About Us

Downtube/Bike1.com
Folding Bikes designed by Dr. Yan

Downtube was established in March 1996 by Dr. Yan Lyansky, Ph.D. He started by running a bicycle resource center, managed from his office at school while he was a graduate student at Temple University. Since then, Downtube has evolved into one of the largest folding bike designers & manufacturers in the USA. Our goal is to make the most comfortable, value oriented folding bikes with the highest quality parts and materials. We start with superior suspension for comfort. We sell directly to customers in the USA to maximize value. And we add topnotch materials, small folds, drive trains, and other high end components.

Dr. Yan is an avid cyclist and has biked across the country twice. He was an expert-level mountain bike racer and an active member of the cycling community for over 20 years, promoting Bikes Belong, Rails to Trails, and NBDA. In 2003, Dr. Yan designed our first folding bicycle, the Downtube VI. It was an affordable, durable bike with amazing value. In 2005, we introduced the VIII and VIIIFS bikes. They became instant best sellers. Our customers understand and appreciate our low-cost, high-value business model. We have several customers (non-dealers ) that have purchased 5 or more bikes. Our base models are comparable to competitors whose bikes costing three times more. How do we do it? We design/test/import/distribute and retail our bikes directly to the end customer. This allows us to sell for 60-70% less than everyone else. Our growth has been dramatic, and we plan to continue selling great bikes for huge discounts well into the future. Our customers are so happy, they have helped us achieve one of the most popular threads at www.bikeforums.net in the folding bike section (over 2,000 posts and 200,000 page views).

In 2015, we introduced the first-ever commercially available 20" wheel folding bikes with suspension and belt drives. We’re very proud of our 8H and Mini B, with Shimano Nexus 8sp internal hub and Gates carbon belt drive. In 2017 we introduced the first ever belt drive 11sp folding bikes with suspension. In 2021 we introduce the XFS, and XS. These are the evolution of our 2005 models. 24" wheel Dyan, upgraded Nova, and Alfine internal hubs makes these models our best ever.

Dr. Yan is the Chairman of Downtube.com and can be contacted at yanL@downtube.com.