Bicycle Workshop Manual

FatLarry
FatLarry Posts: 209
edited February 2009 in Workshop
Can anyone recommend a good general bicycle workshop manual?

I've never really done any servicing work on any of my (or my wife's) bikes. But now that our collection is growing, I'm feeling the urge to spend some "Dad Time" in the workshop, doing my own servicing and generally tinkering for the sake of it.

Having spent much of my youth dismantling Mini Coopers with the aid of a Haynes Manual, I know that I have sufficient technical nouse to learn quickly and follow good instructions. I'm just lacking experience with bikes...

I've seen that Haynes do have a cycle manual - isd it any food or should I be looking elsewhere? Welcome any recommendations.

Comments

  • Tony1976
    Tony1976 Posts: 70
    Ive just ordered one from Zinn, supposed to be a good one which is easy to follow, Art of Maintenance.
  • ednino
    ednino Posts: 684
    When i was new to bikes i just used...

    http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Tony1976 wrote:
    Ive just ordered one from Zinn, supposed to be a good one which is easy to follow, Art of Maintenance.

    + 1 to the Zinn and the Park Tool Big blue book
    M.Rushton
  • kilo
    kilo Posts: 174
    + 1 to the Zinn and the Park Tool Big blue book[/quote]

    I found the Park Tool book to be very poor and would avoid it
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I guess the Park one relies heavily on instructions using Park tools of course. The Haynes one isn't too bad actually but I haven't see the Zinn one tbh.
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    I've got Basic Maintenance & Repair by Ed Pavelka which despite the despite the name covers just about everything. I overhauled my Giant last summer using it and have done odd jobs like replacing headset bearings and gear cables.

    I've got an early edition of the Haynes one and I don't rate it - too basic even for me who's only just got out of the habit of taking my bike to the LBS for repairs.
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    Zinn is fantastic but I find I need to supplement it from time to time with the Park website.
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    The Park blue book is the best for a resonable outlay, although does assume you have the right tools for the job.

    Barnett's Bicycle Manual is the most comprehensive, designed for professional mechanics rather than consumers, but is fearsomely huge and expensive.

    Zinn is OK, practical but a bit amateurish. Haynes is crap.

    You don't actually need one at all if you combine the web resources of Park and the late Sheldon Brown. Bicylcletutor.com is also very good, as long as you can stand the incessant yank drone of the mechanic bloke.
  • FatLarry
    FatLarry Posts: 209
    Thanks for all the replies.

    I know I could get away with just using web resources but the old fashioned bit of me wants the tactile experience of holding the oily manual with me in the garage...

    I've ordered a copy of the Zinn for now.

    Thanks all!
  • The Hedgehog
    The Hedgehog Posts: 169
    if all else fails, youtube has some excellent stuff on it

Categories