Customer Reviews

Barnett's Manual

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I haven't seen any bicycle maintenance books that come close to providing the kind of detail that Barnett's Manual does - detail in such areas as exact measurement and classification of parts and threads, tool part numbers for many manufacturers, and elaborate torque specifications. The Manual actually consists of four volumes with vol 4 consisting of material extracted from the previous three for easy access. The repairs and adjustments are conducted via written step-by-step procedures. Many of the adjustments utilize self-adhesive markings that are put on the bike for the purpose of exactly increasing or decreasing the tightness of bearing adjustments. Proper torquing is always specified. The Manual attempts to be comprehensive covering both road and mountain bikes and all sorts of groupos. Some of these are covered better than others. The manuals also deal with frame preparation using facing and threading tools. In some ways the manuals are a little dated. For example the wheel building and truing sections use traditioanl rims and spokes, not to mention traditional hubs. But modern wheels are using vastly reduced spoke counts, exotic spoke materials and shapes, and cartridge type hubs. The translation from the old to the new is hardly discussed, if at all. Cartridge hubs in particular are given insufficient weight. On the other hand the adjustment of newer STI derailleur systems is superb, not to mention threadless headsets, V-brakes, etc. The author probably would contend that his manuals facilitate learning the principles of bicycle repair and maintenance and that dealing with new technologies would follow the same guide lines. And there is of course some truth in that. However, a purchaser of these manuals could be disappointed if he or she expects every bicycle part to be covered in detail, becasue they are not.

If you have ever needed to change a part on your bike, upgrade to something better, change out your drivetrain, tune your derailleur's, or even true a wheel... this is the book for you! With awesome in depth pictures, and step by step technical procedures for doing just about anything to the bike that you so dearly love. John Barnett's experience with bike repairs far surpasses that of the guy that you normally bring it into for those expensive repairs, so spend the money for the book, and save money in the future while at the same time learning from one of the top professionals in his business! Do it, it's an awesome book!

This book is a weath of knowledge and experence. It covers items that I never have know about and am able to do more work on my bike than ever before. It has detail explinations about how to perform repairs and maintance and will tell you if you need to start with another procdure first before starting the procedure you are about to work on.

I became a professional bicycle mechanic myself after I readed this book! I owned an bike shop for two years and it became very valued for the service quality in which I applied Barnett's techinics.

This is a great book! It goes into deep explanations of how every little part of the bicycle work, with the all the bell & whistles theories, then it explains with an great language what is to be done!

I used to think that I knew how to setup an derailleur, but after reading the book, I just learned that I knew very little about it! Read it well and practice it well. You'll find that your adjustments will last much longer and tune-up will be less frequent.

Recommended for both the pro or wanna-be mechanic. It is so complete that it even explain basic tools usage (hammers, screwdrivers, open-end wrenchs, etc).

The last edition I have (5th) was pretty updated back then and there's the digital DX update available.

Go ahead and forget about every other bicycle maintance book you ever readed!