Originally Posted by
Harold K
I trust the guys at the local shop, they only charge $20 an hour for labor, and that ain't much. I talked to the owner today about buying a new bike and he said just keep upgrading the parts as they break, probably a good idea.
The LBS owner is giving good advice. Follow it if you like the bike overall and aren't otherwise interested in a new one.
The guys here are giving good advice too about learning to repair your bike yourself. The same $150 in tools, even at LBS prices, would get you nearly everything you'd ever need. When I started out I bought the tools I needed as I needed them.
As for the derailleur adjustment, the mechanic at my LBS took some time and showed me how to do it. The books, videos and online stuff helps, but for me it took a person working with me. I had a major "Aha!" moment, and after that, it was a snap. People are amazed when I can adjust their shifting for them, and that I can teach them how to do it themselves.