I went to the LBS (local bike shop) to buy chain lube the other day. When I tried to lock my bike, I couldn't find the bike rack. I thought, "This is totally absurd, a bike shop without a bike rack." I talked with the owner, but he seemed pretty bored with the whole idea. He said the rack had been stolen. (Is this likely?) He said he'd get a new one, but he sure didn't sound sincere.

I often get the feeling that LBS personnel look down on bike commuters and carfree cyclists. They don't stock a lot of the stuff we like, like fenders and panniers, and they don't get as involved in local bike activities as much as some other businesses do. It seems like they cater more to the comfort bike crowd, and especially to the roadies.

Have you found this to be true in your community? Are pretty much all LBS's like this, or just the ones I've been in?