Opinions...Yes even yours!

I am helping the Chief Operations Officer of the NOO household (Mrs. NOO) out with the Xmas shopping this year. She is remarkable at running our house and with our family expanding, it is a tall order.

I've been tasked with some layup gifts. One of which is for a road and tri geek (with limited MTB riding). He wants a book on Bike Maintenance. I have no experiece with this given I take my bikes to the LBS for just about anything. One they are great shop, and two, I like to give back to the local economy. Remember, I am a man of the people...let's not lose sight of this folks....especially during the season of giving and all around Holiday cheer. I digress.

Can anyone recommend one of the following, or provide an alternative?

1. Zinn and the Art of Roadbike Maintenance
2. Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bike Maintenance - New Edition.

Thanks,

Elf NOO

[C.P.]

a couple ideas

Zinn is a good resource - dont turn this down.

Also take a lok at Barnetts manual, bigger better - but covers everything rather then focus on road.

Or - super layup gift - a book and one two hour mechanic training session with local shop mechanic - if you think the shop guy would oblige...worth asking - and probably something easily done during the slow winter hours a shop typically has.

CP

Thanks CP!

I thought about the training session. Problem is, this person resides in the Amherst MA area and I do not know any shops out that way. Anyone know of a good mechanic is that area that would be willing to give a tutorial for an hour or two?

My shop is 2.5hrs from there....

[turch]

Then there is sweet, simple, and Scroogely cheap. Barnett's Manual is online.

http://www.d.umn.edu/~bjer0078/bike/manual/index.htm

[Dino Sore]

Can anyone recommend one of the following, or provide an alternative?

1. Zinn and the Art of Roadbike Maintenance
2. Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bike Maintenance - New Edition.



One more free on-line resource: http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.

But - since you can't wrap a web site and put it under the X-Mas tree, of the two books you asked about, the Zinn book is much better, IMO.

[bike187]

the bicycling magazine book is phenominal for maintenance. it has the basic stuff, updated stuff, and is described very well with pictures and everything. i have a copy and it has great pointers. i bought this book about 2 years ago and now i work in a shop so i don't refernce it that much, but is a truly great book. far more then just basics, yet not so complicated that newbies couldn't figure it out

Thanks guys.

For the record, it would suprise no one in my family if I printed off something from the Web, stuffed it in a box, put a bow on it and tossed it under the tree. It would also assure I would never get asked to help with the gifts again.

But the reality is, I get SPOILED at Christmas cause I'm all good ;). So, I like to give back.

Plus I don't want to sleep in the garage.

Next few votes decide it.

Zinn or Bicyling Magazine....???

Let me know.

[steve_b]

Next few votes decide it.

Zinn or Bicyling Magazine....???

I have the Zinn. So far it's been an excellent resource. There's a nice section in the back that has common torque specs.

[C.P.]

One more vote for Zinn