Originally Posted by
CliffordK
A good bike shop should be able to fill your shopping cart with everything you could possibly need, and perhaps a few things you don't need.
It is nice to do some preliminary research before major purchases, and to know some of the basics... but a good shop should be able to guide customers through the maze of options.
Just keep in mind that they are also making a profit.
In my experience the LBS are doing a good job, not overcharging and not getting overly technical when evaluating people's needs. Since most people starting with cycling simply want a solid bike to putter around on, it isn't rocket science. For those who want a race bike that fits them, its going to be complicated. But at a guess, that's only a small number of bike shoppers.