this may be your friend's bike:

http://specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel...v18orij.j27007

as they didn't do a sport for 2005.. i'm assuming it's a 2004...

i ride a 2004 dolce elite... i enjoy it... unfortunately i bought it at supergo so they didn't exactly get me on the right size (i'm pretty sure i needed the next size smaller... in hindsight)

i've ridden a TON of miles on that bike! and i've done a ton of centuries and metric centuries and a lot of climbing! i'm sure, as long as it fits you fairly well.. that you will love it!

you'll learn to shift.. and quite quickly, i'm sure! the only thing i had ridden prior to getting my dolce was a kmart bike that didn't shift for sh.... well.. you know! you'll figure out after a few tries which side does the front rings and which side does the back... and before you know it.. you'll be shifting like a pro!

you don't really need to see which gear you are in... you'll be able to see which on in the front just by looking down.. the rear one.. you can tell when you shift if it got easier or harder.... that's all you really need!

have fun!