Comments on: Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance, Third Edition http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/ SingleSpeedBicycles.info Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:24:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Diane Smith http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1042 Diane Smith Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:14:56 +0000 http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/#comment-1042 Not enough women work on their own bikes. One excellent competitive rider I knew used to call a taxi if she had a flat tire. No kidding. I started going beyond changing tires just a few years ago with the help of another book (Bicycling Magazine's Bike Maintenance and Repair), and have been grateful to that book for getting me started. Every cable replaced or hub overhauled is a small victory.<p>After a recent mountain bike holiday in Spain, my cousin and I both replaced our 8- or 9-year old bikes. I meant to send her a copy of Bicycling Mag's book, but the reviews for Zinn's looked better. I sent her one, and ordered one for myself as well.<p>I'm glad I put myself in the loop. I'm impressed by Zinn's thoughtful attention to detail: He seems to always answer the "yeah, but" question in my mind. His writing style is easy-going and humorous, but not much is left out. I especially appreciate some of the appendices, including a trouble shooting index, torque table, pedal-cleat compatibility chart, and others. <p>This is from my cousin's thank-you note:<br>"I got the birthday present that you ordered for me. I actually got it a few days ago and have been with my nose in it ever since. I have fine-tuned my cleats and am now going to make a few adjustments on my shocks. I feel better just having a clearer understanding of the mechanics of my bike. Doing routine maintenance is something I always wanted to do but in the past was too intimidated to try---no more!" Rating: 5 / 5 Not enough women work on their own bikes. One excellent competitive rider I knew used to call a taxi if she had a flat tire. No kidding. I started going beyond changing tires just a few years ago with the help of another book (Bicycling Magazine’s Bike Maintenance and Repair), and have been grateful to that book for getting me started. Every cable replaced or hub overhauled is a small victory.

After a recent mountain bike holiday in Spain, my cousin and I both replaced our 8- or 9-year old bikes. I meant to send her a copy of Bicycling Mag’s book, but the reviews for Zinn’s looked better. I sent her one, and ordered one for myself as well.

I’m glad I put myself in the loop. I’m impressed by Zinn’s thoughtful attention to detail: He seems to always answer the “yeah, but” question in my mind. His writing style is easy-going and humorous, but not much is left out. I especially appreciate some of the appendices, including a trouble shooting index, torque table, pedal-cleat compatibility chart, and others.

This is from my cousin’s thank-you note:
“I got the birthday present that you ordered for me. I actually got it a few days ago and have been with my nose in it ever since. I have fine-tuned my cleats and am now going to make a few adjustments on my shocks. I feel better just having a clearer understanding of the mechanics of my bike. Doing routine maintenance is something I always wanted to do but in the past was too intimidated to try—no more!”
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Tim Daniels http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1041 Tim Daniels Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:47:28 +0000 http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/#comment-1041 I've been working on my own bicycles since my first Schwinn Sting Ray in 1969. I never thought I would need to consult a manual to work on something as simple as a bicycle. As we all know the bicycle has evolved into a much more complex machine since the days of coaster brakes, single speeds and no suspension.<p>A mechanic by trade, I rely heavily on manuals for working on unfamiliar machinery. I have run the gamut of manual quality. This manual rates on the top of my list with very few others. It is written in plain english and there is an excellent glossary for the uninitiated. I highly recommend it for the beginner as well as the seasoned mechanic. After reading the wheel building section I feel confident enough to attempt building my first wheel. I can't wait. Rating: 5 / 5 I’ve been working on my own bicycles since my first Schwinn Sting Ray in 1969. I never thought I would need to consult a manual to work on something as simple as a bicycle. As we all know the bicycle has evolved into a much more complex machine since the days of coaster brakes, single speeds and no suspension.

A mechanic by trade, I rely heavily on manuals for working on unfamiliar machinery. I have run the gamut of manual quality. This manual rates on the top of my list with very few others. It is written in plain english and there is an excellent glossary for the uninitiated. I highly recommend it for the beginner as well as the seasoned mechanic. After reading the wheel building section I feel confident enough to attempt building my first wheel. I can’t wait.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Anonymous http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1040 Anonymous Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:12:14 +0000 http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/#comment-1040 and the most current too. It teaches you how to make simple adjustments in your brakes all the way to installing a bottom bracket. It even teaches you how to build your own wheels. It is so clear and easy to use, you could build your own bike with it. Showing how things work with easy to follow instructions and diagrams. I recommend this book to all who would like to maintain their own bicycles. Rating: 5 / 5 and the most current too. It teaches you how to make simple adjustments in your brakes all the way to installing a bottom bracket. It even teaches you how to build your own wheels. It is so clear and easy to use, you could build your own bike with it. Showing how things work with easy to follow instructions and diagrams. I recommend this book to all who would like to maintain their own bicycles.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Douglas Welzel http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1039 Douglas Welzel Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:38:36 +0000 http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/#comment-1039 Whether you have a shiny new mountain bike or one that has been on more than a few trail rides, this book is a must to have in your collection. For about [price] and the price of some tools you'll be able to perform the most common maintenance on your bike yourself. Not only will this save you money (tuneups aren't exactly cheap these days), but you'll understand your equipment much better and be able to handle unexpected situations on the trail.<p>The book is a large format with two columns of text per page and hand drawn figures (basically no photos). Each part of the bike is covered in great depth in pseudo-outline form.<p>The only downside is that the figures can be a bit difficult to understand. I can see how they can be more clear that photos, but some combination of the two or perhaps just more figures would have helped. I've found it is always best to look at the figures alongside my bike so there is no ambiguity. Rating: 4 / 5 Whether you have a shiny new mountain bike or one that has been on more than a few trail rides, this book is a must to have in your collection. For about [price] and the price of some tools you’ll be able to perform the most common maintenance on your bike yourself. Not only will this save you money (tuneups aren’t exactly cheap these days), but you’ll understand your equipment much better and be able to handle unexpected situations on the trail.

The book is a large format with two columns of text per page and hand drawn figures (basically no photos). Each part of the bike is covered in great depth in pseudo-outline form.

The only downside is that the figures can be a bit difficult to understand. I can see how they can be more clear that photos, but some combination of the two or perhaps just more figures would have helped. I’ve found it is always best to look at the figures alongside my bike so there is no ambiguity.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: Nicolas Pottier http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1038 Nicolas Pottier Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:36:55 +0000 http://singlespeedbicycles.info/blog/zinn-and-the-art-of-mountain-bike-maintenance-third-edition/#comment-1038 Mountain biking is a little different than most sports, you're usually out in the wilderness, miles away from the nearest phone or road, and putting yourself (and your bike) through a pretty grueling workout. In 'Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance' Lennard Zinn does a great job of making sure that if the bike part of the equation fails, you'll know what to do. From suggesting what tools you should carry with you, teaching you how to use them, and giving you a quick lesson on how each work, this book covers it all.<p>The book uses illustrations instead of photos, so it's easy to tell what's going on, and it covers all the different types (and eras) of components that you'll find. Coverage ranges from the basic (changing a flat tire) to the complex (changing your fork or bottom braket) but is clear throughout.<p>I highly recommend this to anyone who's doing serious riding and wants to learn more about how to tune and fix their bike. As your bike grows older and you take longer rides, things WILL break or wear out, and knowing what to do in those cases is well worth the price of the book. Rating: 5 / 5 Mountain biking is a little different than most sports, you’re usually out in the wilderness, miles away from the nearest phone or road, and putting yourself (and your bike) through a pretty grueling workout. In ‘Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance’ Lennard Zinn does a great job of making sure that if the bike part of the equation fails, you’ll know what to do. From suggesting what tools you should carry with you, teaching you how to use them, and giving you a quick lesson on how each work, this book covers it all.

The book uses illustrations instead of photos, so it’s easy to tell what’s going on, and it covers all the different types (and eras) of components that you’ll find. Coverage ranges from the basic (changing a flat tire) to the complex (changing your fork or bottom braket) but is clear throughout.

I highly recommend this to anyone who’s doing serious riding and wants to learn more about how to tune and fix their bike. As your bike grows older and you take longer rides, things WILL break or wear out, and knowing what to do in those cases is well worth the price of the book.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]>