Rating: 
Summary: My new bike and I...
Review: ...have a very special, close relationship because of this book. I could never meet the needs of my previous bike, and it eventually drove us apart. My new bike and I couldn't be happier together... I now feel comfortable swapping out her brakes, truing her wheels, re-packing her bearings, and generally touching places I was scared to touch before... Seriously, this book has not only saved me money, it has made me more comfortable with the mechanics of my bike, with what happens when I mash the pedals, why the chain skips, etc... and this had made me a better bike _rider_ in addition.
Rating:
Summary: Readily applicable information
Review: After having this book for three weeks, I've already been able to make several adjustments to my bike that have significantly increased my riding enjoyment. An easy-to-read and eminently useful manual.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best mountain bike maintenance manual out there,
Review: and the most current too. It teaches you how to make simple adjustments in your brakes all the way to installing a bottom bracket. It even teaches you how to build your own wheels. It is so clear and easy to use, you could build your own bike with it. Showing how things work with easy to follow instructions and diagrams. I recommend this book to all who would like to maintain their own bicycles.
Rating:
Summary: timeless & exceptional
Review: Even though I have the earlier edition (1st,1995), the information in this reference is still valid for current bikes. For example, I just bought a Royce-Union bike which came stock with "standard" cup-and-cone bottom bracket bearings, something which almost all bikes no longer have, but this book helped me to do maintenance on the outdated hardware, plus helped me to upgrade to a more modern cartridge bearing. Exceptional!
Rating: 
Summary: Great book for the novice and advanced mechanic
Review: Everything you could possibly need to know about Mountain Bike repairs. From how to adjust your V-brakes to how to install bottom brackets this is the only book you will need. Great maintenance tips on cleaning and maintaining your bike. You will never have to visit a repair shop again.
Rating: 
Summary: Not good for "mechanically challenged" people
Review: I admit it. I am a clutz when it comes to mechanical things. Because of this lack of talent, I need lots of photos and illustrations for me to get through any sort of repair work. Zinn has a book that will appeal to those who are mechanically adept, but as for the novice or individuals like me who lack spacial relations, the book will be very confusing. Much of the book describes, in words, what you should do instead of showing you in a step by step way with photos. "Take the gibetz ring off of the whatchamacallit and be careful not to put tension on the g-string..." This sentence wasn't in the book, but it might as well have been. I found this book to be very hard to understand.
Rating:
Summary: A must have book especially for beginners
Review: I am brand new to the world of mountain biking and this book has been my bible. If it isn't covered in this book then you don't need to know. With this book I have been able to make adjustments and alignments to my bike I would have normally taken to a shop to have done. My wife doesn't care for the book too much though because she has now become a mountain bike widow. I spend about an hour or two a day rereading this book and tweeking my bike. The must have spares part of the book saved me from pushing my bike home one day as I would not have normally had a spare chain link with me. Unfortunately I also went on to break my collar bone that same day and this was not addressed in the book. Seriously though, I'm contemplating buying a second book, a working copy (the dirty one) and a reference copy (the clean one) I can bring in the house. You won't be sorry if you buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Has to be the best
Review: I got this book last week and have read the whole thing. I have not read another comparable book, but I can't imagine a better book. I only noticed one or two things he skipped over. I would definitely recommend this to any one into mountain biking.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but limited
Review: I have always loved working on mechanical things, and feel reasonably proficient. What I liked best about this book, was learning how to perform simple cleaning and maintenance, which I do regularly and keeps the bike working very smoothly. What I did not like, was that by following directions in trying to adjust the front derailleur, I made a complete mess of it, and had to take it in to the shop. I saw a different book later in a bookstore, and they suggested removing the cable prior to changing the position on the seat post. I followed Zinn's instructions step by step, and found that after setting the outside plate 1-2 mm above the large chain wheel, it causes the teeth to overlap and bang into the plate apx. 1/4" when trying to shift. I found the overall level of detail lacking in the descriptions of work to be performed, although the drawings are quite good. I was able to adjust the rear derailleur successfully, by turning the inside limit screw 1/4 turn as he suggested. This fixed a slight problem where the low gear was stuttering a bit rather than engaging smoothly during trail riding.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!!
Review: I have virtually no bike repair experience so I bought this book. I will be a pro with this books assistance. Tool lists, great drawings, step by step instructions and more!! I just wanted to learn how to fix my two son's bike gears and I will learn that and EVERYTHING else too!!!
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