I got a Bickerton a few years ago. After a quick ride of 100m (that's metres, not miles), I quickly concluded that Harry Bickerton could never have ridden his own invention.
There was so much flex from the ridiculous handlebars, that it was not possible to safely ride it other than at low speed, in a straight line, not helped by the daft 14" front wheel. So I swiftly found a donor unbranded folding bike and nicked the forks with a conventional stem and folding steerer, added Brompton wheels front and back including an 8 speed Sturmey Archer hub, and a rack which can take panniers, and it's a much better bike.
Four years ago it went on the Eurostar to Avignon and Rebecca (on a Brompton) & I had 2 lovely weeks touring around. And I went up Mont Ventoux on it. A few people were a bit miffed to be overtaken by me on a Bickerton! I still use it regularly to pop into town.
No, it doesn't fold as neatly as a Brompton if you're going on a train. But everyone has a Brompton. So it's nice to be a bit different.