If you need service after sale, a LBS would be a wise choice for you. If you do your own then price shopping will be your advantage. Not sure what your budget is on a new bike but $180 is not much difference on a $2500 bike. A general rule of thumb that I've been told was, that a $2000 bike will be nearly twice as good as a $1000 bike but anything above $2000 is really just more bling or fashion and no more quality. Not sure about that though as I find you can get just about as good a bike as you will ever find for just over $1000.