(although I keep being told its not worth the hassle, despite having to re-adjust my V-brakes every week of use currently!)
What hassle? Hydro discs are more or less self adjusting, an occasional poke at a disc to straighten it and an infrequent bleed and new pads is all they need. I'm used to dealing with similiar, bigger systems on motorbikes so maybe I'm a bit blase about it but I'd far sooner fit or service any of the disc systems I've used than v-brakes.
There's nothing wrong with Vs, they make sense on cheaper models too since it's money better spent elsewhere, but if you can afford hydro discs, get them.
Oh yeah- for the chain, best method I know of- get 3 small-ish airtight food boxes from a supermarket (about a pound) and a bottle of paraffin/kerosene from B&Q (a fiver). Fill each box about half full. Take chain off bike, throw in box number one, shake around for 10 seconds. Take chain out of box 1, wipe it down, throw it in box 2, shake around, leave to soak for 5 minutes, shake again, take it out, wipe it down. Repeat for box 3. When it comes out of box 3, it'll be absolutely pristine. Now, wipe it, let it dry, lube and refit (or refit and lube). It sounds like more trouble than it is, now I read it, but it takes no effort at all and gives perfect results.
(the reason for the 3 boxes is that box one will rapidly get very dirty, and box 2 will get dirty slower, box 3 will stay fairly clean- and the cleaner the paraffin the cleaner the chain. After a while box 3 will get mucky, so you chuck out the contents of box 1 (which will be horrible) and start again, box 2 becomes box 1 etc.)
