Any good books out there?
08-09-11, 10:54 AM
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Any good books out there?
I'm looking for suggestions on general bike mechanics textbooks. I'm looking for "bike mechanics for dummies" type of material with good writing and description.
Thanks for the advice in advance.
Thanks for the advice in advance.
08-09-11, 12:23 PM
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The two books I found VERY helpful, with diagrams, photos, and easy-to-follow instructions, were Zinn's books on bicycle repair and maintenance (road bike, mountain bike, and maybe other versions available, frequently updated), and Todd Downs' Bicycling Magazine-sponsored book on bike repair and maintenance. I wouldn't be surprised if your library carried both of them, giving you the chance to browse through and see if that's what you're looking for.
08-09-11, 01:12 PM
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Unless you want something to put on the bookshelf or coffee table you can learn all you want at a "... For Dummies" type level of detail at www.parktool.com/repair .
The Park site isn't by any means superior to the books. Just that if you need it now you can get what you need. And it covers all/most of the old as well as the new and current to a good degree.
And a hearty +1 on checking out your public library to see if they have copies.
The Park site isn't by any means superior to the books. Just that if you need it now you can get what you need. And it covers all/most of the old as well as the new and current to a good degree.
And a hearty +1 on checking out your public library to see if they have copies.
08-09-11, 05:24 PM
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The two books I found VERY helpful, with diagrams, photos, and easy-to-follow instructions, were Zinn's books on bicycle repair and maintenance (road bike, mountain bike, and maybe other versions available, frequently updated), and Todd Downs' Bicycling Magazine-sponsored book on bike repair and maintenance. I wouldn't be surprised if your library carried both of them, giving you the chance to browse through and see if that's what you're looking for.
08-10-11, 03:00 AM
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The Bicycling Magazine book? You mean "the book of road cycling" or whatever? I hate that book -- I refuse to read anything written by Davis Phinney. I get so tired of listening to that blowhard talking about how great he was at racing, how many "close sprint finishes" he's won, how many TDF victories he's won (he lists these every time he writes anything at all) how great his son's genetics are because of he and his wife, etc.
The Zinn books are pretty decent, I have those. He tends to cover new-fangled stuff pretty thoroughly and misses a few topics I'd like to see, but his books are alright.
The parktools site mentioned above is fantastic. You can learn almost everything you need to know on that and Sheldon's site.
The Zinn books are pretty decent, I have those. He tends to cover new-fangled stuff pretty thoroughly and misses a few topics I'd like to see, but his books are alright.
The parktools site mentioned above is fantastic. You can learn almost everything you need to know on that and Sheldon's site.
08-10-11, 05:28 AM
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08-10-11, 05:42 AM
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The book that did it for me was Melanie Allwood's book "Mountain Bike Maintenance". Clear photos. Short but spot-on descriptions and procedures. Sadly, the book is out of print. I guess it didn't sell well. Great book though, imho.
Park's book is too much step-by-step for me. I just can't tolerate that painfully-procedural of an approach.
Zinn is good for when I'm working on an older bike with parts I'm not familiar with, or for when I need deeper insight than I can get from books like Allwood.
I loaned my copy of Allwood and it never came back, so Zinn is my go-to source these days when I need to look something up.
Park's book is too much step-by-step for me. I just can't tolerate that painfully-procedural of an approach.
Zinn is good for when I'm working on an older bike with parts I'm not familiar with, or for when I need deeper insight than I can get from books like Allwood.
I loaned my copy of Allwood and it never came back, so Zinn is my go-to source these days when I need to look something up.
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