I test rode a 2 speed recently with standard gearing. My cruising gear on the flats on my personal bike, a bike friday NWT, is similar to the low gear on the 2 speed brompton. I'm not sure I would ever use the high gear where I live (SF Bay Area), but I would definitely want a lower gear for climbing. It really depends on the terrain you will ride and whether you prefer to spin or mash. I'm a spinner. But you can change the chainring pretty easily on the newer bormptons, so don't worry too much.