Quote Originally Posted by pooks View Post

How does a newbie know how to choose a shop, who to listen to, who is right? Should I have just gone to the same person repeatedly until I got it right, assuming they'd learn from their mistakes?
This is a perfect argument for finding a shop and developing a relationship with them.

When the folks in the shop know *you* and your riding habits, they are in a better position to help you out. So, yeah, if someone recommended some textbook "fix" for you on your bike, and it didn't work out, you can go back to them and say "You know, Joe. That adjustment you made just isn't working for me. I'm still getting [X - insert issue here]." And then they can say "Okay, Pooks. Try this and see how it goes." And so on, until you get it dialed in right with someone who knows you, knows your bike, and knows your issues. It's not a matter of "mistake", it's a matter of trial-and-error in getting a stock bike dialed in for you.