RS>KP> Frankly, I think what YOU describe as "serious cyclists" are children
RS>KP> who like to play with their toys.
RS>Roger on that. Some of these guys who call themselves serious cyclists
RS>sound like overgrown children with too much money to spend. Then there
RS>What are your thoughts on this sort of thing?
I agree 100%.  Fine for them if they can afford it, but the
Serious Cyclists I've known were people who had just any old
well-maintained bike, fully outfitted with racks and such so
they could carry groceries and what-all.  These were people who
could do so much with their 'old clunkers' that they hardly needed
a car.  THAT'S A SERIOUS CYCLIST.
As for your repair problem, the library may have a book or two
on maintenance.  There are a couple of really good books on the
subject.  If you're at all handy you should be able to do it
yourself -- the problem, of course, is knowing _how_.
You might also ask around to find the local cycling club.
One or two of those folks may well be kindred souls whose idea
of a pleasant evening is yakking it up with you while they explain
basic repair stuff.  The only thing is, there are some specialized
tools you might need, such as a chain removal tool or the 'cone wrenches'
to take the hubs apart.
But with basic shop tools, a few specialized tools, the right lubricants,
and the right know-how, you can strip your bike right down to the
frame and put it all back together again almost as good as new.
The only problem here is that, like any other task, these tasks
are sometimes confusing the first time you do them.  In other words,
most bike repair tasks are almost trivially easy the _tenth_ time you
do them, but they can be really baffling the first time.  That's why it
might be handy to find that cycling club member who's done this stuff
before.
Back in the 70s, Albuquerque had a bike co-op that would rent you
a space and all the right tools, and would help you become self-sufficient
in maintaining your bike.  Too bad that kind of thinking seems to have
gone the way of the dodo bird.
Hope that helps.
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