Bicycle Mechanics - Bicycle repair books

Hi

I would like to do my own servicing and maintenance on my bikes and was wondering if anyone could give me advice on a decent book to buy as a starting point. I am mechanically minded but would like to get more knowledge in this area.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

This has been discussed many times. Do a search.
http://img100.exs.cx/img100/1143/search7.gif

I don't know how available they are in Australia but the books by Lennard Zinn are my favorites. The books are well illustrated and give very detailed instructions. He has three books that you might consider, Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, Zinn & Mountain Bike Maintenance, and a book you might consider as a suplement to the other two is Zinn's Cycling Primer. Though this subject has been discussed fully before, I don't think there is anything wrong with restarting a thread because everything in biking changes with time. I have been biking a long time and know.

http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=661986

Can we give the guy a break? EVERYTHING has been discussed here at one point or another. Should we just have the search page as the home page? Come on! That's ridiculous. Cut him some slack.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will look into the Zinn books as I have been doing a bit of homework and they keep on popping up.

Here are my favorites:

Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&tag=avicycle-20&keyword=1884737706&mode=books)

Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&tag=avicycle-20&keyword=1884737471&mode=books)
(have only browsed through this one but seems as good as the road version that I use)

Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair for Road and Mountain Bikes (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&tag=avicycle-20&keyword=1579540090&mode=books)
Great and inexpensive!

Barnett's Manual: Analysis and Procedures for Bicycle Mechanics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&tag=avicycle-20&keyword=1931382298&mode=books)
Got this one recently, absolutly awesome, pricey though (didn't notice, t'was a gift :-). Definitly not for the novice, or overkilled, for the enthousiast.

Plenty of free info on the net such as @ ParkTool (http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/index.shtml)

and the best investment I have made this (sorry... last) year:
- Park Advanced Mechanic Tool Kit (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=4519&subcategory_ID=4218)
- Park Tool PCS-9 Home Mechanic Repair Stand (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18234&subcategory_ID=4216)
a real pro quality set-up for less than $300, bought from Performance with 20% coupon and 10% Team Discount. (http://www.performancebike.com/team_p.cfm?siteID=3ZjAe4V2SLg-%2AHIStnNk2Q2e3XrhE0uh%2AA)

Good reading!

I have found that going to the part makers website and finding the service manual to be
more helpful than the book I picked up at barnes and noble. (Bicycling Magazine)

For example: If you use a shimano drivetrain? Their instruction files on their site are great!
Even if you don't use shimano they still get the job done very well.

my .02

true, but the manual for their deore mech disc is the exception....that little sheet might as well have been in another language.....it just didnt cover anything truly useful.

The Bicycling Magazine one is the best one I've seen so far.