Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
Keep looking. I'm thinking that you're shopping for a bike when you should be shopping for a bike mentor.
My advice is to keep checking out all of the local bike shops. Tell whoever you talk to what you told us. If they look confused or sound uninterested, don't waste any more time with that person than is necessary. Honestly, I doubt they'll mind.
Once you find the right sales person, everything else will magically fall into line.
Rather than just put a +1 on this, I will say this is excellent advice and worth way more than you are paying for it. A bike shop that makes you feel comfortable is IMO the first thing you should be shopping for.
Great advice and excellent post.