zeppinger

Hello, I have been a commuter cyclist this last year and am very very addicted. I am going to be doing some touring this summer (Sacramento to Seattle) but I would first like to brush up on my repair skills because i have never even fixed a flat before! Anyone have a favorite "how to" book that is both good for rookies like and as well as for becoming a badass mechanic in the future? Thanks a lot guys!

mcoomer

There are several out there but I have Park Tool's Big Blue Book of Bicycle Knowledge. The book covers a wide array of common repairs and adjustments and has a section on roadside repairs. The book is well illustrated, making it easy to follow the instructions being given.

Tinkeric

Park Tools has a great online resource that is free: https://www.parktool.com/repair/

I like Lennard Zinn's books on bike repair.

Mondoman

In addition to Zinn, I found the Bicycling Guide to complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair by Todd Downs to be helpful.

gascostalot

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/ and youtube.

Honestly, with those two resources you can do 90% of all bike repair and maintenance.

Gunmetal_Ghoul

expertvillage.com is a great go-to site for just about anything. In fact, I found the Top 10 Turn-offs For Ladies to help my love life, but got about 6 out of 10....

bigtruck

Some good videos here also

https://bicycletutor.com/

mistertwo

+1 for Zinn's book

rickowensis

+2 for Zinn's book.

Joshua A.C. New

I keep my copy of the Bicycling Magazine Guide on the back of the toilet. The Park book goes back there, too, but it often winds up down in the shop instead. They're both great.

I hear great things about Zinn and would like to get myself a copy sometime. I also have Jobst Brand's "The Bicycle Wheel", which was great for getting me started on that particular, complex component.

jz19

I have the Zinn's and Mountain Bike Maintenance: The Illustrated Manual by Allwood. Both are good references.

nagsheadlocal

If you have a used book store in your town, check out the sporting section for used copies of Bicycling Magazine's maintenance book. They print a new edition about every year so look through it to be sure you get an edition that covers what you want to know (ie, if you have indexed shifters don't buy an edition so old it only covers friction shifters).

You can get these in my town for $4 a copy. Plus they are aimed at the absolute beginner.

Once you get your bearings and decide you really do want to do your own work, upgrade to the Park Tools books or the Zinn books. I've never seen a Park Tools book in the used book store, the Zinn's books show up there from time to time.

justinb

I've found the combination of the online Park Tool, Sheldon, and this forum to be comprehensive enough to cover my needs for wrenching knowledge. I've glanced at both Zinn and the Big Blue Book in the shop, but never felt the need to purchase the knowledge when its free on the interweb.

FLYcrash

For comprehensive, step-by-step detail and beautiful line drawings, Barnett's can't be beat. It can be a bit much at times, and its selection of topics can be galling (like 200 pages on overhauling suspension forks and not one on overhauling internal-gear hubs), but it's unmatched for thoroughness.