Good bike maintenance books?

[spokez]

Hi, I'm just getting back into cycling after a long absence and have started going out cycling with my wife and two kids (11 & 7) I'm waiting on a new bike being delivered from tredz (i opted for a felt hybrid) I'm just wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to a good, well illustrated, easy to follow bike maintenance manual as i'd like to be able to carry out my own checks and repairs as well as showing the kids how to do theirs, saving us cash but more importantly so the kids can learn new skills and hopefully help them to catch the cycling bug :-) Any info will be much appreciated. Many thanks!

 

[ScotiaLass]

I have a good book, it's full of colour photos etc.
TBH, I rarely use it. I use You Tube all the time! It's good because I can pause it when needed, or go back over something if I'm not sure.
I just stand the tablet beside me.
A decent bike work stand is your best friend

 

[arch684]

+1 for youtube

 

[Davos87]

Yes whe I first started cycling I bought the Haynes manual and have rarely used it. YouTube is your best resource by a country mile or ask for a bit of advice off here. Lots of great YouTube links posted on here over the years.

 

[bpsmith]

Park Tool website is amazing for detailed instructions. Just depends if you have web access where you plan to do the jobs in question. Great if you have, from an Internet point of view, but better to get a book if this isn't possible maybe.

If you really want a book, then Park Tool sell the BBB3 book and Zinn is also another book that has great reviews.

 

[arch684]

R J the bike guy does some good video's on youtube

 

[marihino]

+1 to Youtube, I have however bought the Zinn book (literally just arrived 10 minutes ago) as I am a book person and I especially like old fashioned handbooks with hand drawn illustrations. Also, the original "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" novel is one of my favourite and most life-changing books ever (I recommend to everyone, especially if you're interested in any kind of science/technology/engineering), so I thought the reference can only be a good thing. Sometimes easier to just open the page to get a specific bit of information rather than search for videos and watch the full 20 minutes or so to find it.

 

[Profpointy]

for what it's worth I preferred the Park Tools book to Zinn, though the later is ok to be fair.

I don't regularly do major jobs, but have never taken a bit in to bike shop.

 

[Dommo]

Youtube is great until you're working on your bike in a location with no signal... Like in a bicycle storage area in a new-build basement

Second +1 for Zinn. Very clear instructions and the drawings are functional art!

 

[Tin Pot]

I got the Zinn book for Father's Day. Useful and readable

 

[bpsmith]

Useful and Readable would not be features that made me rave over a book of this nature. They are the bog standard basic requirement surely?

 

[Tin Pot]

Useful and Readable would not be features that made me rave over a book of this nature. They are the bog standard basic requirement surely?

What qualities are more important in a technical manual?

 

[Profpointy]

Useful and Readable would not be features that made me rave over a book of this nature. They are the bog standard basic requirement surely?

no need to be pooey. Letting the op know a certain book was useful and readible is exactly the kind of thing they were asking for

 

[marihino]

yup, the OP is asking for "good, well illustrated, easy to follow" and the Zinn book is all of those things. It is also detailed and states levels of technical difficulty and tools needed for each job.

 

[bpsmith]

What qualities are more important in a technical manual?

What I am saying is that your review didn't inspire me to go out and buy the book, as if it's the best book of this nature out there.

If a critic described a book as Readable then, to me, they didn't really enjoy it or find any enthusiasm for it.