I know this is sort of related to folding bikes, but I'm posting here because I think it's more pertinent to commuting:

For a while, I had a Dahon Jack, which was essential to my car-train-bike commute, because Metro-North doesn't let full-sized bikes on the train during peak hours, even on the never-full Waterbury branch line. Then I left the Dahon in my trunk overnight one time and someone broke into my car and stole it (they couldn't see it from the outside, they just smashed my window randomly and got lucky). So there I was without a folder or the money to buy a new one, and I struck on the idea of somehow becoming a sponsored bicycle commuter - I figured companies sponsor racers, why can't they sponsor me? Initially, the idea was mostly a joke that I posted on Hartford's biking blog (beatbikeblog.blogspot.com), but then a friend e-mailed Dahon on my behalf. They said no, but I figured it couldn't hurt to pitch the idea to other companies. Giant also said no, but Xootr said yes, and today in the mail I got my brand new, free Swift Folder.

The deal I made with them was that they'd provide the bike and if I liked it, I'd provide the hype (or send it back if I didn't like it). I've only had it one day, but so far so good: it fits my 6'5" self, it's fast and comfortable, and it folds really easily. And the company that makes it was willing to take a chance on my crazy suggestion, and even sent along a cool rack too. Can't wait to start putting it to the true test on Monday, when I travel 60 miles to work, but I couldn't wait till then to let people know that the guys at Xootr are really cool.