Reddit reviews The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair: For Road & Mountain Bikes

In addition to tools, may I recommend a book such as the Park Big Blue Book or Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair. Between a book, sheldonbrown.com, and YouTube, you're pretty well covered for references. Also a good companion for tear-downs: A digital camera. A picture, and a good system for organizing parts that have a specific order will save you some heartburn.

I love recommending this book(bicycling magazine's complete guide to bicycle maintenance) every time someone has a beginner maintenance issue. It explains everything in a very logical and easy to understand manner. I went from using wd40 on my chain to building up my first bike from the frame up with this thing. It will answer pretty much any question you'll have and will give you a greater appreciation of your fantastic whirly machine.

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Complete-Bicycle-Maintenance-Repair/dp/160529487X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426817531&sr=1-3&keywords=bicycle+maintenance

If you are interested in learning to work on bikes, I would reccomend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Complete-Bicycle-Maintenance-Repair/dp/160529487X . I learned by an earlier edition of this book, and now I do all of my own maintenance (except for truing wheels, and suspension parts)

I hope you enjoy the biking lifestyle! Owning , maintaining, and riding for utility and fun is one of the most rewarding hobbies/lifestyles you can get into! I have recently started to ride my bike EVERYWHERE, and just leave my car at home (have refuled once in the past several months). With learning the bike lanes, and my new waterproof messenger bag, I feel UNSTOPPABLE !!!

YouTube videos are great. I find I do better with a book though and use YouTube as a backup once I've given something a go but can tell there is something I'm missing. Just depends on how you take in information best.

Edit to add the book I use. There are lots of them on Amazon with good reviews.

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair: For Road & Mountain Bikes https://www.amazon.com/dp/160529487X

Not quite as technical as the others, but the Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair from bicycling magazine is a great, easy to use reference. Everything is illustrated with photos and there is a ton of good information for both the novice and the experienced.

More money than time? Pay a shop. More time than money? Start learning.

I bought this book off Amazon earlier in the week and it should be here today or tomorrow. I'll let you know if it's the Bible that I think it's going to be.

I've grown to really like taking care of my bike, almost as much I like riding it. :) To know how something works really intricately is like knowing a good friend. I maintain planes for work, so it's kinda the same thing. I just like knowing how things work and that I made it work better!

I'm not sure if you've seen this website, but it's pretty comprehensive and helpful. It's really old and a bit difficult to navigate, but worth it.

Ride on brother!

Also...buy this book

You need to properly set up your bicycle so it will be an extension of your own body while you're riding it. Sounds a little corny to the uninitiated, I know.....but trust me. A properly adjusted bicycle is like the difference between driving a '74 Ford Pinto and a Bentley.

Riding position is key...if the saddle is too far forward or backward...you'll be out of position. If the saddle is too high or too low, you'll be out of position. If the brakes are too sluggish or too tight....you'll be less safe.

You almost certainly should get new brake & shifting cables.

BTW...all of this advice is contingent upon whether or not you want to love your bike. If you have a short commute...and just want a cheap ride back & forth...the time & effort will most likely not be worth it. But...if you want to start a new love affair with cycling....you'll remember me for pointing this stuff out to you.

I think this is a newer version than the one I have but the Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maitenance and Repair is pretty thorough. Has a lot of pictures and tips in it and for each part/compnent has a guide on both instalation and servicing/cleaning. I've used it mostly for playing with the derailers and shift levers, but it covers just about everything you'd need to keep yourself rolling.

Bike repair and maintenance is pretty easy.

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Complete-Bicycle-Maintenance-Repair/dp/160529487X

That book will tell you all you need to know.

Bike repair shops charge that much, because people quit learning how to do it, so they can get away with it.

Bicycle maintenance and repair by Todd Downs

Its an actual textbook by Todd Downs, and very easy to follow. https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Complete-Bicycle-Maintenance-Repair/dp/160529487X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474757161&sr=1-3 Found mine on a thrift store shelf for 5.00. A very good book.

Well, personally, I like to shower after I ride, but that's me...

If you're talking about maintaining your bike, I bought a copy of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Complete-Bicycle-Maintenance-Repair/dp/160529487X