I bought an $85 touring bike. The only thing I am changing from stock is the brake levers, cause I want the second set of in-line interrupters for city riding and those don't work with old non-aero levers, and of course adding a rack and bags. Well that, and it got a fresh clear coat, because lets face it an $85 touring bike generally is not the prettiest. Granted, some previous owner did change it to bar end shifters, which I'm not yet sold on, but essentially I am treating them as stock since that's how I got the bike.

YMMV, though. No reason you can't work with what you got, if you so choose.