OK, we all agree that your LBS guy was a jerk! I have experienced this too with a shop mechanic, not the owner, of my LBS. He ditched my wheelset and frame choice because it was not what they sold. It pissed me off, but no one else in shop has put down my choices, and at times giving praise and positive feedback (after doing research on their own on the products I purchased). So, I have learned to stay away from the "negative guy" and only deal with those willing to give me the respect I deserve.

I have been to other shops and they have not given me the time of day and I immediately walk out -- along with my money! I have also learned NOT to agrue with any LBS person. If their opinion is different from mine, I simply smile and ask "Why do you say that?" and let them speak. I sometimes learn info, small or large, other times it goes in/out and I never think about it again. Like everything else in the world, cycling has a thousand different options with a thousand different opinions. It is not the different opinions that matter, but how we process and respond to the opinions!

Do your research ... keep your opinions strong ... shop around ... spend your money where others respect your choices ... run, don't walk, when being an intelligent woman is a threat to the shop's ego!! Oh, and remember to smile -- it gets them everytime!!

Suzanne