Note that you're supposed to avoid certain combinations that make the chain deflect too much (e.g. big chain ring up front to big cog in back), but that's just to avoid wearing out the chain prematurely, they should still work.

You may as well have written that in Swahili for all I understood it. Maybe I will take a closer look at my bike during the week to see what happens when I change gears. I don't learn well by reading. I have to be shown things in order to understand, which is a pain in the ass for someone as curious as I am. ;)

Thanks for the other tips! This is proving to be most educational.