Book on bicycle building ?

Freshfunkmeister

Hi there. I want to learn as much as I possibly can about bicycle maintenance with a view to getting good enough to be able to build a bicycle myself from scratch ( obviously buying a frame though ) buying and fitting all the relevant components. Ideally I'd like to go on a course but I simply don't have time for this. Is there a book that anyone can recommend on bicycle maintenance/building ? There are loads out there but I'm not sure which one to go for. Any advice much appreciated.

Wooliferkins

Richards Bicycle book
Park Tools Big Blue Book

If you have the foldables then Barnetts' is the daddy

peter413

Don't bother with a book, as soon as they are printed they are out of date.

Far better to use use websites like Park Tools

stuisnew

zen book of bike maintenance (or called something like this) and the blue book already mentioned are the ones everyone generally goes for. Well worth getting.

cavegiant

+1 on websites.

do not underestimate youtube for a different slant to park tools (both sides of a problem give a better picture).

Eyon

I just got Zinns book for Christmas and its fantastic, really thorough and in depth.

OK a lot of stuff might go out of date when a book is printed, but I'm yet to find much in there, apart from the odd illustration which would hamper my fixing my bike in any way

Highly recommended

steve77345

+1 for Zinns, and you can always you tube or use web sites for additional info or videos if needed.
Steve

nicklouse

Zinn is good if you have no idea at all.

not worth the money as it will cover lots of stuff that is just not needed with current bikes. and also as I always say it is out of date as soon as it is printed.

your forks/brakes are unlikely to be covered. and the rest is all on the net for the cost of your connection and some paper.