Bicycle Mechanics - Which repair books shine above the others?

I recently purchased the Park Tool Big Blue Book, and am hungry for more.

A friend recommended the "Zinn and the art of..." books. I see the MTB version is now in its 4th edition.

Any others?

Don't be afraid to search this forum, using the keyword "book."

Much gold lies within....

I would highly recommend the 5th Edition of the Barnett's Manual

I would highly recommend the 5th Edition of the Barnett's Manual

I 2nd that. If you feel you need more than the Big Blue Book, Sheldon Brown's site, and the Park Tool site, then the Barnett's is a logical step up. You can sample several of the chapters and see if it's what you are looking for at:

http://www.bbinstitute.com/manual.htm

Scroll to the bottom of the page and there are six chapters you can download for free. This will give you a good feel for what's in the Barnett's Manual. Personally, I think the chapter on wheelbuilding is superb.

I don't care for the Park book. Zinn's is not all that great either. The best one IMO for ATB's is Mountain Bike Maintenance by Mel Allwood. Having more than one is a good idea. The Park and the Brown sites are good as mentioned.

Al

Barnett's is a wonderful resource but it is very expensive and over-kill for the home mechanic. It's intended for the professional mechanic and really justified only for them. However, if you want to know ALL there is to know about bike mechanics, go for it.

Yep, just log onto Park's site, and get that printer printing. I have the Zinn road book, and it's just fine for learning, and reference. Of course you could always sign up for one of them courses, if you want to learn with hands on.

here's a cool bibliography on the subject
http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/books/repair.html

I have this oldie--
Schwinn Bicycle Service Manual. Chicago: Schwinn Bicycle Co., 1969. 2 volumes: Vol. 1, 470 pp; vol 2, 486 pp. A complete service manual for Schwinn dealers, similar to an automobile service manual. Nothing like it currently in print.

I never knew that there where so many dman hubs! I dont really use it but it is amusing.

I have an oldie too. Not as ancient as the 1969 Schwinn manual but close enough. It's the 1987 edition of "Glenn's New Complete Bicycle Manual". It's amazing how much thing have changed in less than 20 years.

Freehubs were just appearing and the book describes Shimano's Dura Ace EX, which actually threaded onto the hub shell like a freewheel but had the outboard bearings of newer Shimano freehubs. It refers to other Shimano freehubs that pressed onto the hub shell and required a removal tool that looked like a gear puller but with no details.

Indexed shifting isn't even mentioned since the book was prepared (probably '85 or '86) before it was readily available and, of course, STI/Ergo shifters were well in the future.

Many now defunct manufacturers are well represented; most notably Sun Tour, Simplex and Sachs-Huret.

One useful feature. If you want to know how to service internal gear hubs and/or coaster brakes, this is the book for you.

Personally, I think the chapter on wheelbuilding is superb.

Agreed. He really makes it easy to follow along and give termanology at the beginning of every chapter.

Many now defunct manufacturers are well represented; most notably Sun Tour, Simplex and Sachs-Huret.

I miss SunTour stuff. Very sturdy. Simplex? Who cares! :D Sachs-Huret?

I HAD A SET OF HURET JUBILEE DERAILLEURS THEY WERE THE PRETTIEST, MOST AWESOME PIECES OF ALLOY EVER!!!! DAMN, I MISS THEM!

Many now defunct manufacturers are well represented; most notably Sun Tour

DEFUNCT??? Bite your tongue!!!!!

Here is their 2006 line - http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/standard.xml?vpID=203

It's just a shame that the "Microsoft of bike components" squeezed them out of the US market using dirty tactics (ducks and runs)

:D

Not the same "Sun Tour"...

...this from "The World According To Sheldon Brown's Glossary" ;) :

"Unfortunately, Sun Tour failed to maintain the inventive spirit that put them in the lead in bicycle components, and Shimano's success with indexed shifting left Sun Tour playing catch up. They never caught up, and it became almost impossible to sell a bicycle that didn't feature Shimano shifting systems. As a result of this, along with poor customer service, Sun Tour went bankrupt in the early 1990s.
The Sun Tour name has been revived by a different company."

I ordered both of Zinn's current road and MTB volumes from Amazon.com

DEFUNCT??? Bite your tongue!!!!!

Here is their 2006 line - http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/standard.xml?vpID=203

It's just a shame that the "Microsoft of bike components" squeezed them out of the US market using dirty tactics (ducks and runs) :D

You better duck if Bill Gates ever gets wind of this. :)

Anyway, it's not the same Sun Tour. The rights to the name were purchased by a Taiwanese company owned by the former owners of Sakae Ringyo (SR) in 1995.

Frank Berto has written a very interesting history of Sun Tour titled "Sunset for Sun Tour" that chronicles the rise and fall of the company in excellent detail. Look here:

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/page35.htm

Read it before condemning the "Microsoft of bike components".

I'm using Todd Downs 'Bicycle Maintenance and Repair'. It was reasonably priced at $20 and has been adequate for me so far.

I use Zinn's roadbike book and parks website. Those plus this forum's all I need.

I can tell you that the "dummies guide" aint worth a whole lot, mabye usefull as a mallet?

Anyway, it's not the same Sun Tour.

Read it before condemning the "Microsoft of bike components".

Oh, I know, I know. I just can't let them go. :)

Seriously though, I have always liked SR's stuff, and I'm glad they brought the name back. If it was some junk monger putting the name on crap I wouldn't be so happy, but thankfully it isn't.

BTW - I make my living with Microsoft systems, and I have plenty of Shimano stuff on my bikes, so I'm entitled to complain once in a while. But then again I have lots of Suntour stuff (and Campy and Dia Compe and Gipiemme and Mafac and Normandy and MKS stuff) on my bikes too...and my main computer at home is an Apple G5 tower so go figure :D

I don't care for the Park book. Zinn's is not all that great either. The best one IMO for ATB's is Mountain Bike Maintenance by Mel Allwood. Having more than one is a good idea. The Park and the Brown sites are good as mentioned.

Al


Al,

I have the Park Big Blue Book but on your advice went to my local Chapters/Indigo and found Mel Allwoods book.

WOW. That'll be my next repair guide. Thanks for the input - I second the recommendation.
(FWIW, the Big Blue Book, to me, seems to be the contents of the Park website, reformatted in a book.)

Thanks for the feedback. It's not perfect, but it's got stuff I need.

Al

i have the big blue book and zinn's book and find they complement each other well, each one covering stuff the other leaves out.