In reply to Mike Hutton: I get fed up of people just "asking for advice" too. Even on the phone.............. FFS I am a professional and need paying for what I do. The other one is "hi mate, can you do me a favour?" My usual answer is what can you do for me?" They look at me thinking it's a wind up, a joke.
The usual favour I want in return is money in my till. Bartering can work but usually they have nothing to offer.
Other day I had a guy poll into work mid day who had a gear shifting problem and his seat wanted adjusting, plus his tyre needed more inflation. Bear in mind at this point he had ridden 20 miles in from the next town. No please or thank you, he just expected me to "help him out". As "part of the cycling community that we all belong to.............."
I reminded him quite clearly that this wasn't a service halt for tourers and that my "cycling community" started and finished at my doorstep. Scanning his bike, clothing and equipment I asked him which part of his local cycling community he had bought them from............. "Oh I don't use shops, just the internet. Shops are too expensive........"
He pedalled away a lot faster than he arrived............wanker.