Originally Posted by
ScottCommutes
The real expertise in fixing bikes for money is doing right by the customer. That is a lot of communication and listening. Anybody with the right training can do work on a bike and charge accordingly. However, there's not much sense changing shift cables or derailleurs on a bike (even if they need it) if you discern that the customer doesn't ever intend to shift gears.
No! Educate the customer on why their bicycle (or any other machine) should work as designed, If they won't move from the "I never shift" perspective, sell them on the benefits of removing all those silly bits they won't need, and customizing it to them and their style of riding, cause $$$...