Murphy'sLaw wrote:
IF you keep the chain clean-ish (wipe it down after every ride w/ a rag, maybe lube it every 3-4 rides), and check the brake pads (rim brakes) for grit and glaze a few times a season, you should be good for at least 1-2 years of riding, without needing a full LBS tune-up.
The cables should last a good 3-4 years before needing to be replaced, unless you ride in really bad weather a LOT, or it's on the trainer and gets sweated on a lot.
Brake pads - as needed, which seems to be 2-4 years.
I deglaze the pads w/ sandpaper a few times a season, which helps maintain good braking, at the slight cost of wearing down the pads a little quicker.
I sweat like an alien, very salty and corrosive, so about every other year I need some major headset love to be done, so I get the full tune-up, to make sure there's not any other issues I may have missed.
Agree 100% on de-glazing the brake pads, probably the most overlooked maintenance item I see. Get a little grit in them and they will eat through an aluminum rim in a hurry. You should really sand them down after any significant rain ride because the grit is unavoidable.
I disagree on shifting cables, I would never go more that ~6k miles without at least changing inner cables. The later 10sp versions of Shimano was notorious for shredding shift cables at the brifter and I'd change those more frequently. I don't know if they have fixed that with the newer versions, but it's still a high wear item and it's so cheap and easy to change. I've seen at least 5 people lose RD cables on rides, one of those in a race and she had to finish the race in her 11. The shift housings are more a factor of weather/grit and they will tell you when to change based on shift performance. I normally just change mine any time I change cables. Cables and housing is so cheap if you buy in bulk, ~$10 to install new shift cables and housing.
I've never seen a brake cable fail, they are much thicker than shift cables. I'd say 4 years or 25k miles, which ever comes first.
Chains every ~3k miles is probalby overkill, but they are cheap and who doesn't like rolling a new chain. Wipe/lube chain weekly.