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What indicates that I need to replace my rims? What about tires (besides no tread left)?
I keep meaning to bring it into my LBS but my favorite mechanic isn't always there so I need to set up a time when I know he'll be there to have him look at it :D
Anyway, I know sometimes the spokes can dig into your inner tube....but when does that happen?
Your spokes shouldn't dig into your inner tubes - if they are doing that either you don't have a rim strip installed (or it has shifted so that spokes are exposed) or you have a loose spoke.... a loose or broken spoke won't necessarily ruin a rim, but will cause it to go out of true and the longer you ride with it loose the greater the risk of causing the rim to become damaged permanently.
You need to replace a rim if 1. the braking surface becomes so worn that the rim is in danger of breaking. Some rims have a little dot that acts as a wear indicator - some you just have to judge how worn the rim is. If you do little riding in the rain your rims won't wear very quickly, but riding wet and dirty conditions tends to create a slurry that is quite harsh on braking surfaces. 2. if the rim becomes so wobbly that it can no longer be trued or 3. the rim is damaged so that it is no longer round (usually from hitting something very hard like a large pothole or a curb)
I just got a new rear rim because I kept breaking spokes and my LBS mechanic wouldn't rebuild the wheel. He said it was a poorly designed rim (he had seen several of the same rim come in with similar problems when he worked at a shop that sold Specialized bikes) and he couldn't guarantee that it would remain true, so they recommended that I get a new one.
Some rims have a little hole drilled in the side, when it disappears - time to replace. Modern rims last many 1,000's of miles. Just keep them clean.
I usually run 2 rear tires to 1 front, getting about 1,500 - 2,000 miles out of each rear. Although I don't run them as long as some. Once it gets really squared off (wearing down the center thread) I think about changing it. Some will run tires until you see the cords - not wise. I figure tires are cheap, and better then a crash from a blown tube. Worn tires seem to flat more often as the rubber thins, and little slices and cuts seem to open up over time. Some tires like Conti 4000 series have wear indicators as well, since many road bike tires are smooth, tread doesn't really give much of an indication.
For tires, I think it depends how inconvenient it is for you to get a flat. If you're racing, or commuting in places where it would be dangerous to stop and fix a flat, then you need to be able to anticipate your tire wear, and I don't really have any advice on that.
But for myself, I'll keep a tire on at least until I get the first flat. I don't know anyone who rides on roads that are so debris-free that their tread will be seriously worn before they get a puncture! If the tire has a lot of cuts, or if the rubber is obviously very thin, I'll replace the tire then; if not, I'll keep riding it until I get another flat or two. When the flats start coming closer together, I know the rubber's not deep enough to keep the sharp stuff out and it's time to replace it.