general maintainance - where do i start?

[shrew]

hi folks,

ive always had crappy bikes and never bothered doing anything to look after them, recently i brought a really nice one, the problem is how to maintain it and this concerns me, im in st neots, cambs and cant find any local courses that can teach me so;

are there any bike maitainance books that will teach me how to look after a new road bike with sti levers and such, they would need to be recent and really start at the basics in a clear way?

or does anyone live locally that may be willing to teach me? id be happy to compensate you )

i can oil a chain, fix a pucture and tighten things that look loose and thats about it for the most part, this is something i want to address asap

my STI levers / transmission are my main concern im afraid to touch them, i can probably work out the rest.

would appreciate any advice,

shrew

 

[JediGoat]

I've got one of the Haynes Bike Books. I've just looked on amazon and there are newer ones than the 4th edition that I have (but even that covers STI levers).

I like Haynes manuals (both for helping me with minor fixes, and looking at all the stuff I could be able to bodge if only I was a*sed to ).

I also used the Bicycle Tutor site for the video guides on how to screw-up (sorry, i mean adjust) my gears.

HTH

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

+1 for the haynes manual I also bought a road bike specific one, the name escapes me I'll have a look later, the most important is a good bicycle tool kit mine is a draper one, there's no point buying crap the tools are rubbish they break too easy.

 

[4F]

+ 1 to the Bicycle Tutor site. After watching the tutorial on there I replaced my bottom bracket and it was easy peasyB)

 

[mr Mag00]

manuals can downloaded from maunfacturers site too

 

[andrew_s]

The Park Tools website has a lot of servicing instruction.

 

[shrew]

lots of great info, thanks folks, ill pick up a haynes manuel i think and use the web when i need it )