Quote Originally Posted by lor View Post
Can someone explain the difference of upgrading to the 105? I'm looking at the Ruby Sport Compact. My LBS offers rentals, so I'm planning on taking a Ruby for a spin, but I'm not exactly sure which models they have for rental. It would be helpful to know what to look for (beyond good fit). I'm new to road bikes - well "new" in the sense that I haven't owned or ridden one for about 25 years. I don't want to get all excited and buy what they have in stock, not understanding the detail differences between the models.
105 is considered "entry-level racing" componentry. The shifting will be smoother, and it can take a beating better than the lower-end stuff (one of the managers at work races cross with 105 on the bike, and it's still going strong with only very minor tweaks). Less need for adjustment. The weight here is secondary.

Try out Sora, Tiagra, 105 and SRAM Apex. (I doubt you'll find Rival on a shop floor, but the shifting is very much the same, as far as I know.) If you have an idea of what frame you're looking for (ex, Ruby vs. Amira), you can put that out of your mind for a little bit and just try out shifters on different bikes. (No shop is going to keep a full range of a given model on the floor, but it might help you figure out what you're looking for.)