Good for you, Dogmama! I've slowly been increasing my maintenance abilities, and really look forward to the day when I won't feel helpless when strange sounds start coming from the drivetrain.

I can second the LBS rant. Some of the local shops around here are great, with people who really have a passion for cycling. Unfortunately, at the shop nearest me they're unable to differentiate between the enthusiast who rides thousands of miles a year versus the person who takes their bike out of storage once a year. And being a female 10 to 20 years older than the guys in the shop doesn't help -- they'll never "get" that a woman can be serious about the sport.

So go for it! Knowledge is power, right?