Recommend a bike maintenance book

I have one of those Hayes Manual for bikes, it was dirt cheap (picked it up for a couple of quid). Pretty good book for basic cycle maintenance (anything really hard, I just get the shop to do), though some of the details are a little sparse.

Apart from riding, I have quite limited bike experience, so when something needs fixing, I'm usually not very confident and don't know exactly how to proceed (most complicated thing I've done is fit a headset). I really want to learn more about how to repair / replace bits myself, rather than relying on shops to do it for me (how to fit bb's, cranks etc - that kind of stuff) so was wondering if anyone could recommend any decent books that guide you through with lots of picture examples? Something easy to follow.

I'd feel safer using a book than going the Sheldon route as I have a tendency to make a bit of a mess and so don't want to get the laptop covered in dirt and grease.

I'm slowing collecting tools, but think a stand would make a massive difference, so if you can recommend a decent but cheap stand, that would be ace too.

Thank you very much.

Not a book but I've found this site pretty useful when building my first bike.

http://bicycletutor.com/

The best book I've seen is [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zinn-Art-Road-Bike-Maintenance/dp/1931382697/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232982918&sr=1-1"]Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance[/ame].

He clearly explains things and is aided by superb line drawings. I find these are much, much better than photos because they can show more by using cutaways, exploded diagrams and so on. There is a new edition due this summer but my copy is 9 years old and still damn useful so you won't miss out by buying it now.

I have the same one as andyp. I've never used it so cant comment, but i'm quite sure its the book i leant to my friend when he put his bike together from scratch and, well, thats still in one piece!

As for stands, my Park one is nice, and wasnt hugely expensive.

t- I recommend Richards bicycle book.. if you're on an older bike. Or i've got another sorta basic easy to follow mechanic book, you are more than welcome to, which would walk you through the less complicated maintenance in a freindly comprehensive way.

thanks everyone.

i've had a little look and the Zinn book looks like it's worth a go, going to pick it up in the next few days.

@ moog - that webiste is ace, it's helpful to see stuff being done, thanks for pointing it out.

I recommend the zinn book as well as the park tool blue book.

I really wanted this one but its £95.

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/1884737854/ref=sib_dp_pt/279-2453717-1712420#reader-link"][/ame]
I've got this one for general bike repair (bit basic, but covers alot)
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/1844254216/ref=dp_image_0/279-2453717-1712420?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books"][/ame]
But, like a lot of other people, own and rate this one.
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/1934030422/ref=sib_dp_pt/279-2453717-1712420#reader-link"][/ame]
I had planned to buy a dedicated wheel building book, but Zinn guided me smoothly through my first pair of wheels. Well written and nicely illustrated.

Why has no-one yet mentioned Shelly Lynn Jackson's 'Chainbreaker Bike Book', an awesome DIY zine style reference (it was originally a zine), with nice comic style illustrations (by Ethan Clark). Unpretentious, funny an accessible. Really good as an introduction.

Why has no-one yet mentioned Shelly Lynn Jackson's 'Chainbreaker Bike Book', an awesome DIY zine style reference (it was originally a zine), with nice comic style illustrations (by Ethan Clark). Unpretentious, funny an accessible. Really good as an introduction.
The Chainbreaker Bike Book: A Rough Guide to Bicycle Maintenance: Amazon.co.uk: Shelly Lynn Jackson, Ethan Clark: Books

Another plus 1 for Zinn - Lovely diagrams!

Two posts only on the forum both suggesting the same book.

Spam?

Two posts only on the forum both suggesting the same book.

Spam?

Frankly, who gives a shit?

One man's spam is another man's marketing, and if you haven't assessed the product your call seems unfair,

It't not as if the poster is trying to sell timeshares, FFS.

Two posts only on the forum both suggesting the same book.

Spam?

I don't believe so, no.

(Having checked other info elsewhere)

Books for this purpose are moot nowadays, there's tons of online instruction from Park Tool et cetera, and lots of stuff on youtube, I haven't looked at my books for years.

^ I wouldn't trust my laptop in my garage when mechanics are involved tbh

Print out required pages, still ultimately uses less resources than purchasing complete manuals.
Says the guy that still buys books, though mostly second hand.

i don´t know if iam violating the rules here?
but there are some downloadable pdf´s on the net

I've got the Haynes one, I like it because it covers different kinds of bikes, it is quite basic I surpose but I find it useful :), a stand makes a huge difference mine was just an Internet jobbie for about 40 quid, you just need somewhere level for it