I agree that a few folks who would be putting themselves in harms way by attempting to perform their own bike maintenance. But for the most part they know who they are. They're the ones who bring the bike into the shop for a flat repair and happily pay for the reassurance of knowing a real bike mechanic is doing the job right.

Then there are guys and gals who ride so much that the bike inevitably needs some TLC when a trip to the shop is just not feasible - either economically or perhaps just time wise. They start out fixing their own flats (which everyone should be capable of in order to avoid being stranded) and adjusting their own brakes. They buy accessories and install them themselves. They go on line and learn how to tune derailleurs and replace chains. They master one task at a time. And for the most part they instinctively know when personal saftey mandates a trip to the LBS or another other qualified enthusiast.

Being able to fix the thing yourself is as liberating as being able to get on it and pedal from point a to point b in the first place. Some poeple are content to ride a few miles on the bike path and no more. Then there are those that set their minds to doing a century some fine day. We don't dissuade them from riding a little farther each day because they might take a spill along the way.

DanO