Bad local bike shops are good in exactly one way.
They make it much harder to spend money. I rode 34 km and visited
five shops to get myself a pair of Egg Beaters (which rule) and a new
tyre, because the old one doesn't want to be round.
Did I mention that Egg Beaters rule? I'm seriously considering putting them on my road bike as well. Some sort of cleat unification has to happen, or the confusion will get out of hand.
One bike shop which didn't have a tyre for me, but has good mechanics, did offer some free advice though. I'm apparently supposed to lube the rim with dish washing detergent before putting on unruly tyres. This allegedly makes pressuring up much more likely to force the tyre to round, provided the rim is true. I haven't got to trying this, because I was determined to get my new tyre, and finally did so.