Originally Posted by
MichaelW
You should be able to fix a chain, clean and adjust wheel bearings, adjust derailleurs, change a driveside rear spoke, tighten a crank.
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and tighten/remove/install pedals. That pretty much covers it.
aprosemu, find a beater/throwaway rear wheel somewhere , from the bike shop maybe, and practice cutting and replacing spokes. I wouldn't get to focused on reading books or stories as a means of education but as a beginning step to playing with the parts. Just work on the bike, make the adjustments, ride.