Do any of you have great relationships with your LBS's? I just wanted to share how great mine is. I've been going on on a regular basis for the last few months, most of the parts i need are special order. The shop mostly deals in Trek, but i've been going there since i was 8 years old (used to be a schwinn dealer)

I always tip the mechanic if i get any service done, and sometimes bring some long necks along. Last night i called looking for toe clips for my pedals, which they had some n.o.s , the manager recognized my voice and told me they would be comped, with any other n.o.s old parts i wanted! Then i was taken into the basement and shown all the old bikes they have compiled over the years, repairs that never were picked up, and donated stuff. They had lots of nice road bikes, and a lot of old balloon tires bikes. I was told most of these bikes needed to go, and would be in a month or so. The manager told me i could come in and take ALL of them if i felt so inclined, how awesome is that? I really want the full campy Paramount road bike i saw hanging back there, ill keep dreaming.

What keeps you going to your LBS?

I really don't believe that they're just going to give you a paramount.

My LBS has a gum machine by the door.

I know, as i said i will keep dreaming.

Dude at my LBS gave me free grease for my rear cog that I bought there, he was also really helpful in general and showed me how to take a masterlink on a chain apart and stuff.

It nice being treated as a human being by any shop. My LBS is very mixed, all depending on who is behind the counter.
One guy is horrible to talk to and work with, the others are great and more then helpful. Good thing its only ~15 block away.

I have a great LBS. They give me good discounts for being a frequent shopper and I get all the advice I need. When I was trying to build a new wheel set one of the workers and I sat down at a PC and browsed the internet looking for good builds.

Building a custom wheel for $0 labor.
Willing to dremel out the outer races of blown sealed bearings that had become corroded/stuck into the hub on my winter/sand/salt wheel.
Borrowing a tool for quick fix from time to time.
Removing freewheels/gear clusters for free.
Got some decent shops and great mechs. around here.

The other day I needed some longer cleat screws for my clipless cleats. "Take as many as you want".

I know it's minor, but it was still nice of him.

Taking food or especially beer to my LBS makes miracles happen. That and treating them like human beings; after seeing how some of the customers "behave" it is no wonder some of these guys become pricks.

My LBS has cold beers in the fridge and an espresso machine for regular customers...beans flown in from NYC weekly! Needless to say I stop in several times a week.

My LBS mechanic and I both volunteer at Bikes Not Bombs.

A week ago I got a free presta valve adapter, because the lady did not want to make $19 change from a $20. Not sure if that was nice of her, or just elitist.

Not in Utah. But I had a Cannondale Headhsok rebuilt in Australia in exchange for a pair of Lin socks.

Cut out those cowboy killers john roger!

Haha, i'm trying! I can still out run all of my non smoker friends. I'm sure that won't last much longer!