Synopses & Reviews
Make your own repairs and maintain your bike like a pro
Want to be your own grease monkey? This plain-English guide gives you expert tips for keeping your bicycle in great condition and handling most repairs by yourself. You'll also see how to extend the life of your bike, increase your riding comfort, and improve safety through routine maintenance. No matter the make or size of bicycle, this hands-on resource has all the tips you need!
Get to know your bike understand its parts and how they work together
Set up your repair area assess your space and stock up on the tools of the trade
Handle common bike repairs from tires to wheels, from brakes to the chain, get your hands dirty with routine repair procedures
Go beyond the basics tackle advanced repairs involving the frame and suspension, pedals, and shifting and steering systems
Keep your bike wheeling along perform preventive maintenance and annual tune-ups to keep your bike in good working order
Guarantee a great ride from adjusting the handlebars to checking tire pressure, know the steps to take before you ride
Open the book and find:
What you can fix and what you can't
How to handle breakdowns on the road
Ways to tune your bike for performance
Monthly and annual maintenance for your bike
Steps to take to ensure safety and comfort
Detailed photos and illustrations to guide you
How to store your bike long-term
Synopsis
By coupling step-by-step instructions and detailed photos and illustrations, Bike Repair & Maintenance For Dummies gives readers the information they need to keep their bikes in working order, often without taking it to the shop.
Synopsis
The nuts and bolts of bike repair for bicycle commuters, serious cyclists, and casual riders
Bike Repair & Maintenance For Dummies provides expert guidance and tips for bicyclists who are hitting the bike trail or just spinning around the neighborhood. If you have a little or a lot of experience in using tools on your bike, this book can show you how to keep your bike in top working order, from tires to handlebars, without all the technical jargon.
If biking is already a part of your life - or you'd like it to be - this book can help you tackle your own bike maintenance and repair, so you don't have to take it to the shop for routine tune-ups or call for help if you break down in the middle of nowhere. Of course, sometimes you'll need to seek expert help, so the book covers when to attack a problem yourself and when to call in the pros for backup.
And although this book is written in easy-to-understand language without a lot of biking jargon, Bike Repair & Maintenance For Dummies is still a comprehensive guide. Seasoned bike riders looking for additional tips and tricks to keep their bikes in top condition won't be disappointed.
This book will help you repair - and, if necessary, replace - the parts on your bicycle. You'll discover how to make basic bike repairs, such as:
Removing a wheel, tire, or tube
Patching a tube or fixing a tire
Working on hubs and spokes
Installing new brakes and pads or addressing other brake issues
Adjusting your saddle
Using suspension seat posts
Dealing with common chain problems
Inspecting, cleaning, and lubricating cassettes and freewheels
After you nail the basics, you can dive into advanced repairs and maintenance, including:
Knowing how a frame is built and inspecting one for problems
Adjusting and maintaining a bike's suspension
Removing, installing, and adjusting the rear and front derailleurs
Removing and installing shifters
Get your copy of Bike Repair & Maintenance For Dummies to learn all of that, plus tips on staying safe, ensuring your bike is always a good fit for you, and improving your bike's performance.
About the Author
Dennis Bailey has been actively involved in bike repair and maintenance for almost two decades. He has worked on bikes on bike tours in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Keith Gates has been repairing bikes for more than 30 years and provides personalized service as the owner of A-1 Cycling, with locations in Manassas and Herndon, Virginia.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
Part I: Getting Started.
Chapter 1: Channeling Your Inner Grease Monkey.
Chapter 2: Bike Physiology: Understanding How Your Bike Works.
Chapter 3: Setting Up Shop: Repairing Your Bike at Home.
Chapter 4: Making like MacGyver: Handling Repairs on the Road.
Chapter 5: Help! When You Need Professional Assistance.
Part II: Basic Bike Repairs.
Chapter 6: Burning Rubber: Tires and Tubes.
Chapter 7: Hugging the Curb: The Wheels.
Chapter 8: Stopping Short: The Brakes.
Chapter 9: Taking Your Seat: Saddles and Seat Posts.
Chapter 10: Hitting the Links: The Chain.
Chapter 11: Gearing Up: Freewheels and Cassettes.
Part III: Shifting into a Higher Gear: Advanced Bike Repairs.
Chapter 12: Holding It All Together: The Frame and Suspension.
Chapter 13: Putting the Pedal to the Metal: The Drivetrain.
Chapter 14: Dropping It into Gear: The Shifting System.
Chapter 15: Turning on a Dime: The Steering System.
Part IV: Keeping Your Bike on the Road.
Chapter 16: An Ounce of Preventive Maintenance.
Chapter 17: Regular Bike Maintenance.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 18: Ten (Or So) Steps to Take before You Ride.
Chapter 19: Ten Considerations in Fitting Your Bike.
Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Improve the Performance and Comfort of Your Bike.
Index.