Hack Bike Derby and the works from the Coasterbrake challenge.
Over the past years, I’ve honed my skills in online bike build-off competitions on the RatRodBikes forum and elsewhere. Through trial, error, and plenty of lessons learned, I gained hands-on experience that now informs every build I undertake. Every bike, from rusty
rat to cruiser needs to ride perfectly smooth and feel like a new bike.
After years of welding and junk-building cut-up bike parts, I took a brazing course in 2024, marking the start of my journey into frame building.
Vintage and custom bikes have always captured my heart. I’m drawn to the honesty of real craftsmanship—the rough details, subtle imperfections, and marks of handwork that show a bike wasn’t born from a factory line. That raw authenticity defines every bike I build. When I get the chance, and the build allows it, I use 100-year-old hubs and parts to deepen that sense
of history and complete the experience.
With their bold character and unconventional style, my bikes create a new kind of riding experience and inevitably spark conversation.