One of the things that I did was I found a frame on Craigslist and just purchased the parts that I needed from Ebay. Granted that they are not the best name brand parts and that they are not all exactly what I want but in the end I have a road bike that is exactly what I need to get the job done.

If you are inclinded enough to work on a motorcycle, something with more moving parts then anyone is willing to count, then building a bike from just a frame and a crankshaft will be a piece of cake. Now the biggest thing that you have to worry about, even if your commute is only 2 miles is the type fo seat that you will be sitting on. One thing that I have noticed in all my riding is that the seat is the first thing that people really remember when they ride. I know that I do. If you are just starting out you might find a comfort seat more to your liking then a standard racing or tourng seat.

Have a good ride.