HISTORY OF THE SWIFT FOLDER

The Swift bike was born in the early 1990s as a cross country collaboration between Peter Reich, a New York based industrial designer and Jan VanderTuin, an ex-bike racer who believes the first choice in all transportation should be human powered.

Reich's company, Design Mobility Inc., grapples with the problem of designing equipment that is simple and fits into small spaces. The products he has created range from a folding lift and transfer device for quadriplegics, to a home version float tank that condenses for storage.

VanderTuin is a dedicated bicycle craftsman. His vision for a perfect bicycle world is evident in the workshops at his Center for Appropriate Transport, in Eugene, Oregon. Here you'll see BikeLab, where teenagers learn about fixing bikes; Eugene Rack Works, a youth-run business that builds bike-parking racks; Eugene Bicycle Works, a do-it-yourself repair shop; and Human Powered machines, which makes work bikes and trailers.

In 2004 Karl Ulrich, a principal of Xootr LLC met Peter at the annual Folder Roundup held at Trophy Bikes in Philadelphia. Karl had been noodling on new concepts for a folding bike to be added to the Xootr product line. A life-long cycling enthusiast, Karl recognized the simple elegance of the Swift and sought to join forces with Peter. Xootr was able to offer its expertise in manufacturing and marketing in order to bring the Swift to a worldwide marketplace.

From this meeting of minds the Swift Folder evolved, embracing technology for a sustainable future. The result is a carefully developed bike, built to exacting standards. Beautifully simple!