Quote Originally Posted by marni View Post
undoubtedly regular maintenance will improve a bikes performance by allowing you to use it to its full potential. Along with the regular cleaning and maintenance comes the noticing of small problems which can be dealt with before they become bigger problems. The less quantitative measurement of the question are more in mental outlook. In the process of cleaning and maintaining you mentally (unconsciously) remember why you bought the bike, what you were planning to do with it, how much you enjoy riding, a sort of mental bond is re-enforced and besides it makes you bike feel much better.

Incidentally I also believe that mechanical things like children and small animals respond better to care than neglect.


I find my 10 minutes after ride bike check and my every x number of miles regular maintanence a very positive chunk of me time when I can just let the mind go and do mechanical things that give a positive result.
Glad that you added the part with kids .. what I feel is a National problem with too many parents expecting others, including the Gov to take care of their kids.

I noticed a glitch in one gear on my bike and the LBS was close so I stopped in. The tech was busy working on another customer's bike and said that I would have to drop it off. I understood that and certainly didn't expect special treatment. But he glanced down at my bike, grabbed it, put it up on a rack and proceeded to check the gears while telling me that he enjoyed working on my bike because I keep it so clean. He even said that he never has to wash his hands after working on my bike. He even had me watch while he adjusted the tensions and explained how and why. And to top it off he didn't/would not even charge me for the service that he did.