Originally Posted by
davidad
The Park tool site is very helpful. This is the best refrence:
http://www.bbinstitute.com/index.php. Jobst Brandt's book the Bicycle Wheel is a good learning tool, but I prefer Schraner's The Art of Wheelbuilding for the spoking method.
Experience and the fact that bicycles are simple machines make working on them easy. The only problems stem from the lack of lasting standards and the constant new and imroved stuff that hits the market.
One of the issues with the changes in componetry standards is often the need to buy yet another new tool to fit or remove the part. I have three BB tools in my box. Anyone who deals with old bikes has three or four different tools to remove freewheels. And working Shimano and Campy... well, that's another story, but I'm a Shimano guy so it's not an issue (yet).
Sealed bearings and threadless headsets have made the tasks in that area much easier, of course.
Talking of headsets and tools, I've just "graduated" with the delivery of a new, heavy-duty headset cup press. It's labelled SuperB, but even so... Nice...