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Bike Maintenance
Bikes are basically very simple machines and are easy to maintain with only a little mechanical knowledge and a few specialist tools. There are plenty of websites explaining procedures and some are listed below. On the subject of tools, I wouldn't recommend buying a tool kit as there will probably be tools in it you will never use and, often, the quality is not good. Tools need to be the best you can afford and it is better, in my opinion, to buy them as you need them and your mechanical skills improve.
Mechanicals
Most mechanicals are avoidable with a little foresight. It seems ridiculous to me to pay to enter a race, get up at stupid o'clock, drive anything up to 100 miles, only for your race to be over before it's even started. Not spending 10 minutes the day before a race, just going round the bike and checking everything is tight, is foolhardy. All you'll probably need is 4 allen keys. Two things people often forget to check are the crank bolts and chain-ring bolts.
Punctures
Some punctures are avoidable. Check your tub / tyre for flints and pieces of glass on a regular basis and repair any small slits in the tread with superglue. If you have a specific pair of race wheels, pump them up a couple of days before your race to check you didn't get a slow puncture last time.
Transmission
One of the best things you can do for your bike is to keep your chain and gears clean and well-adjusted. Neglecting your chain will mean your chain-rings and especially your cassette will wear out so, instead of just buying a new chain, you'll have to buy a new cassette and possibly chain-rings as well. If you can lift a link off the large chain-ring, bin the chain.
Useful Websites
www.sheldonbrown.com - a bit American but loads on here and lots of links.
www.parktool.com - tools, obviously, but also lots of procedures
www.fixiefaqs.xwiki.com - if you fancy building a fixed.
www.ctc.org.uk/Default.aspx?TabID=3946 - article here on what will mix 'n' match, especially useful if you are building a bike up out of bits from your shed.
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