Good mechanic book for beginers.

Its about Christmas time and Im going to ask my folks for a good mechanic book for repairing, restoring, building, bicycles. I tried to do the search thing here but couldn't find anything right away.

What are some good mechanic books out there? Preferably ones with diagrams and info about trueing wheels.

 

Im also asking them for the Park Tools Home mechanic starter set, any input on this would be nice too.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by S on November 18, 2010 at 6:27am

Park has a good book on bike repair (The blue book). I've used Zinn & the art of road bike maintenance and that's been useful. Also Park's website has instructions and videos on pretty much all repairs for reasonably modern bikes so you might not need a book.

Permalink Reply by Allison M. down Ogden 7.9 mi on November 18, 2010 at 7:11am
I'd say Barnett's is the best book for mechanics, but also the most expensive...some used copies are selling for $75 on amazon. But it's worth it.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 18, 2010 at 9:22am
Todd Downs' book gives a great introduction on bike mechanics. Clearly written with lots of pictures.

While the price of the Park tool set sounds attractive, I’d suggest to buy some basic tools (Allen wrenches, a set of metric wrenches) and build from there. I bought a tool set from Performance bike a while back and find that I only used half of the tools. Now I buy tools as-needed. Usually I go to my favorite LBS, ask them what tool I need, have them demonstrate it to me and then buy it from them.
Permalink Reply by terryg on November 18, 2010 at 11:11am
For "wheely" specific (rhymes with "really specific") wheel info you can't beat Jobst Brandt's book "the bicycle wheel." It's pretty much too much information, but it's not bad information. I suppose it's more than you need for truing a wheel, though. For more practical/applicable wheel info, Gerd Schraner's "the art of wheelbuilding" is my go-to book.

Online of course there's Sheldon Brown's site for any bike repair.

I second Duppie's recommendation on buying tools as-needed, even thought the starter kit you mention looks good (I almost got it). If you have zero tools though, getting the kit isn't a bad start, unless it doesn't contain tools you may need right away vs tools you don't (do you need a chain whip and cone wrenches Right Now?).
Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on November 18, 2010 at 1:36pm
Some of the LBS's have a full tune course that includes the Park Tool blue book. I took the course at Rapid Transit and highly recomend it. You can pick the brains of the mech's while you take the class. I also took their wheel building class. Also highly recomend that as well. I've built up a few wheels since.

Sheldon Brown has nearly every answer I need for bike repair on line. The instructions there for wheel building are a great start for how to build a wheel.

My tools I've collected piece meal over time.

I was just in REI and was suprised at how competitive their tool pricing is.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on November 19, 2010 at 3:12am
Not a book, but there is a TON of information at Sheldon Brown's page. There is even quite a bit of information on wheelbuilding. It looks like someone has been doing a bit of work cleaning and arranging his site lately. It needs it. Hopefully someone of Sheldon's stature will take up the standard now that he is gone.

A book would be nice to have -but the internet is an invaluable tool.

Personally, I'd say to skip buying a book and instead invest the money into tools first. Many bike-specific tools are totally necessary for certain jobs and there are no reasonable substitutes.

The first tool you should buy is a bike stand. I scoffed at the idea at first but it makes ANY job 500% easier. Personally I'd take that $20 (or more) you'd spend on a book like the Park book and invest in into a stand and a few other bike-specific tools.
Permalink Reply by Eduardo on November 19, 2010 at 5:33am
Here's another book, Road Bike Maintenance.
Permalink Reply by Becca on December 3, 2010 at 8:21am
I picked up The Chainbreaker Bike Book and have loved using it. It's written by 2 bike mechanics from New Orleans, one of whom is a comic artist and illustrates the book.

All their maintenance info is geared towards low-budget, older bikes (like original Schwinn Varsity era). They give great, clear instructions that allowed me to work on my bike with no prior knowledge! They also have a good tool guide about what you should buy and what you should just borrow from the local co-op.

As a bonus, the second half of the book reprints all 4 issues of the Chainbreaker zine from the Big Easy. It's all about underground bike culture.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 3, 2010 at 1:08pm
I took a Park Tool class a few years ago and it was excellent. I like the approach and the reference materials.

Having a work stand makes any repair project a LOT easier. A good work stand is money well spent.

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