DIY 99% of everything here and only trust one of the LBS. They see hundreds of bikes, with a very experienced workshop team and can still get things wrong. I wouldn't trust anyone I didn't know to work on my bikes and would like to think I carried enough spares to get me/anyone I rode with home. My saddlebag is legendary.
Most of the mechanics at sportives/support would be guys from local shops affiliated with the organisers or hired from the local area.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - around here you wouldn't get any of the regular riders calling you as they wouldn't know or trust you, without knowing you were from a particular LBS. I'd imagine many other areas are the same. You'd get 'Joe Blogs just googled you' type calls but I imagine the 'one-off chain replacement every 4 years' emergency call isn't what you're after, you want repeat customers to build up a customer base. I think it would be hard without an LBS affiliation.
Most of the mechanics at sportives/support would be guys from local shops affiliated with the organisers or hired from the local area.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - around here you wouldn't get any of the regular riders calling you as they wouldn't know or trust you, without knowing you were from a particular LBS. I'd imagine many other areas are the same. You'd get 'Joe Blogs just googled you' type calls but I imagine the 'one-off chain replacement every 4 years' emergency call isn't what you're after, you want repeat customers to build up a customer base. I think it would be hard without an LBS affiliation.
