I was thinking it's a good idea to leave your shifters in the highest (smallest sized) rear cogs and the lowest chainring (smallest or innermost one) because the cables are strectched the least and the derailleurs' springs aren't maxed out. Should make tune ups last longer. Any thoughts?

You need to follow your own instincts, but in reality I doubt that it makes very much difference. At least I've never noticed any. But then, I've never really thought about it as a way to make parts last lnoger. It's an interesting question. I hope you get some good responses.

Fongster, I always do exactly what you mention above to my bikes, even if I know im going to be riding the next day, I guess its habit, but I do think that this will prolong the life of my derailleurs.

Less tension on the springs during storage is a good idea.

Where'd you dig up this old thread??

Bottom of the thread tool box.

Modern springs are amazingly resistant to failure, though. Sort of unrelated, but firearms magazine springs have been stored in a fully-loaded (strongly compressed) condition for many years with no failure whatever.

Still, for long storage, can't hurt.

I generally leave my bikes with the chain on the small chainring and one of the smaller cogs, but I am MUCH less adamant about this than I used to be. It definitely can't hurt, but it may or may not help.