Frequency of replacing parts

[DirtDiva]

To be honest, I don't know a great deal about hubs, so I can't help you a lot there. A rebuild or a new set won't be super cheap (obviously!), so you could consider fixing up the drivetrain issues and the wheel issues at separate times...

Replacing a chain is easy, as long as you have a chain breaker. Larger multi-tools often have them, or you can buy a dedicated tool for not too much. If you get in touch with the bike club folk, I'm sure you would find someone with tools they would be willing to lend out (handy, because you can't change a cassette with just allen keys, should you wish to go there). I suggest buying a new chain with a joining link (a la SRAM here) because once it's on, you don't have to have a chain breaker to get the chain off again should you need to (although, to be honest, you do sometimes still need pliers/a large rock/lots of swearwords).

1) Take a photo of how the chain is supposed to thread through the RD or have another bike on hand to look at to save you minutes/hours of head scratching later on.

2) Take of the old chain. Even if it has a joining link, it might be quicker to just use the chain breaker if the thing is getting tossed anyway - joining links can get pretty hard to work once the chain is bung.

3) Count the number of links in your old chain.

4) Shorten the new chain so it has the same number of links. (This is where you need the chain breaker no mater what.)

5) Look at that photo you took earlier and thread the chain through likewise.

6) Fit the joining link. Or the joining pin, if you went old school - look for pictures on the Park Tool website or similar to explain how, because I've never done it this way so I can't tell you anything useful.

7) Voila! Indulge in celebratory beverage of your choice.