Favorite Bike repair/maintenance book?

Oh TE Sisters of Power and Vast Collective Knowledge:

I would like to be able to make adjustments to my bike without having to ask my wonderful DH about every little thing. Stuff like lubing, cleaning, deraileur adjusting, cable changing....all that nifty stuff, both simple and complex.
Please tell me your favorite book for this, or manual, tell me WHY you like it. (I have a road bike, I don't do mountain biking, incidentally).
I'm looking for an ACTUAL book or manual I can take to bed and read, or look at while working on my bike- NOT looking for repair websites, -which I know are available all over the internet.
Thanks, Wise Ones! :)

I too am anxiously awaiting the responses. :)

There were at least 2 threads over in the Maintenance area that discussed books. *going off on a search - be right back*

Try these three threads:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=book
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=9439
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=book

But if you're lazy, here's the executive summary:

"Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repairs" put out by Park Tools is recommented by Knotted.
Lennard Zinn's book "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance" is recommented by MP.
The one put out by Bicyling Magazine "The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes" by Todd Downs is recommended by CorsairMac.

I have and like Chris Sidwell's Bicycle Repair Manual, which though not as comprehensive as others is more easily understood and has nice pictures. :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DebW

"Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repairs" put out by Park Tools is recommented by Knotted.
Lennard Zinn's book "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance" is recommented by MP.
The one put out by Bicyling Magazine "The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes" by Todd Downs is recommended by CorsairMac.

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I have all 3, and like them for different reasons. If I were gonna buy just one I would go with the Park Tools book, but I do like Lennard's book a lot too. I also fine asking DebW what to do by posting to the TE maintenance forum is great, as is the park tool website and sheldon brown's website. Sometimes when I go buy a tool at my LBS I also make them show me how to use it (like changing a casette and installing cables)!

Thanks so much for the recommendations.
I wound up ordering the Park Tools Blue book and also the other book by Todd Downs. That should cover most any situation I figure!
I got them both used on Amazon and saved a few bucks.
Thanks!

Just came in on this thread and what a GREAT question Lisa. I also have been wanting to learn more about basic, and not so basic maintenace on my bike. Thanks DebW, SouthernBelle and Triskeliongirl for the recommendations. I'll check out Amazon and Ebay.

I have the Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repairs by Park Tools and on Monday the 6th will be taking a bike repair class at my LBS sponsord by Park Tools. I have found the book to be an easy read and very interesting.