MedicMan55

You're looking at this situation all wrong, you're looking at the end of your nose, and not looking at the whole picture.
First off, you have a bike, thats a great start. Save some money, put some aside every week. While you do that, keep riding, as much as possible, getting better and better. Time will pass quickly, and when you finally have enough for a 105 grouppo, you'll be much happier that you waited.

kudude

Can I point this out again?

YoUnG_RiDeR_31

Point what out again?

kudude

does your bike had a flat bar, or drops?

YoUnG_RiDeR_31

They have drops

kudude

with thumb shifters? what model?

YoUnG_RiDeR_31

Heres a pic. Like i said before the bike is nothing flash.

Arrowtalon

We (royal we) actually determined in another thread that 2200 road shifters are simply renamed 8-speed Soras.

thirtyminbreak

Dude, I feel your pain. I have the same set.
What bike do you have? Either way your bike cannot be much better than what I am riding and I probably ride similar country roads like you. My suggestion would be to just keep on riding until you can afford new (new to you that is) everything. Frame, fork, the whole deal.
Good luck man.

Slackerprince

It's summer, mow some lawns, clean out some garages, work at a grocery store, bus tables, etc.
I've done all that, so, I can say it.
Just work some extra hours and buy some 105 like everyone has recommended. It's not much more for something that will benefit your riding.
Be patient and grind-out the extra cash for something decent.
You'll be glad you did.

S.

YoUnG_RiDeR_31

Its winter here,but anyway that doesn't mean i still cant earn money. How much is a second hand 105 groupset worth anyways?

AngryScientist 

i am going to have to disagree with everyone. if you can find some inexpensive 2nd hand sora stuff, go for it.

i have a sora bike, and aside from the FD, its holding up great after a few thousand miles. if your not racing or doing any heavy duty riding, you dont NEED 105, or even tiagra, sora will work.

it will be a good learning experience for you to install it all on your bike, and adjust it correctly. when i was 15, i would work on anything i could get my hands on. if the sora needs adjustment, you'll learn how to make the adjustments and be happy you worked on the bike yourself.

dont let everyone in here convince you that you need more expensive stuff then you do. half of these guys ride several hundred miles a week, riding on 105 equipped bikes, most likely, you dont need that.

its the same as telling the youngster that he needs a bmw, when he can afford a kia, sure the bimmer will be nicer, but the kia will still get him to school and back...

KyTrekrider

I have Sora on my KHS Flite and it shifts just fine. I like the the thumb shifter. I have had no problems at all with it getting out of adjustment either.

TONYKART125

save mother****er

LanceFanBoy

its not only buying it because its more expensive. Bike's are investments and $$$=durability and performance. I learned the same lesson when I bought my first snowboard when I was 15 on dishwashing money from the local country club. A few other people had 2nd rate brands and I bought a Burton, mine lasted 8 years (and I was still able to sell it for 30% cost) before I upgraded again.

Same applies to bikes, if he spends a few hundred on a Sora set, he'll regret not saving the next few hunred to get a used bike with full Tiagra or 105 for $400-$600 which will last him forever if he never needs to race or gain any weight advantages.

It looks like you ride a steel frame bike too (guessing from the pic of the stem welds?) saving an extra few hunred can also get you an aluminum frame too.

Remember components are cheapest coming on complete bikes (new or used) and if you spend money on a used Sora kit, you have to start all over if you want to save up for a full bike upgrade.

AngryScientist 

thats why i recommended getting the sora components, he spends a few bucks now and buys the sora to get him going. when he gets a job at 17, he's not going to want to ride the old bike, no matter what components he blew money on. he'll buy a nice shiney toy then...

these are all just my opinion though, of course...

RazorWind

Get a job and save up. I remember being in your position a few years ago; old enough to have grown up hobbies, but not old enough to easily pay for them.

You'd also be well advised to not fixate on upgrading the group, especially to Sora, and think more in terms of buying a whole new (To you, anyway) bike. You're more likely to find a sweet deal on a whole bike, and you'll probably find the upgrade to the wheels and frame to be worth it as well.

Flak

I ride a Sora bike, have 3500 miles on the stuff, ride in all weather, ride with the A group on the local shop ride, and race tri on it too.

It's ugly.
It feels cheap.
It's heavy.
....but it shifts just fine. Functionally, i have no real complaints. Buy it, ride it, and in a few years upgrade it.

That said, i am upgrading to nicer stuff, but only because im not 15 and have an income.

kudude

again, what's the budget, and where do you live?

rizz

I think we have a winner.

It works for racing too (once you learn to sprint from the hoods ) and I've yet to have a problem with my FD.

Ralleh

I have Sora on my bike and it doesn't bother me at all. I've never ridden on the higher levels, but I love the thumb-button shifting. I rode 33 miles yesterday without any trouble with the shifting. There's this one spot on the trail with a dip where I shift probably 5 times in fairly rapid succession in order to maintain my cadence and it does it superbly.

KiddSisko

Up until a year ago I was riding a vintage French component 10 speed bike from the 70's. I loved it like a son. Sadly, it was stolen and I replaced it with a fancy new road bike with Sora. The difference between the vintage Huret shifters compared with the Sora was a huge step up in terms of ease, accuracy and speedy shifting. Here's the curious thing -- knowing the difference, I would still ride a vintage bike and not complain about the outdated, difficult and inaccurate shifting. It's all about pedaling down the road and feeling free. Get your Sora bike and ride away.

lenexatokcmo

GF's bike has Sora and it has actually been fine in terms of shifting and adjusting. The non-shimano, cast iron, triple crankset on the other hand needs to be given boat anchor duty as soon as possible. Can you run a higher grade double with Sora?

Arrowtalon

To the OP:

Sora stuff is okay. It isn't great, but it's okay. Sheldon Brown vouched for Sora, and I put a lot more stock in his opinion than my own.

I can't recommend getting used 105 like others have. There is a bias on this forum that goes something like, "105 or bust". For many, that just doesn't work. Of course it could work out for you to get used parts, and 105 is better, but there are other options.

For instance, you could try to get a nice pair of bar-end shifters. They aren't the same as brifters, but they're solid and reliable.