My introduction to folders
I was introduced to the initially bewildering world of folding bikes in 1998, rather bizarrely by Peter Henshaw, the editor of a motorcycle magazine, but I wasted no time and bought what I was reliably informed to be one of the best folding bicycles available - a Brompton. I, like many before me, enjoyed the positive attention this bike brought in public, and reveled in the tightly absorbed crowds that gathered as I magically unfolded my collection of seemingly disconnected bicycle parts into a rather quaint-looking bicycle.
After ten months of reliable commuting by Brompton in conjunction with a not so reliable train, my job description changed overnight, as did my transport needs. All future daily train trips were now cancelled, opening up a world of less compact, but sportier folding bikes, and I made up my mind to trade the compact Brompton for a stronger, sportier machine. After gleaning a wealth of information from the A to B archives, and several test rides later, my mind was made up.
I had discovered a whole range of 20-inch wheeled folding bikes which did away with the idiosyncrasies of riding on 16-inch wheels, yet retained the practical nature of a bicycle which folded in under half a minute. And so it was that I became the owner of an ex-A to B Dahon Boardwalk - passed up to me while my train was stationary at Castle Cary bound for London. A quick sale if ever I saw one. Like the Brompton, the Boardwalk served both my wife and I well for many happy months. But for a little more money sir, one could purchase a top-of-the-range Dahon Speed Pro. I had to have one.
Despite being an owner, I wasn't fully aware of Dahon's position in the marketplace at the time, so it surprised me to discover whilst searching online that this US/Taiwanese company is the world's largest manufacturer of folding bicycles, offering machines as varied as big-wheeled mountain bikes down to compact teeny-wheeled folders of all shapes and sizes.

The Dahon Speed Pro - an owner's opinion
Once I had defended my latest acquisition (just look at the colour darling!), folded it together and worked out how to tighten the headset, I was off. The Speed Pro has a very sporty feel, and looks impressively light even before you settle on the saddle. Your eyes are automatically drawn to the funky-looking SRAM 3x7 speed gears complete with special blue dust covers, the cool-looking carbon fibre seat post, full adjustable front end with Ritchey handlebars and lovely little Avid single finger brake levers, not to mention that ever-so sparkly paint job. It certainly looks the part.
On the road the bike feels immediately quieter, quicker and more rigid than my other folders, a Giant Halfway and a Dahon Boardwalk. The Pro transmits plenty of feel through the height and reach-adjustable bars, but the whole front end is satisfyingly strong, giving a flex-free connection between the bars and the front wheel. Despite all this fancy gadgetry, it's a bike which could do most things for most people, thanks to the built-in adjustability. Using the adjustable front end, you can engineer any riding position from bolt upright to riding with your nose over the front wheel. But the real delight for me is riding a folding bike with 'proper' gears. The SRAM 24-speed gearing system uses a 3-speed rear hub in conjunction with an 8-speed derailleur. They are a joy to use, and the main reason the other two folders are now languishing unused in my shed. The right twist grip allows you to select one of eight derailleur gears, and a curved switch on your right thumb gives a choice of three settings on the rear hub, helpfully marked as 'uphill', 'level', and 'downhill'. They work smoothly, giving no false gears, and I have never experienced a thrown chain in 250 miles and counting. And the range? I can absolutely guarantee this bike has all the gears you could possibly need.
I can now cruise comfortably on level ground at 16-19mph without my legs spinning furiously, and top gear is high enough to allow you to really stamp on the pedals down long gradients (just for the heck of it) and still give some input above 30mph. On the subject of downhills, I did my own stability test by riding one-handed down a particularly steep hill into Teignmouth in Devon. A reckless way of testing stability, but it seems to prove the Pro's geometry is just right, as the bike was easily controllable up to the 37mph I hit as I soared past the speed camera at the bottom of the hill (still couldn't get the blasted thing to flash though).
I am always impressed with how taut and together the Speed Pro feels for a folding bike, reminding me of the performance and stability I'd experienced on a friends Bike Friday - a bike I very much admired, but wished had folded more compactly than it does.

Downsides?
I have learnt to keep the pedals up whilst cornering sharply, as leaning well over into a roundabout on the slick Primo's will scrape a pedal edge. If the pedals feel closer to the floor than a normal bicycle, the rear mechanism almost brushes the ground, so don't even think about any off-roading. I rode across a field once, and spent the next hour, toothbrush and WD40 in hand, cleaning grass and straw out of the cog wheels - it really is that low. On the road I suspect it means the chain picks up more road debris than a solely hub-geared bike.
But what about the folding bit? It's all simple and clever Dahon stuff, made only slightly more awkward by the need to undo the handlebar quick release to allow the bars to sit flush against the angled-round front wheel. This must be reset on every unfolding, so personally I often don't bother when chucking it in my wife's car, being content to leave the bars sticking out a bit. As a folded package the Speed Pro is no more awkward to carry than the Boardwalk, and it's a fair bit lighter, at only 12kg. A complete fold takes under half a minute if you're quick - I think I can do it in 17 seconds, which isn't bad. The bike doesn't lock together in any way, so there's a Velcro strap to keep everything together. Folded size is OK for car boots, but slotting in between train seats is not its forte. Heck, you've got to find compromise somewhere!
As always, living with something for a while shows up a few weaknesses, so here are the juicy bits you'd never guess from a spin round the car park on the Pro. The beautiful paintwork will chip off the first time you lean the bike against a wall, which is heart-breaking, and the thoughtfully included pot of touch-up paint isn't up to the job of restoring the original finish. When removing the handlebars (and occasionally the seatpost), the aluminium frame sleeves can scratch them, or even pop out completely - a common and frustrating Dahon problem. (Dahon has listened to its customers and intends to glue them in for 2003.)
The beautifully light carbon fibre seat post is only just long enough for me (5'11"); but the pillar should be longer for 2003. Also there are the obvious negative aspects of owning any sports-orientated machine, and I'm not convinced these are minus points, but you need to know that mudguards, rack, bell, stand, pump and a comfy ride are all optional extras.
As anyone like me who's grown up through their teens sneering at bicycles with mudguards knows, cool racy bikes look far cooler without all these trinclements, so I wonder whether the target buyer is really too bothered. This is after all, the pared down slim-line sports model of the Dahon range, not a 'pop to the shops' folder. But I've already added my own 'essentials' - a wire-free bike computer, rack and lightweight bell, not to mention mudguards which will be ordered soon, proving I am well and truly over-the-hill fashion-wise.

Conclusion
The Speed Pro has so far delivered all I expect from a modern bicycle, as well as being ready to fold up in several quick stages. In terms of image, portability, performance, and value for money, it's the best all-round folding bike I've ever owned.
Next year's model will be powder-coated, solving the scratching issue, significantly lighter at only 11 kg (thanks an all-new frame with lighter 4130 chromoly tubing, a Puro U6 aluminum fork, and a forged aluminum ProLite steering column), and may also be offered as a slightly less sporty version called a 'TR', to include Weatherbeater mudguards, chainguard, kick-stand, rear rack and rear LED light.
This year only the lucky few got their hands on one on this side of the pond - so if you fancy one, get your order in early.

Vist Tim's website at www.pestridge.com