A BIT ABOUT BROMPTON: If you were to walk into the store and look at a Brompton we would say there are three things you should look for in a folding bike. All of them are fairly obvious. One, the bike should ride well - and, on a small wheeled bike that's tricky because there's a fine line between maneuverability (which is a virtue) and twitchiness (which is a vice). Two, the bike should fold well - otherwise you're blood pressure will rise and you'll curse the day you bought it. Third, it should be transportable, or highly storable - because that's the whole point, right?

Brompton is the only company we've seen that answers all three criteria - and believe us, we've tried every brand out there. The reason others can't compete is because Brompton has answered a fundamental engineering problem. If a bike is going to unfold to a large footprint (which takes the twitch out) then it is unfolding to a bigger bike - and by all logic, a bigger bike unfolded would be a bigger bike folded. So, it's pretty much true that for most folding bikes they either have great rideability but poor transportability or vice versa. And nearly all of them are a mess to fold.

Not Brompton. Brompton has designed the Platonic form of all folding bikes. The bike folds to the smallest size on the market, unfolds in a highly precise and easy manner, and has the same axle-to-axle footprint as a hybrid bike. How did they do this? By not only designing a clever frame, but also designing some 1200 proprietary parts that make everything fit - and fit perfectly. Oh, and nearly all of this is made in England. No wonder this bike has a cult following.