Thomas Sacco wrote: A related question is how do you learn to do the work yourself...I would love to work on my bikes if I knew how, but I don't.
Thomas,
Some community colleges have a list of noncredit courses on most any subject. If they don't offer a bike maintenance course, they will usually sponsor one if you can get several people to sign up and help line up a willing instructor. The instructor is usually a mechanic, manager, even owner of the LBS. After all, the students have to buy tools and spare parts somewhere so its good advertising. The student is charged a small fee and the instructor is paid for his time. I have seen this at schools in PA and NC. Good luck.
John Wilson
Greensburg, PA? USA