Maintenance books

blorg
blorg Posts: 1,169
edited April 2008 in Workshop
Looking to get one or more maintenance books so that I can fix a bit more on my bike myself.

I'm pretty basic at this point, can change a tyre or tube and adjust my brakes but that would be about it.

Any views between the following which are readily available (or suggest something else?)
    Park Tool Big Blue Book Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance Todd Downs/Bicycling Mag Illustrated Bicycle Maintenance Haynes Bike Book

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I've got Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance and it's ace.
    I like bikes...

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  • Dai_bach
    Dai_bach Posts: 16
    I used to have the first edition of the Haynes book and it was great. Think it was John Stevenson who edited it. I've read the latest edition and can't say it's nearly as useful. They've failed to keep up with recent trends in component manufacture (disc brakes, hollowtech cranks etc.) and much of the text seems muddled. Many pictures don't match up with what's being written. Not read any of the others though.
  • kilo
    kilo Posts: 174
    I've got the Park Tool Big Blue Book, don't realy like it much and wouldn't reccomend it
  • jswba
    jswba Posts: 491
    redddraggon wrote:
    I've got Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance and it's ace.

    Another vote for Zinn. I've found it much more helpful than the last edition of the Haynes book.
  • lugster77
    lugster77 Posts: 50
    i cant moan about the latest haynes 1. no experience of the others tho
  • COVEC
    COVEC Posts: 213
    +1 for Zinn,
    The book has already paid for itself(probably many times over) in the 3 months I have owned a roadie, and if you like a fettle it will allow you to tinker with confidence :D

    COVEC
  • thetrotter
    thetrotter Posts: 258
    I wouldn't bother buying a maintenance book. Everything you need to know is available on the web. Park tools have an excellent maintenance section here:

    http://www.parktool.com/repair/

    Shimano also have a very good technical section. Don't know about Campag but expect they have the same.

    Spend the money you save on some decent tools. Much much more valuable in the long run. :D
  • slimbob
    slimbob Posts: 35
    Agree with Zinn being an excellent book but also use Park tools website as above. With those two you can't go wrong. The other website that alot of people use is Sheldon Brown who was a genius - unfortunately passed away very recently.
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    i wouldn't recommend the Haynes - it is very very basic imo.

    the Zinn one seems to get recommended all the time.
  • celbianchi
    celbianchi Posts: 854
    Another vote for Zinn.
    Though I also use the park tools repair help online now and again.
    The Zinn book is very easy to follow, diagrams are excellent.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,579
    I've two copies of the Zinn book (I lost one when I moved from Cambridge in 2004 and it turned up last weekend 3 house moves later!). It's superb.

    I'd also recommend the Park Tools and Sheldon Brown websites. With these three together you can do pretty much everything you need to.
  • scannings
    scannings Posts: 82
    Another one for Zinn sorry to be repetitive! I bought mine after just the posting same question you've posted and haven't regretted it at all. Don't be put off bu the lack of photos and only having drawings - they're superb easy to follow and for some odd reason seem to instill more confidence than a simple picture.
    At the end of the day......................................it gets dark.
  • top_bhoy
    top_bhoy Posts: 1,424
    gkerr4 wrote:
    i wouldn't recommend the Haynes - it is very very basic imo.

    the Zinn one seems to get recommended all the time.

    Would agree with the Haynes comment - not particularly useful.

    Viewing the Park Tools website is far more beneficial. Even better nowadays, having wireless internet access means the info can be viewed online at the same time as doing the bike jobs. :lol:
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys Pedal Force:
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys RC2:
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    Park Big Blue Book is the best of the bunch for me, although does recommend the use of lots of tools, as you would expect. At least it recommends getting the job done properly. Zinn is a bit more casual, but an excellent home mechanics book. Haynes is very basic. If you can get a wireless connection in your workshop Park Tools website and Sheldon Brown together will tell you most things. As has been mentioned, you need to get information from manufacturers websites too when instaling or repairng their kit.
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    Thanks for all the feedback guys; Zinn it is so, conveniently available from Wiggle with an extra 10% off on their current offer.

    I have t'internet but unfortunately not much of a workshop, it is hallway or garden depending on the job. Frequent visitor to sheldonbrown.com, it is generally my first stop for any information.

    I'm getting the impression the Park Tool book doesn't provide a lot not already on their website? (I visit that often enough, it is very helpful, just wanted something in book form.)

    I would imagine diagrams would be actually better than photos so that will be a plus rather than a minus!
  • top_bhoy
    top_bhoy Posts: 1,424
    Almost overlooked. There are some short video clips on YouTube which pertain to bicycle maintainance and are very good. I tend to view one of the relevant clips before starting any job just as an overview and refresher of what I am trying to achieve.
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys Pedal Force:
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys RC2:

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