Originally Posted by
BarracksSi
Nobody shows up to a grocery store to have a big get-together and talk about groceries (as an example), but most of the LBSes I know organize group rides, teach maintenance classes, hold "Cycling 101"-type sessions, and stuff like that.
Very few of the bicycle shops I've dealt with have offered any of that stuff. A few have had group rides, but only for top-level road riders ... not for anyone who might be remotely slow or recreational. Only one shop I know of has had bicycle maintenance classes, and most couldn't be bothered with newbies, or anything other than top-level road riders.
But clothing stores have fashion shows, food stores of various sorts offer cooking advice, and hardware stores offer all sorts of classes for DYI projects. Bicycle shops could take notes on what other shops do.