I know nothing, where do I start?

I've been riding a single speed with a flip-flop hub (a new term I've learnt) for the last 3 years and finally decided it's time to:

1) learn a bit about my bicycle
2) finally clean it up and get it looking as good as it deserves

How can I identify the current components? Where would the model or name of a frame/brake/handle bar be? How do I know what type of steel I have or whether a component should be replaced? These are fairly embarrassing questions to ask but I'm honestly clueless. The only thing I can say proudly is I've ridden the ever-living nuts off the bike, managing to haul it through 4 "epic" sportifs and daily commute for 3 years. Now I want to love it a bit more tenderly too.

reference:
bike: http://imgur.com/WsR1GOo
close-ups: http://imgur.com/a/hzcgq

The Park Tools blog is a good place to start on the maintenance front.

Sheldon Brown's glossary is worth browsing: if you're going to be asking questions on teh internetz, then it helps to be able to use the correct terminology.

It's useful to have a reason to start tinkering. Is anything lose? Does anything rattle? Do the wheels spin for a long time unimpeded? Are the brake surfaces good?

The only good way to learn about bike maintenance is to actually get your hands dirty. Any charities nearby you can volunteer for? That and google will tell you almost everything you need to know.

nb. You have shimano a520 pedals.

Appreciate it! These links are pretty handy.

Eventually my questions will lead to how to repaint the frame and fix her up generally, but agreed definitely should at least be able to know the terminology.

Nothing is loose, brake pads are good, contact is a little uneven. Handlebars creak and groan when I pull on them but they've been doing that for years. I recently replaced the chain and had some maintenance done but I've just become emotionally attached because of all the miles that I want to be able to do it myself.

A good place to start, is with what needs doing.

You can replace a chain and I assume you can fix a puncture/replace an inner tube and tyre: the next thing on the list of basics, is your brakes.

Eventually the pads will need replacing, but between then and now you'll want to remove and clean them: they pick-up bits of road grit and pieces of aluminium from the rim.

These become embedded in the pads, reducing braking performance and shortening the life of your rims.

Take them off, dig the crap out (this will leave pits, but that's ok), lightly scrape the top with a razor blade and/or wash to remove grease and tar, re-assemble.

Next up is to fix those creaky handlebars: when your bike starts making noises at you, it's saying "fix me or book an appointment with the dentist"...

A good first tip is that creaks are deceptive: what sounds like the handlebars could just as easily be a pedal or your seatpost or recently in my case, the headset. If you tighten everything down and check for cracks and it still doesn't work, consider re-greasing/or replacing your headset...if you've had the same bearings for three years it might be a good idea anyways.

Take the back wheel off , turn it 180degrees and fit back on ... best decision you will ever make . I made the mistake of riding ss before going "fixed" but believe me you wont regret it !

Definitely not the seatpost, however possibly the pedals & headset I haven't checked. I say not the seatpost as I only really noticed the creaks when I have to stand and climb. I've had the same everything for 3 years and the owner before me had the bicycle outside in a shed for a few more years before that, there's probably quite a bit that needs changing!

Honestly the only reason I haven't done that is because I started using this ride for much longer events (80-100 miles) and being able to coast downhill is a blessing I'm not keen on giving up! I think I'm over my 1-gear-warrior phase now so I'll give it a crack after the fix-up.