Thanks so much gramin and bonz for your very helpful comments.

I'm proficient at minor adjustments and repairs, but I'm just not as fast or as skilled as an experienced shop hand. I moved after I bought my current bike so I became pretty good at taking care of all necessary adjustments myself and installing upgrades.

I haven't yet reassembled bottom brackets, headsets, and hubs, but plan on doing so for fun, probably on a very cheap clunker I buy just for that purpose.

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I would love love love to buy from a shop that's close by. I don't think any sane person would however--not in the shops closest to me anyway. The nearest shop has employees, and an owner, so stoned out and incompetent, it's beyond laughable and almost pitiful.

I haven't been able to locate the models or sizes I'm interested in locally: the closest would be maybe 45 min. out. I would have to order and buy beforehand without a test ride. Even if I did, I have less than complete confidence in the mechanics of the local shops.

I've visited most of the local shops already and have been underwhelmed not only with selection, but customer service and has also been poor.

If I drive out of town and make a day of it, I could probably hit 4-5 shops at least and test at least as many bikes.

My first priorities are fit and assembly quality, and the shops I've short listed out of town nail those two criteria.

I won't completely rule out the local shops, but it's a long shot for just about every reason mentioned and probably more.