Here's my Soma commuter, built up from mostly parts I had, with a few new ones.

Soma ES steel frame, 55 cm -- ES is for "extra smooth," which I think means long chain stays -- both rack and fender eyelets and plenty of fender clearance
Campy Record cranks and bb
Open Pro rims, Record hubs -- I built
Gatorskin tires -- fantastic tires
Record 11-21 ti/steel 10 speed cassette -- only Campy cassette that comes in 11-21
42 tooth ring, and only one -- no need for another here for my flat commute
Veloce rear derailleur
Chorus chain
Campy bar end shifter mounted on bullhorns (see photo)
Tektro long reach brakes with DA pads
Chorus Ti seatpost
Flite TT Ti rail saddle
King headset
Profile bullhorns
ITM stem
Crank Bros candle sl pedals -- work great
Soma fenders
Trek rack and rear trunk bag -- see photos -- the bag has sides that fold down and clip onto the rack, making panniers
big blinkies on the rear
Light and Motion HID headlight

Plenty of gears for my flat commute -- the 42 ring alone is ideal, as a 42x19 is plenty low for starts, the 42x16 is my "cruise" gear, same as the fixed bike, and 42x11 is 30 mph at 100 rpms, plenty fast for sprints to make green lights.

Shifting is wonderful with the small clicks of the bar end shifter at the end of the bullhorns -- right there in my hand while accellerating or cruising. Shifting at first was bad, until I got the Park derailleur hanger tool and straightened it out. Now, it's better than any bike I've ever had.

Mounting the bar end shifter on the bullhorns is very convenient, but the only problem is that I can't mount a brake lever there, too. A cross type lever might work, but the clamp would interfere with where the shifter cable exits; I need to make a lever with a clamp that has a provision for the cable to go through it. Meanwhile, I mounted the front brake lever on the left (opposite of what I normally do), and the rear brake lever in the "cross" position. Works fine, except I'll wear out my front brake pads faster, using only the front brake almost all of the time.

Anyway, it works great. About the best I can come up with using a stock steel frame.

(sorry for bad pix -- used my camera phone, and got duplicate in there somehow)

Looks awesome. You haven't dropped the chain off the front yet?

I'm thinking of splurging for that Light and Motion HID headlight for next winter. You pretty happy with it?

Looks like a comfy and fast commuter. Nice work!

You might think about a chainring guard and a third eye chain keeper if you ride on rough roads. While it may not happen often, dropping a chain while out of the saddle can have a nasty outcome. Nuts on the toptube... Face on the stem...

I have been thinking about switching my commuter to a 1x8 vs a 3x8 because I never use the two smallest chainrings. Based on Henry's and Rocketdog's comments, the chain pops off the front chainring? If so, do you just get a chain ring guard and chain keeper to keep the chain on the front chainring? I prefer not to share my nuts or face with any part of my bike.

Looks awesome. You haven't dropped the chain off the front yet?

I'm thinking of splurging for that Light and Motion HID headlight for next winter. You pretty happy with it?

The L&M is fantastic. Very bright, good pattern, solid hardware, easy to use, and 100% reliable. I would not commute without it.

I have been thinking about switching my commuter to a 1x8 vs a 3x8 because I never use the two smallest chainrings. Based on Henry's and Rocketdog's comments, the chain pops off the front chainring? If so, do you just get a chain ring guard and chain keeper to keep the chain on the front chainring? I prefer not to share my nuts or face with any part of my bike.

I don't ride on very rough roads, but it seems to me that there is enough tension from rear derailleur to hold it on tight; I intentionally shortened the chain to keep tension high, which is easier to dial in closely with only one front ring.

I suppose you could install a front derailleur and just lock down the position. A chainring guard would at least keep it from throwing off to the outside.

Mounting the bar end shifter on the bullhorns is very convenient, but the only problem is that I can't mount a brake lever there, too. A cross type lever might work, but the clamp would interfere with where the shifter cable exits; I need to make a lever with a clamp that has a provision for the cable to go through it.

A great-looking commuter, Doug. For your brake lever mounting problem, you could try the zip tie kludge used in the nishiki ghetto bike thread:

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=82550

Enjoy your ride.

I have the same bike in silver. That fork was a two man lift to get installed on the frame. It is a great riding frame for the price.

The L&M is fantastic. Very bright, good pattern, solid hardware, easy to use, and 100% reliable. I would not commute without it.

I definitely second this opinion. My only caveat is the cable/battery interface. Takes a bit of braille work in the dark sometimes to get the pins lined up right.