I used my folder for commuting even though my commute never needed the folding feature. It just happened to be the bike with the best luggage characteristics for commuting (extra large saddlebag over the small rear wheel and a rear rack). Mine is a Bike Friday with drop bars which gives me the same position and aerodynamics as my road bikes and AFAICT, the same speed as well on my fairly flat commute. It's a tiny bit slower on hills due to a few extra pounds of weight.