Originally Posted by CastIron

Smimano is like the Toyota of bike parts in a two brand race. Good stuff, but they have a top and bottom and whole lot of middle in their lines.

$100--even used--won't buy much road bike at all. But then, you don't need much at this point. In your price range if it physically rolls down the block and has working parts you've gotten your money's worth. The rest is just fluff.