This is not so much a story about a specific experience, but more of a general opinion of working in a bike shop. I was laid off back in June from my mechanical engineering job in DC. After a couple months of unemployment, a friend of mine who had worked in a LBS said they were looking for someone part-time. I have been here about a month and it's seriously one of the greatest jobs I've ever had. Everyone here is a total bike nut and cool as hell. If I didn't have a mortgage that required a full-time salary, I'd probably work here for the rest of my career.

On a side note: I know it sucks dealing with crappy service from the people that work at the bike shops, but it sucks just as much dealing with crappy customers. They are few and far between, but every once in a while you'll get a customer who's dictionary does not include the word 'civility'.