The key to effective bike shopping experience is : NEVER PAY RETAIL unless you're so desperate for an item that you can't wait for a sale.
soapbox on ....

ummm .... I have to beg to differ with your "never pay retail" sentiment.

How can you expect halfway decent local bike shops (LBSs) to stay in existence if all of your purchases are made at SuperGo and Performance and Nashbar?

Sure, you can save a few bucks here and there, but what do you do when your bike needs adjusting ? Ship it off to Nashbar???

Don't get me wrong, I do buy things on sale at these "superstores" (I really like the cheap Performance jerseys!), but I also purchase a lot of things from the LBS. I generally end up paying a few dollars more buying from the LBS than from the mail-order houses, but I really think it worth it in the long run to help keep these stores in business, and to develop a good relationship with the shop.

Our LBS provides us with a lot of good advice, and on several occasions we've brought our bikes in for on-the-spot repairs. There is no way in creation I'd let anyone at the Supergo a couple of miles away lay a finger on my bike!

Local bike shops also tend to sponsor bike clubs and organized rides and are generally good for the cycling community.

If you belong to a club you might even get a discount at the LBS.

LBS's deserve our commerce!

soapbox off....

- Jo.