Is there a build your bike Bible?
#1
Thread Starter
King of Typos
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
Bikes: Trek 7.1 FX
Is there a build your bike Bible?
Is there a book you can buy that teaches you how to buy a bike, and what size forks work with what size frames, etc... I'm looking to build one for a hobby just buying the parts as I can/need.
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 56
From: Munising, Michigan, USA
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Not that I am aware of, at least not one that is current. I did write a proposal for such a book though:
https://gennick.com/ExampleProposal.html
I wrote the proposal as an example for use in my day-job as a computer-book editor, and chose building as the topic too keep the proposal fun and hopefully make the outline one that anyone could easily follow regardless of their technology background.
It'd be fun to actually write the book that I've outlined. Someday I might have a go at it.
BTW, building is fun. I enjoy it very much. I try to do one new build each season. Often I just buy a frame and move parts over, or rebuild an existing frame using a different set of parts. Either way gets me something different to ride, for a nice change of pace.
Use these forums as a resource. People are usually glad to answer questions.
https://gennick.com/ExampleProposal.html
I wrote the proposal as an example for use in my day-job as a computer-book editor, and chose building as the topic too keep the proposal fun and hopefully make the outline one that anyone could easily follow regardless of their technology background.
It'd be fun to actually write the book that I've outlined. Someday I might have a go at it.
BTW, building is fun. I enjoy it very much. I try to do one new build each season. Often I just buy a frame and move parts over, or rebuild an existing frame using a different set of parts. Either way gets me something different to ride, for a nice change of pace.
Use these forums as a resource. People are usually glad to answer questions.
#3
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
You can start a library of various books on many cycling topics,
shop manuals ? Sutherland's, Barnett's . professional reference tools
+ there's lots of Magazines to read , maybe back issues in the Public Library?
shop manuals ? Sutherland's, Barnett's . professional reference tools
+ there's lots of Magazines to read , maybe back issues in the Public Library?
#4
Biking Viking.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 358
Likes: 6
From: Camp Hill, PA
Bikes: '01 Lemond Buenos Aires, '11 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, 70s Austro Daimler Inter 10, 80s Motobecane Mirage 10 Fixed Gear
This one even has bible in the title...https://www.amazon.com/Sloanes-Comple...7158865&sr=8-1
Seriously, I've checked out the Eugene Sloane books at just about every library I've lived near. They're old at this point, but great reading. When I first got into bikes, they were informative... even if dated.
Seriously, I've checked out the Eugene Sloane books at just about every library I've lived near. They're old at this point, but great reading. When I first got into bikes, they were informative... even if dated.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Barnetts and Sutherlands are as close to "bible" status as it gets but they are aimed at professional shop mechanics who will have to deal with every type of bike and component and are expensive and, probably, unnecessarily detailed. The Park Tools Blue Book and Lennard Zinn's "Zinn And The Art of Road (or Mountain) Bike Maintenance" are good with as much detail as you are likely to need.
#7
The books and sites listed above are great resources, but in all honesty you're going about this backwards. It's 10x easier to start with a complete bicycle, get out the manuals/pages printed from the web, and pay close attention as you are disassembling. Start with a "good" thrift store find (ie. not a department store level bike) for ~$35 and go to work.
__________________
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kroozer
Classic & Vintage
56
04-16-14 08:19 PM
riding4life162
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
5
10-21-12 12:00 PM





