ok guys bear with me I am pretty new to biking in general. I have a schwinn varsity 700c which from what i can gather all the hardcore cyclists hate due to it being a chain store bike. I am not racing and it carries me just fine to and from work everyday. One thing I have seen several people on this board and others do is swap over to a 105 groupset. How is this different than the SIS system that is on the bike now? Would it be worth pursuing? I highly doubt this bike is worth truly upgrading but i got it for a song so I still have a little cash left over to spend.

Not worth it. Ride the bike you have until parts start to wear out. Then you can decide if you want to replace them with same level of quality, better ones, or switch to a different bike.

And if you like the bike, it fits, and it gets you where you need to go, don't worry about what others think about it!

There are a whole lot of levels between what came on your Varsity and 105. You could stop by your LBS and test ride something with 105 to see the difference, though it might interfere with your contentment with what you have. It's mostly a difference of experience -- it feels better. Functionally, both move the chain from one cog to another.

It doesn't make any sense to upgrade what you have to 105. Besides the shifters, you'd need a new chain, new derailleurs, a new cassette, very probably a new rear wheel and possibly a new crankset also. This upgrade would cost you roughly 2-3 times what you paid for the bike (assuming you bought it new and paid full retail price). Better to save the money and get a whole new bike down the road if you want one, or just ride what you have and enjoy.

SIS is one of the trade names for click shifting , 105 is one of the company component product lines.

thick skin, just ride what you have and get on with your Life.

thanks guys! I paid under 100 for the bike. I'm happy with it but I see myself upgrading to a better bike down the road.

Yeah, as long as this bike works, save the money for your "next" bike -- the one you'll get when you have a better idea of the size and features you want.

A. Don't upgrade.

B. Screw "hardcore" cyclists. Learn that early on and you'll enjoy cycling more. To quote "Fight Club," "We spend money we don't have, to buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't like."

C. When you do buy another bike, consider a used one from your local craiglist. You don't need a new "hardcore" racing bike to commute. In fact you don't need a racing bike at all. They aren't the best choice for commuting for most riders.

If anything i would put bar end shifters on it.

Then you can be a hard core commuter and look down your nose at the racers.

Yeah, I remember some roadie dissing touring bikes "used for anything but touring." My response was, how about racing bikes used for anything but racing? (I own some racing bikes too, they're just not nearly as well suited for commuting, and yes I've toured on my touring bikes.) And I've used bar end shifters since the early '70s, before current trend.

But I get your point, if I'm not mistaken. Honey color Brooks saddles, matching bar tape, and barcons are at risk of becoming just another way to try to be cool and fit in that could eventually reach roadie snob proportions. Either way though, they beat roadie stuff for commuting.