Bicycle Mechanics - Do you guys stay local for mods and maintenance?

so im looking now at wheelsets with some slicks for my trek 820 and want to know do you guys order online and DIY, or do you guys go to the LBS and have them prep up the bike. i have a 1 year maintenance so im going to stay on top of that but after it is up should i do it myself or keep going to the store?

thanks
Steve

For the most part, a bicycle is a pretty simple machine. Most bike tuning and repairs can be done with a minimum amount of tools so anybody with average or better mechanical aptitude can handle nearly everything on a bike.

In addition to the satisfaction and cost saving of doing it yourself, there is also the convenience of not having to make two trips to the bike shop and of being relatively assured that your bike will be ready when you want to use it.

Since you just got your machine, try just running it on the stock rims and change the tires yourself first.

I was thinking of taking my bike to a bike shop that is also a road cycling team however its quite ways from where I live.

I found this local bike shop across from my job, will they be able to handle a tune up for a racing road bike just like the other store?

I was thinking of taking my bike to a bike shop that is also a road cycling team however its quite ways from where I live.

I found this local bike shop across from my job, will they be able to handle a tune up for a racing road bike just like the other store?

That all depends on the mechanics at the shop, and on the way it is managed. Ask some other local cyclists their opinion, or perhaps contract with them for a simple repair (a wheel true is a great test), to see how they do.

so im looking now at wheelsets with some slicks for my trek 820 and want to know do you guys order online and DIY, or do you guys go to the LBS and have them prep up the bike. i have a 1 year maintenance so im going to stay on top of that but after it is up should i do it myself or keep going to the store?

thanks
Steve

As long as you have the 1 year maintenance, keep using that. At the same time, purchase Zinn and The Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance and perhaps also the road bike version if you have or intend on getting a road bike, or get some other bike maintenance book. As you get your bike maintained at the shop, read about it in the book. As was mentioned, why not keep your rims you have now and just switch between the slicks and I'm assuming your knobbies. It's not that hard to do yourself. After your year long maintenance is up, you can start to tackle maintenance and repair jobs yourself and slowly build up your tool set.

Maybe your LBS or another one offers bike repair classes or your city offers a bike co-op. Something to look into.

Doesn't get much more local than having yourself as the closest pro wrench now does it?