I've got a pretty high tolerance of noise. I'm using a 9 year old shock seat post that squeaks when it's compressed and I don't think there's a way around it. As for my chain, I can't stand even seeing rust on it. When I see people riding piles of rust I wonder how they can get it to move at all and I toy with the idea of packing a tool kit with lube and fixing random people's bikes. Then I get the idea that some people would take offense at being helped and drop it. Still, low tires and 80% rusted chain drives me nuts.


BTW: It's always a name-brand bike I see like that! It seems people are more mindful of maintenance if they're under the conviction that they're riding a heap of junk.