Park Tool BBb-3: The Big Book of Bike Tech: Bike Tech Step by Step
Fewer and fewer technical devices can be serviced or repaired by interested laypeople. Here and there you can get further with basic knowledge of electrical engineering (or you can get advice from experts in the Repair Café), but as soon as processors and chips are installed, self-help is over.
The bicycle, on the other hand, has largely been spared from the electrification. No one is forced to install an electronic circuit, and so the most important assemblies on the bike work purely mechanically, just like they did 100 years ago. In addition, the technology is open and so rustic that you can work on it without the intuition of a watchmaker.
The basics of bicycle mechanics have changed little in the last 100 years
All you need for bicycle maintenance and repairs is the necessary specialist knowledge and suitable tools - and "The Blue Book of Bicycle Technology" from the tool manufacturer Park Tool provides information on both, in accordance with the practice of the US company and the English title with the abbreviation " BBB-3".
The guide, now available again in the third edition, may not be aimed at people who have already failed to inflate their tires, but it is not aimed at the experts either. Cyclists who have some basic knowledge and some technical understanding can draw a wealth of information from the pages of the BBB-3. This is of course partly due to the easy-to-read texts, but also to the numerous illustrations that clearly show what something should and shouldn't look like - good examples are defective tires and incorrectly adjusted brake pads.
As expected, Park Tool's products also figure prominently in the Big Book. The high-quality tools can not only be seen in numerous illustrations; for many repair steps, it is also specified which part is required exactly.
Chapter by chapter, the book goes through the major assemblies on a bicycle, starting with the tires, through wheels and their components, to the individual drive components, the different brakes and attachments, to the topic of the headset. There is also a short chapter on the frame, as well as a few pages dealing with selected internal gear hubs.
The fact that the BBB-3 is primarily geared towards sports bikes can be seen from the omissions - all kinds of components such as mudguards or luggage racks are not included, nor is the lighting. So here you have to use the basic knowledge of electrical engineering that you already have - or take the trip to the bicycle repair shop.
Conclusion: The blue book of bicycle technology
Park Tools Blue Book of Bicycle Technology deals comprehensively and informatively with the most important components on the bicycle. With numerous illustrations and descriptive texts, it is currently the best book on the market for technology-savvy beginners and advanced users who want to lend a hand.
Product Highlights
- 241 Seiten
- 1.000 color illustrations
- Detailed explanations of all important work on the bike
price and web
- 3rd edition, €24,95
- www.amazon.de
- www.starboox.de (Postage free delivery)