Hybridbkrdr would be advised to ride his department store bike down
to a professional bike shop and buy one of their bikes ,
rather than bother 'upgrading' any part of what they have now .

a purpose a Dept store bike has advantage ,
is if you are needing to lock the bike up in a High Theft Area,

So It's not going to tear on your heart strings when it's gone,
or damaged by vandals.