Quote Originally Posted by Reesha View Post
Well, the 575 is certainly a 'reach' bike if you know what I mean. I could afford it with my last shop, but now I'm in St. Louis and the shops seem a lot less personable and I worry that I wouldn't be able to afford it with certain shops labor costs. Like if you're not in with them, they won't listen, or they might be elitist? That's the worst feeling. When they treat you like you know nothing or have no idea what you want. My other bike shop in Lake Placid was very much like that... I bought a road bike off them, but I wouldn't have them do a custom bike for me because it would be so so expensive.

So anyway, I figure if I bought some of the parts online, I might be able to shave off some of the expenses.
Reesha - You can go to the St. Louis biking message board for advice. I think Mr. Silver seems to be happy with Big Shark, and Traci at the Alpine Shop always drops whatever she is doing and takes a lot of time with me. She is solidly into the whole mountain biking thing and has helped fastdogs with her bikes.

I think I have visited every shop in St. Louis at one time or another, and some are definitely better than others. My lbs is in Rolla. He takes a lot of time with me when I go into the shop and leans toward the single speed, mtb side. He built up my Surly for me giving me exactly what I wanted and no more. It's a couple of hours from St. Louis though. Perhaps others can give recommendations in the area?