Rating: 
Summary: A little job done with a lot of pain
Review: After using this book to fix both the derailleurs, and the brakes on my bike, I can say that it does the job I bought it for. It explained me how to do it. But it's done in a very awkward way. What this 350 page book does can be accomplished in 50 pages of illustrations and clear instructions.1) The book is repetitive, contains too many words, and too little detail. It's filled with ``common sense'' which nobody, especially somebody about to fix his/her bike needs! It seems the author did not realize he was writing a technical book! In each chapter, the book goes on to tell you how do to certain things, without any matching pictures! You can realize the pain, and obviously, it gets very wordy, and puts much more stress on imagination than one needs while fixing a bike. Then, it provides you with several pages describing basically the same thing, this time with pictures. Very repetitive -- this shouldn't be a problem, one might think, but some information is only present in one part, while other information is only present in the other. Given what I said earlier about the prodigious common sense of the author, the book makes one read A LOT OF ... stuff, which nobody needs. 2) The pictures. It seems, that the publisher has brought together a lot of technical info, and then assigned a non-technical team to write the book. WRONG MOVE. The pictures are mostly photographs, without any pointers, numbers, or other precise indication of what is what. Good drawings are very rare, good drawings with numbers on them are even more rare, and the numbers on those drawing are almost never referenced in text? Was this book written by a journalist? To make it even worse, all the pictures are black-and-white, most taken at awfull angles, with awfull lights -- a pain to distinguish what's in there. For example there is a large BW picture of instruments at the beginning of the book, with a lot of instrumets. Very interesting, but the book does not say which is which, the toolsin the picture are not numbered, and when the books goes on to describe the tools you need, there is no connection with the previous page. And the way-too-often comments, about visiting a local bicycle shop are irritating. It's enough to say this once, yet this happens to be repeated once in every paragraph. I only gave this book a *** because after a lot of headache, and figuring it out, you can actually get a simple job done.
Rating: 
Summary: More information than I will ever need.
Review: Beginners on up can use a book like this. Up to date and complete. Simple step by step instructions with loads of matching pictures.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing considering the publisher
Review: I bought a copy of this book because I enjoy reading the magazine so much. I find that it seemed to be geared (sorry) to road bikes, with mt. bike comments on the side. There weren't enough photos or diagrams giving directions for me, though it is somewhat helpful. I'm disappointed though.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid Book for someone new to cycle repair
Review: I bought this book after getting it and others to compare from the library. I found this book easy to follow and much easier to read than others.
Rating:
Summary: Solid Book for someone new to cycle repair
Review: I bought this book after getting it and others to compare from the library. I found this book easy to follow and much easier to read than others.
Rating:
Summary: Put it back on the shelf.
Review: I don't and won't own this book.
I reviewed it carefully at my local bookstore and then returned it to the shelf.
I suggest prospective buyers do the same.
Material is dated and lacking in illustrative photos. Unable to find decent photos of modern brake systems.
Bicycling magazine should be able to do better.
Bicycles are covered extensively, but as other reviewers have stated, a great deal of detail required for repairs is missing.
Revising and updating should involve more than changing the cover and/or the publication date.
Currently marketed bikes such as Fischer, Trek or even Huffies have newer components, not illustrated.
A good beginners book, but tough problems will still have to go to a pro shop.
Rating:
Summary: Big Disappointment!
Review: I found this book to be a big disappointment! One would think with Bicycling Magazine's endorsement, that this book would be more complete. This book will get you through basic tune-ups and some maintenance, but evades the larger jobs by stating in the book to seek your local professional bicycle technician. Heck if I wanted to do that, I wouldn't need this "flippin" book! If all you want to do is the basic things, then this book may be for you, for me however, I do not want to go to the shop, I want to do it my self. I am returning this book for a more complete book on bicycle maintenance.
Rating:
Summary: Put it back on the shelf.
Review: I got back into cycling after a 5-year layoff and decided I wanted to restore my 87 Specialized Allez SE which had seen hard riding and less-than-stellar maintenance in college. This involved stripping all the components off the frame, giving everything a good cleaning, and greasing/oiling/reassembling everything afterwards. Since I am familiar around bikes, I bought this book mainly as a "backup" in case I got stuck with some of the more complicated procedures I had always gotten a shop to do before(Overhaul of bottom bracket, hubs, headset). Also, since I had an older bike, it was difficult to find help/tips as most of the components are obsolete and no longer made. So far, this book has been an invaluable reference more than halfway thorugh my project. For example, the clear instructions/pictures on which threads tighten clockwise and which tighten counter-clockwise have already saved me loads of frustration, busted knuckles, stripped parts during the bottom bracket overhaul. Or which way to tip your frame so the bearings you just exposed don't spill all over the floor and into some black-hole recess of your garage. Also, some of the general exploded parts views were just what I needed to 1) see what I was getting into before disassembly and 2) a good, general reference as to how the disassembled parts should go back together. This book is EXACTLY what I needed in a good, easy-to-understand reference manual without too much hand-holding. HOWEVER, if you have NEVER worked on a bike before or if you are all thumbs when it comes to technical/mechanical operations, you may find this book to be a little daunting to read at first since it does, for example, cover every type of pedal or shifter system made in the last 20 years and believe me, there's quite a few of them. The format of the book is awkward and somtimes redundant. The chapter starts with loads of text explaining things, and then re-iterates most of it with step-by-step pictures at the end. I've found sometimes there are important tidbits of information found only in the text portion that aren't in the pictures! Sometimes it also feels like a picture or two was left out of the process. Also, it's always good idea to read through the entire set of instructions BEFORE you begin work lest you overzealously cut, loosen, or grease something you're not supposed to. There is also a "Troubleshooting" section laid out like a FAQ which is meant to help you solve problems during the course of your maintenance. I've found this to be of limited use most of the time. Either the problems listed didn't match what I was experiencing or the lingo was a little vague. For example, it may say, "make sure you give everything a good coat of grease". Well, what is a good coat? Enough so your bearings look like they're swimming in a sea of mashed potatoes? Just enough to cover the bare metal surfaces? How much is too much and how much is not enough? I feel this is a very good reference book if you feel comfortable around the mechanics of a bike. Good pictures, loads of useful tips and tricks, and instructions laid out in concise and easy-to-read language.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Reference
Review: I got back into cycling after a 5-year layoff and decided I wanted to restore my 87 Specialized Allez SE which had seen hard riding and less-than-stellar maintenance in college. This involved stripping all the components off the frame, giving everything a good cleaning, and greasing/oiling/reassembling everything afterwards. Since I am familiar around bikes, I bought this book mainly as a "backup" in case I got stuck with some of the more complicated procedures I had always gotten a shop to do before(Overhaul of bottom bracket, hubs, headset). Also, since I had an older bike, it was difficult to find help/tips as most of the components are obsolete and no longer made. So far, this book has been an invaluable reference more than halfway thorugh my project. For example, the clear instructions/pictures on which threads tighten clockwise and which tighten counter-clockwise have already saved me loads of frustration, busted knuckles, stripped parts during the bottom bracket overhaul. Or which way to tip your frame so the bearings you just exposed don't spill all over the floor and into some black-hole recess of your garage. Also, some of the general exploded parts views were just what I needed to 1) see what I was getting into before disassembly and 2) a good, general reference as to how the disassembled parts should go back together. This book is EXACTLY what I needed in a good, easy-to-understand reference manual without too much hand-holding. HOWEVER, if you have NEVER worked on a bike before or if you are all thumbs when it comes to technical/mechanical operations, you may find this book to be a little daunting to read at first since it does, for example, cover every type of pedal or shifter system made in the last 20 years and believe me, there's quite a few of them. The format of the book is awkward and somtimes redundant. The chapter starts with loads of text explaining things, and then re-iterates most of it with step-by-step pictures at the end. I've found sometimes there are important tidbits of information found only in the text portion that aren't in the pictures! Sometimes it also feels like a picture or two was left out of the process. Also, it's always good idea to read through the entire set of instructions BEFORE you begin work lest you overzealously cut, loosen, or grease something you're not supposed to. There is also a "Troubleshooting" section laid out like a FAQ which is meant to help you solve problems during the course of your maintenance. I've found this to be of limited use most of the time. Either the problems listed didn't match what I was experiencing or the lingo was a little vague. For example, it may say, "make sure you give everything a good coat of grease". Well, what is a good coat? Enough so your bearings look like they're swimming in a sea of mashed potatoes? Just enough to cover the bare metal surfaces? How much is too much and how much is not enough? I feel this is a very good reference book if you feel comfortable around the mechanics of a bike. Good pictures, loads of useful tips and tricks, and instructions laid out in concise and easy-to-read language.
Rating:
Summary: Only helpful sometimes
Review: I had great hopes for this book. They have been repeatedly dashed. About 10% of the time I find what I need to know. Until recently, I thought the problem was me, since I'm a novice cyclist and bike mechanic. But then I discovered 'Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance'. I no longer feel stupid! I respect Bicycling Magazine, so it's a bummer that this book, which they published, is lousy.
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