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Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (2nd Edition)
Average Rating: 4.5     Total Reviews: 32
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Great to have!     On: 2008-07-10

Zinns interest in and experience with bikes and biking is obvious to me when I look over this book or read his tech reports in Velo News (magazine and website). I found the second edition a welcome improvement over the first edition in its inclusion of a section on cantilever brakes (the first edition refers the reader to Zinns mountain bike book). Since I have owned cyclocross bikes for several years, and found cantilevers infinitely more adjustable (and sometimes infinitely more frustrating) than the side pull brakes found on most road bikes, I welcomed this section. Beyond that, I like the straightforward way Zinn writes (always advocating the proper tools but sometimes offering ways to improvise), I find the illustrations most helpful and the organization of the book easy to follow. While this book does not cover everything (what does and how many of us really need that much information?) it is the one source I return to over and over again; the grease stains on the pages of my copy attest to its frequent use. Combine this book with the Park Tools website and the exhaustive information provided by the late Sheldon Brown, and you will find most of what you need to complete standard bike build or repair jobs. This is the bike book I own that spends the least amount of time on the shelf.
Generally Comprehensive & Detailed     On: 2008-06-26

I bought this book and Downs (more popular) book at the same time. Both books have good illustrations, but this book is by far the more detailed and helpful. Downs book is VERY basic and leaves out detail needed to really tune anything to any extent.

Having said that, this book does a decent job of showing how to tune a number of bike features, as well as doing routine maintanence/repairs. However, if you are a gear-head, you probably wont be happy with less than Barnetts painfully exhaustive 4 volume set--which is likely overly detailed for anyone short of a professional shop-set.

Though a complete novice can use this book, it seems geared more to people who have at least a common sense knowledge of bikes & tools when they are looking at them right in front of them. [Downs book spends time describing things that should be obvious at a gance, while leaving out detail you need to fix something.]

Definitely a recommended buy from me....very useful.
Good Buy     On: 2008-06-15

This book offers a great deal of information to someone like me who is just now getting in to cycling and is not familiar with the terms and would just like to get a better sense of their bike. It lays out a very helpful maintenance guide that tells you the general amount of time needed between cleanings and replacements.
Just ok.     On: 2008-04-21

Not enough detailed information. Needs more pictures, more examples. Otherwise the info is good and all aspects of what you need to know are covered. Just be prepared to be frustrated when you cant figure things out by the limited picture drawings. This book needs a serious overhaul.
Very detailed, easy to understand     On: 2008-03-05

The book has a wealth of knowledge on subjects ranging from very basic repairs to super-complicated. Very useful for anyone trying to take care of their favorite possession.
great reference     On: 2008-02-11

Great easy to understand book with lots of helpful illustrations. I am a beginning cyclist looking to increase my ability to maintain my bike, and this is written in language I can understand.
The most comprehensive bike repair guide
by: Anonymous    On: 2007-12-25

Lennard Zinn does a great job with this well written and very comprehensive guide to bike repairs and troubleshooting. Great illustrations and easy to read, this book covers all aspects of bike maintenance from beginning subjects to advanced. It has already saved me double its value in the first 3 months. A must have for any serious rider.
Keeping it simple     On: 2007-09-09

Nice easy-reading explanations.
Good drawings and pictures to fill in the details.
Would recommend.
Your Bicycle Reference Guide
by: Anonymous    On: 2007-04-10

Great diagrams and instructions will help you repair any problems you may encounter with your bike. Any bike owner should own this important reference.
The Bike     On: 2007-03-09

Great product - just what was needed.
Great Amazon service, as expected
Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (2nd Edition)     On: 2007-01-10

Bike maintenance is not rocket science; there arent that many parts to a bicycle. Most problems that occur with a bicycle can be diagnosed and rectified by anyone possessing a little mechanical aptitude. However, Zinns book fast tracts the resolve to issues for even the most experienced engineer, by providing clear schematic diagrams of assemblies and tips that make the repair or adjustment easier and quicker.

I see this book as a must for those that know little about the assembly units that make a bicycle and as a good occasional reference for the experienced mechanic. Overall, for the money, this is a good book to have in ones library.
A solid investment     On: 2006-11-19

I was tired of dealing with the poor service at my local bike shop and decided to start doing my own repairs. I bought this book and the Bicycling guide at the same time and this book has rapidly acquired the grease stained fingerprints and bent spine of a useful guide, while the Bicycling guide rests on the shelf.

Zinns book makes excellent use of diagrams, which Id much rather have as a reference than photos, and the book is written in a way that made some of the more technical aspects of maintaining and repairing bicycles very accessible to a new repairer like me. It also covers a good scope of road bicycle types and had plenty of information relevant to Cyclo-Cross bikes, which was a big plus to me.
The Best of the Bike Maintenance books     On: 2006-08-05

"ZINN & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance" 2nd Edition, by Lennard Zinn

Looking over several of the bike maintenance books in the bookstore showed Zinns book to be the best.

Many of the other books only covered maintenance in Part or a few chapters of the book or only as part of generalized information, whereas Lennard Zinns book is dedicated to nothing but bike maintenance.

#1
I like the large black & white illustrations for every part of the bike. These schematics dont leave you with a fuzzy view, but an enlarged and very clear view of all the working parts

#2
I like the fact that all of the text is DOUBLE-SPACED throughout the entire book.

#3
One of the more puzzling aspects of maintenance is the array of bike tools needed. Zinn shows terrific black & white drawings of every tool neccessary (and the optional ones) and they are clearly named.

Zinn doesnt waste any time in this book with chapters on bike riding, energy foods, fashionable clothing, or training regimens. Some of the other books did waste space on these things and those are the kind of bike MAINTENANCE books I want to stay away from.

Zinn includes TORQUE TABLES in APPENDIX E, showing how many foot/pounds of Torque are to be applied to various components.

APPENDIX D is a word glossary, which is important.

APPENDIX C / ROAD BIKE FITTING, is how to measure yourself and fit yourself in to the right size of bike.

APPENDIX B is a GEAR CHART

APPENDIX A is a TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE, you know, like"

"strange noises in the GAZINKER...." or "muffler-bearings making noises..." or "What to do when the brake grease is leaking..."
Seriously, its an excellent Troubleshooting Guide, in spite of my funny examples!

Im happy to have found Zinns book.
Bicycle repair and maintenance     On: 2006-07-19

Excellent book with great information. Could be illistrated a little better.
One of the best     On: 2006-02-26

Best aspect of the book is it doesnt try to cover road bikes and mountain bikes.

Good descriptions

Many diagrams but wish it had more
The Gold Standard for Home Bike Maintenance     On: 2006-02-25

Ive got a shelf full of bicycle maintenance/repair books, and the Zinn books are the best of the bunch. First of all, theyre very comprehensive, describing in detail anything and everything you might need to do to keep your bike rolling smoothly. Descriptions and photos are straightforward and easy to understand. Best of all, the Zinn books go beyond just laying out the bare bones step-by-step instructions---they actually give theory and background as to why or why not. Theres some good information in the discussion on frames early in the book, too.

Before I bought my first Zinn book, I wouldve had trouble changing a tire properly. Since buying the books, though, Ive completely overhauled each of my bikes multiple times, and I am now beginning to build up a single speed mountain bike from a bare frame.
The Gold Standard for Home Bike Maintenance     On: 2006-02-24

Ive got a shelf full of bicycle maintenance/repair books, and the Zinn books are the best of the bunch. First of all, theyre very comprehensive, describing in detail anything and everything you might need to do to keep your bike rolling smoothly. Descriptions and photos are straightforward and easy to understand. Best of all, the Zinn books go beyond just laying out the bare bones step-by-step instructions---they actually give theory and background as to why or why not. Theres some good information in the discussion on frames early in the book, too.

Before I bought my first Zinn book, I wouldve had trouble changing a tire properly. Since buying the books, though, Ive completely overhauled each of my bikes multiple times, and I am now beginning to build up a single speed mountain bike from a bare frame.
new edition coming out soon     On: 2005-08-21

This book was one of the best in 2000, but is now a little dated. Watch out for a new edition in late 2005, which should have improved coverage for recent hardware.
Zen-like as the title implies     On: 2005-08-20

The key to this book is its attitude which cant be better. This is an all positive upbeat book full of valuable information - assuming you have interest in the topic.

I believe that all people can do many fix it tasks if they approach these tasks with a cool, positive mindset. This book parallels my thoughts and if you follow along, you will also find that you can do anything on your bicycle right up to building your own custom starting from a frameset.

When reading about this book, I was skeptical about the illustraions in lieu of photographs, but now that Ive used the book, I think the author very wise to have taken this approach. A good illustrator can bring out subtle aspects of the topic which would be lost in the clutter of a photograph.

The only folks who wouldnt benefit from this book are those who know enough already to write it. I cant recommend it highly enough for the rest of us.
Basic anatomy for the cycle surgeon     On: 2005-08-14

I found Zinns book to be an elegantly simplified explanation of the bicycles parts and how they work together. Rather than trying to be a comprehensive reference manual for the professional bike mechanic, this book focusses of skill that will be helpful to the rider. For example, it gives you periodic maintainence routines to help you prevent breakdowns and keep your bike running smoothly. The book is further broken down into chapters that deal with the different functions your bike performs; shifting, braking, drivetrain and the like. Though I mostly use this as a reference manual, in order to make specific adjustments and repairs, I find that is teaching me a lot about how the bike functions as a whole. As a person who is new to the sport, the book has greatly increased the quality of my riding. Its helping me to keep my machinery "invisible" and "inaudible", has helped assuage my fear of roadside repair, and has helped keep my bike on the road and out of the shop!

The book is excellent at what it is supposed to be: a rider-centric tutorial on bike repair. As such it focusses on recent road bikes. You may find that your vintage bikes, hybrids or comfort bikes are outside the scope of this book. And though the book is very well written and explained, I have found it helpful to use the web in order to find supplemental diagrams and more in-depth descriptions on the specific parts Im working on. The Sheldon Brown and the Park Tools bike repair websites are both excellent resources. This book, however, is always where I start. I would recommend it for anyone who owns a road bike.
Outstanding Reference     On: 2004-08-24

I bought this book as a newbie cyclist. It is without a doubt the best I have found. Lennards simple diagrams are cleverly deceptive. They are not so fancy that they detract from the text (which is the meat of the topic), yet are VERY well labeled and documented. I fixed chain dump for the first time (something nobody had ever been able to do for me). Photos of bikes always are, in my opinion, TOO specific to the bike photographed, and do not easily extrapolate to the one I own.

I photocopied the emergency repair section and shrunk it down to carry in my saddle bag at all times. Thiss has come in handy on more than one occasion. My book has more yellow highlighting in it than Pam Andersons hair!

If you need a second book on bike repair, then I recommend you buy an ADDITIONAL copy.

The appendices about gearing, fbike itting, and torque settings are invaluable. Too much torque and youve got a stripped bolt; too little and youve got stripped skin (from crashing when the bolt falls out on a downhill). While "feel" for many mechanics, I need numbers, and Lennard supplies them.

I also changed my rear cog cassette based on his gearing chart to better fit my riding needs.

Lennard has taken what is basically a VERY simple, efficient, and delightful machine and applied the very same principles to this authoritative repair manual.
Great book!
by: Anonymous    On: 2004-05-30

This book has taught me a lot about working on my bike. Id recommend it to anyone who likes (or needs) to work on their bike but doesnt have much experience. I overhauled my front hub and dialed-in my brakes with the help of this book. Highly recommended!
Already saving me money!     On: 2003-10-23

This book is great! After going to my local bike shop and paying $18 for a simple gear and brake adjustment I knew it was time to start learning how to work on my own bikes. My confidence is growing as I am learning the inner workings of all these formerly "mysterious" mechanical devices. Zinn writes in a way that is easy to understand and gives you confidence. Trust me..nobody will adjust your gears with the precision that you will after you learn how. My shifting has never been smoother! I think besides all of the normal maintenance on my bike, I will probably build one from the ground up as my next project.
I highly reccomend this book if you are mechanically declined (like me) or mechanically inclined.
Nice beginner's book     On: 2003-02-08

A lot of good basic information and up to date. SOme though, is too basic. His instructions for adjusting derailleurs are so poor as to be barely adequate. For the front deraill. for example he has 3 steps. HI gear-- 1.shift back and forth between the middle and inner rings. 2. If the chain jumps over the big ring, tighten the hi-gear limit screw. 3---(more of the same)the .Yea, this is good basic stuff to get you into very roughly correct adjustment, but that is all. Better info is free on Park tools site. From the troubleshooting section--Tire is Flat. Cause: tire deflated. Action: pump tire. I doubt anyone is so inept they need to be told that.

That said, it is good for those he said it was written for: "(Those) who do not think they are capable of maintaining their bikes." I have the Bicycling magazine book too, and frankly I cannot say one is better than the other. The fact is, once you get the basics down, if you have any mechanical experience or aptitude, most of this stuff is pretty simple. I had hoped for some more advanced tips on making things operate more smoothly or efficiently, but while the Bicycling mags book has some, this has very few. Its a simple book with the basics. Anytime you find a "maintenance" book that tells you ho to chance a tube, you are looking a a very simple book. If you need more, youll be disappointed. If the basics are what you want, this books is more than adequate.

Great book!     On: 2002-09-24

I read this book from cover to cover the day I got it, even though this is a reference book!
The instructions are very detailed. It even guides you through steps in a logical way and tells you to jump to different steps depending on the result of the previous step!

I would have given it 5 stars...but I bumped it down by one because a lot of the diagrams are not on the page that references the diagram so I found myself flipping back and forth a lot...this is a bit annoying when youre working on your bike...

Generally adequate but plenty of gaps
by: cyclingman1    On: 2001-08-27

All in all the book is not too bad but there arent many books against which to compare it. I think that many adjustments and some repairs could be successfully undertaken from following the authors guidelines. But the book is uneven. Throughout the book there is a shortage of technical detail or information that could have easily been given. Sometimes it is critical, sometimes not.

For example in dealing with chains, there is no mention of chain identification such as a Hyperglide or HG chain despite the ubiquity of Shimano chains. Or it is stated that nine speed chains are more narrow than those for 7 or 8 speeds. Well, what is the measurement? Or the author instructs to drive the old pin all the way out in doing chain maintenance on an HG chain. Usually it is much easier to reconnect the chain with part of the old pin still in. It is stated that a Shimano tool does not damage the plates of a Shimano chain but others do. Well, Park tools are by the most purchased tool by home enthusiasts. Does a CT3 chaintool tool cause damage? The reader or future home repair person is left to wonder. In fact there is almost total absence of exact tool identification in the entire book. That is the kind of thing that a beginner needs to know.

In adjusting derailleurs presetting the barrel adjusters is not done. Setting the front derailleur limit screws before tightening the cable is not done. It is this kind of inconsistency in most every chapter that plagues this book. But the beginner would have no way on knowing this. So that is why I must qualify the chances of a person following this book having success in his or her repair.

A more complete book is the Barnetts Manual. But of course it is about four times as expensive and it too is not without its problems. It attempts to cover all types of bikes but its attention to detail and specifications and procedures can often overwhelm rather than really help the reader. The bottom line is that if you know next to nothing about bikes, you can learn a lot from this book. But there is still lots more to learn. Seek out other sources. Use the internet.

A Great Read, and the Best Repair Reference     On: 2001-06-14

Zinn is the next door neighbor that you wish you had. Has a great way of matching his tutorial stride to your need for information. Drawings are excellent for quick references. Makes you confident to approach any repair. Nobody does it better.
Clever,almost spiritual title...Zen!     On: 2001-04-28

This is one top selling manuals..for freewheelers. It will be indispensable to all those who,inspired by new release-"Adventure of Two Lifetimes", by Goetz,(2001) will go cross-country... or atleast give it their best (Siddhartha) effort.
Ride on!     On: 2001-04-17

This book is extremely easy to use for beginners as well as experts. I have to concur that Lennard Zinn is indeed, a god.
Great book from a great team     On: 2000-08-01

Lennard Zinn, revolutionary in the field of custom bike design, regular contributor to Velo-News, and sponsor of a womens racing team, joins up with well-respected wildlife artist Todd Telander and world-class racer Jonathan Vaughters to create a road bike manual that is not only clear and detailed, but manages to be an interesting read as well.

This manual helps you identify the problem, lets you know which tools you will need, and takes you through each repair with simple steps. Whether you are building up a bike from scratch, fine-tuning your derailleur adjustment, or simply fixing a flat tire, youll find that the book has easy-to-follow instructions for your task. Todds accompanying illustrations are works of art in their precision, and further clarify the text instructions.

There are so many benefits to repairing and maintaining your own bike, not the least of which is saving money. Invest in Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance and youll find that this task can also be quite enjoyable!

great     On: 2000-06-20

I love to complain about manuals, but Zinns book is thorough, well illustrated, and well organized. I built my Lemond Zurich up from scratch and rebuilt most of my components including hubs and wheels using his book and it was my first time. That was two months ago and I havent had a problem yet. Bicycling Magazines manual is good too, but I feel it isnt quite as comlete.
Excellent as you would expect     On: 2000-04-21

The Man again puts together a usable manual on bicycles. Extremely valuable for its exploded diagrams and specific take on known, common products. Lennard didnt shy into broad general descriptions of parts, he went right out to show the reader how to work with specific components by brand. Useful, timely and applicable.

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