The art of finding One True Bike To Do It All is a tricky one. We all need three bikes, a 20" folder for convenience, a 26" dirt monster for the weekends, and a 700c roadie for burning off lycra louts. With one bike, everything becomes a compromise. 20" wheels are nimble but suffer in loose gravel and dirt, anything smaller (like your Brompton) increases portabilty - and compromise. 7 gears are great for tarmac, but more dirt or more hills or more luggage needs more gears.

The 26" folders from Dahon are pretty good all rounders, the rebar 2007 bikes - Jacks, Espressos and the Matrix all good. The later 26" bikes like the Matrix and Cadenza evoke some grumbles about the lockjaw hinges needing an allen key to operate and occasional moans about 'creaks.' Then, every folding bike evokes moans about creaks.

First choice is whether you need front suspension or not. If no, the cult all-rounders from Dahon's are the Dahon Jack now in D7 (7 gears) and D24 for 2010, they're great 26" folders and good for weekend pootling on old towpaths and so forth.

I've just come back (literally) from bouncing around on a forest trail on my ex's Downtube, IX FS a 20" wheel scoot with full suspension and a gel saddle, and I was pleased to get off it . If you do more dirt than pavement, or loose surfaces, the equation leans more to 26", with a set of street tyres, and a set of knobblies for the weekend, and front suspension for more serious stuff..

The Monty para has 24 cogs, front suspension, and it folds. If you go with your pals at the weekend, and they're running dirt bikes, you'll want a dirt bike.

Hmmm....



If you do go for a Dahon check out Winstanleys, they have 2007/08/09 bikes at nearly a third off - check they have your frame size though:

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...ding_Bike_2007

When you decide to sell your Brommie you'll find people will tear your arm off for it on Ebay, or indeed, on here.