Bike Books (?)

I run a program in which I need to train young people - 10 to 17 years old - to repair used bikes to
be given away. Most of the kids have no experience with bicycles at all. Many have never even ridden
a bike and most have no idea how to use common tools.

So far, the best book I've found to use as a repair guide is "Bicycles For Dummies," part of that
great series that teaches anybody how to do anything. The book is at our workshop right now, so I
don't have the author or any other information. You should be able to find it at any good
bookstore, though.

Other books, like the one by Bicycling Magazine (which many people have probably recommended) are
written way above the head of a typical cyclist. I've been just as frustrated as you over the years!

Good luck.

--
Low-Impact Rides In The LI/NY Area www.geocities.com/NYRides "Brs36" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I'm looking for some kind of intro book for taking care of bike and doing

minor

Quoted message said:

repairs, bike ownership or whatever. I have some kind of Schwinn hybrid something-or-other that
suits me just fine. I ride about one to two hours

each

Quoted message said:

day. I'm especially interested in...
1) clear explanations about those 21 gears and how I should use them : )
2) good photos or pictures
3) how to change and/or repair tires
4) how to fix the chain should it come off while on the trail (hasn't

happened

Quoted message said:

yet, but I'm due for a mishap)

Even if it doesn't cover all of these things, I need something that's

clearly

Quoted message said:

written. I've been looking at amazon.com and all of the comments people

make

Quoted message said:

about the various books.. Every book seems to have people who "love it"

others

Quoted message said:

who think it's the worst piece of [censored] on the market (with great variation

in

Quoted message said:

the rater's ability to articulate his like or dislike).

Any other beginner types out there who have found a particularly helpful

book?

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Brenan Remove the Nojunk from the email address to reply to the email address.

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for some kind of intro book for taking care of bike and doing

minor

Quoted message said:

repairs, bike ownership or whatever. I have some kind of Schwinn hybrid something-or-other that
suits me just fine. I ride about one to two hours

each

Quoted message said:

day. I'm especially interested in...
1) clear explanations about those 21 gears and how I should use them : )
2) good photos or pictures
3) how to change and/or repair tires
4) how to fix the chain should it come off while on the trail (hasn't

happened

Quoted message said:

yet, but I'm due for a mishap)

Even if it doesn't cover all of these things, I need something that's

clearly

Quoted message said:

written. I've been looking at amazon.com and all of the comments people

make

Quoted message said:

about the various books.. Every book seems to have people who "love it"

others

Quoted message said:

who think it's the worst piece of [censored] on the market (with great variation

in

Quoted message said:

the rater's ability to articulate his like or dislike).

Any other beginner types out there who have found a particularly helpful

book?

The Haynes bike book haynes.co.ukviewbook.aspOpen ↗ excellent

"Brs36" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I'm looking for some kind of intro book for taking care of bike and doing

minor

Quoted message said:

repairs, bike ownership or whatever. I have some kind of Schwinn hybrid something-or-other that
suits me just fine. I ride about one to two hours

each

Quoted message said:

day. I'm especially interested in...
1) clear explanations about those 21 gears and how I should use them : )
2) good photos or pictures
3) how to change and/or repair tires
4) how to fix the chain should it come off while on the trail (hasn't

happened

Quoted message said:

yet, but I'm due for a mishap)

Even if it doesn't cover all of these things, I need something that's

clearly

Quoted message said:

written. I've been looking at amazon.com and all of the comments people

make

Quoted message said:

about the various books.. Every book seems to have people who "love it"

others

Quoted message said:

who think it's the worst piece of [censored] on the market (with great variation

in

Quoted message said:

the rater's ability to articulate his like or dislike).

Any other beginner types out there who have found a particularly helpful

book?

I found the Bicycling Magazine's book by Jim
Langley(amazon.comsr=Open ↗
2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-9656690-8870403) very well written. The illustrations are excellent.

You should also check out Sheldon Brown's website (sheldonbrown.comrepairOpen ↗) as he has
great practical info on tools, parts and some repairs not well covered in books.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for some kind of intro book for taking care of bike and doing minor repairs, bike
ownership or whatever.

For those in London UK, Transport for London is handing out, free, "The Rough Guide to Cycling in
London" which, in spite of its name, is a general purpose guide. About the only London oriented
section is the list of bike shops (they leave out Halfords). They've printed up two hundred
thousand copies.

I have my quarrels with it, but it is free.

Jeremy Parker

Just get "Bicycles For Dummies" already!

--
Low-Impact Rides In The LI/NY Area www.geocities.com/NYRides "Brs36" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I'm looking for some kind of intro book for taking care of bike and doing

minor

Quoted message said:

repairs, bike ownership or whatever. I have some kind of Schwinn hybrid something-or-other that
suits me just fine. I ride about one to two hours

each

Quoted message said:

day. I'm especially interested in...
1) clear explanations about those 21 gears and how I should use them : )
2) good photos or pictures
3) how to change and/or repair tires
4) how to fix the chain should it come off while on the trail (hasn't

happened

Quoted message said:

yet, but I'm due for a mishap)

Even if it doesn't cover all of these things, I need something that's

clearly

Quoted message said:

written. I've been looking at amazon.com and all of the comments people

make

Quoted message said:

about the various books.. Every book seems to have people who "love it"

others

Quoted message said:

who think it's the worst piece of [censored] on the market (with great variation

in

Quoted message said:

the rater's ability to articulate his like or dislike).

Any other beginner types out there who have found a particularly helpful

book?

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Brenan Remove the Nojunk from the email address to reply to the email address.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for some kind of intro book for taking care of bike and doing minor repairs, bike
ownership or whatever.

For those in London UK, Transport for London is handing out, free, "The Rough Guide to Cycling in
London" which, in spite of its name, is a general purpose guide. About the only London oriented
section is the list of bike shops (they leave out Halfords). They've printed up two hundred
thousand copies.

I have my quarrels with it, but it is free.

Jeremy Parker

Good stuff! Free to the consumer, but who paid for the production? Did any company sponsor it, in
whole or in part? I ask so that, were others to approach more cities in Britain with such an idea,
where might funding be sought?

I've got three that I got for a total cost of around $20 on Amazon and half.com: New Bike Owner's
Guide, Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair, and The Bike Book.
Together they cover anything you'd want to know about choosing and servicing a bike. If I had to
keep only one it'd be The Bike Book - it's thorough and beautifully illustrated.

--

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist, Visual Basic programmer)
"Brs36" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I'm looking for some kind of intro book for taking care of bike and doing

minor

Quoted message said:

repairs, bike ownership or whatever. I have some kind of Schwinn hybrid something-or-other that
suits me just fine. I ride about one to two hours

each

Quoted message said:

day. I'm especially interested in...
1) clear explanations about those 21 gears and how I should use them : )
2) good photos or pictures
3) how to change and/or repair tires
4) how to fix the chain should it come off while on the trail (hasn't

happened

Quoted message said:

yet, but I'm due for a mishap)

Even if it doesn't cover all of these things, I need something that's

clearly

Quoted message said:

written. I've been looking at amazon.com and all of the comments people

make

Quoted message said:

about the various books.. Every book seems to have people who "love it"

others

Quoted message said:

who think it's the worst piece of [censored] on the market (with great variation

in

Quoted message said:

the rater's ability to articulate his like or dislike).

Any other beginner types out there who have found a particularly helpful

book?

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Brenan Remove the Nojunk from the email address to reply to the email address.

Quoted message said:

Good stuff! Free to the consumer, but who paid for the production? Did any company sponsor it, in
whole or in part? I ask so that, were others to approach more cities in Britain with such an idea,
where might funding be sought?

Lead sponsor seems to be Trek, but I think I've heard somewhere that others contributed as well.
Association of Cycle Traders?? the book itself doesn't seem to say.

The May issue of Cycling Plus reports (see p8) that there may be an Edinburgh issue, and perhaps,
eventually, a Rough Guide to Cycling in Britain

Jeremy Parker