Originally Posted by
john423
Remember, I'm the guy who broke a fender trying to take a wheel off. I'm klutzy and not mechanically inclined at all. ... I will look into a bicycle repair book more, but I'm petrified it'll be written in a foreign language for someone like me who isn't mechanically inclined at all.
The Zinn book is geared toward the absolute beginner. I've read much of it and of the Park Tools book. The Park Tools book has more pictures, though, which can be helpful. I haven't read the 'Bicycling Guide' book, but I have heard good things. I think I'd recommend Zinn's book as the most accessible and user/reader-friendly book of the three.
Additionally, most bicycle maintenance really isn't very difficult. A bicycle as a whole seems complex at first, but really there are just a handful of systems that themselves are individually pretty simple. I'd encourage you to jump right in! I think it will be much easier than you anticipate.