bhdavis1978

I ride a similar amount per year, also in Vancouver. I've ridden more than 10,000k in a year (when I was doing 60k per day), but usually it's closer to the 6k mark. I'm commuting from Tsawwassen into Yaletown every day, basically - 30-32 k in, and then about 12k out (I don't ride all the way home cause then I'd get home later than I want to and I have young children).

Anyway, I get my bike serviced between every 4 to 6 months depending on a bunch of factors, like how much I'm riding, what the weather has been like, etc. Usually I get the basic repair package ($80), but I also tell them that if they think it needs a more substantial overhaul to do it. I have never had my headset replaced, but they've replaced the bottom bracket twice over the past five years. I haven't changed my cassette yet. I've replaced the chain three times, and a new wheel once (cracked rims).

I recently upgraded my drive train from a combination of Tiagra and Deore components to Ultegra (6600 brifters, 6700 front and rear derailleur, 105 crankset, and a 105 cassette). My old components were wearing out, so I just upgraded them a bit (I was able to get the Ultegra 6600 brifters for $200, so that seemed like a steal).

Honestly, it just seems like bad luck to me. I'm not particularly careful with my bike. I don't wipe the chain down after each wet ride. I do oil the chain a few times per month when I think about it and I manually clean the chain when I do that (just a cloth to get the grit out from between the link, then clean oil, repeat).

leddhedd

I ride about the same distance yearly that you do (~2500 miles), in Seattle, year round in all weather. I go through a BB cartridge, a chain and a set of chainrings every year on my Kona Dew Plus. After three years I replaced the cassette. I repack and adjust the headset, front and rear wheel bearings every six months, and lube all the pivot points on the derailers. I also wash it every two or three weeks, but not with a pressure washer and using care to avoid the BB and hubs with the jet, and I clean and lube the chain every washing. So far, I'm still on the original cables, disc brake pads and discs, derailers and shifters. I bit the bullet and bought the tools needed to do the basics (BB removal socket, crank puller, cone wrenches and the socket for loosening the cassette). They were all made by Park Tool and together they cost around $80 US. Replacement parts are (relatively) cheap because it's an entry-level bike with mostly Shimano drivetrain parts (the chain is KMC). So far (knock wood), I haven't had any serious mechanical failures, I think because of the regular maintenance. There's a ton of really good websites if you want to do your own maintenance. Otherwise, I'd find a good local shop and have them do a thorough work-over at the tail end of winter and end of summer.