Bike Mechanic: Tales from the Road and the Workshop

The first several chapters in this book are my favorites because they open a window into what it's like to be a pro mechanic on the race circuit. Being a race mechanic is different work from repairing my family's bikes in my basement, and I love the view that this book's authors provide into that world.The remaining chapters are about tools and working on different aspects of the bike. These chapters take an approach different to what many readers will expect. This isn't the book to teach you from first principles how to work on your bike, but there's a lot to be gained if you have a base of experience and some tools of your own already.

The first 25% or so of this book deals with the day-to-day life and challenges of a pro race mechanic. The rest is an interesting past-to-present overview of the various parts of racing bicycles, and the tools used by a pro mechanic in servicing them. As a longtime home bike mechanic myself, the only negatives I can identify about this book are: #1, There is a lot I didn't know that I didn't know, and #2., seeing the pro-level tools owned and used by the author ended up costing me several hundred dollars in "Oooooh.....gotta have me one of THOSE!" type purchases. I really enjoyed this book and will undoubtedly reference it again many times in the future.

This is a terrific book! It covers an area of pro cycling in an interesting and well written style with terrific photography. In addition to stories from the front lines of the pro peloton, there are also many pages dedicated to maintaining the modern road bike. This one is staying in my collection of cycling books.

I loved how the book was sectioned (you'll have to see for yourself! Very fun and creative). The photos were great and of high quality. I am happy that this is now a part of my book collection!

What a fabulous book. A book mind you, that I bought as a book and not kindle. It has great pictures, stories and advice from everything tools to repair. Seriously, if you are into bikes, how professional work on bikes, you will enjoy this read.

I was expecting more of what mechanics go through during a race season. This book while informative describes what wrenche do. Maybe I was looking for more of a story.

This is a must have for home mechanics! It doesn't offer us any mechanical know-how, it's more for what the pros do. It's great coffee table book with awesome photography. It's interesting seeing what the pro teams do vs what us amateurs do at home. I'm glad I bought it!

Of particular interest was how much equipment the pro teams run through in a season...well worth the read. Excellent photography and well thought out. Half the book is how the mechanics function during a season on the pro circuit, the other half is tools of the trade and tips on how to swing a wrench like the pros.

This book is a hybrid between the photo-documentary and traditional bike maintenance book. The authors have a serious pedigree, such as Rohan Dubash or Guy Andrews which is former editor/founder of Rouleur. The book immerses the reader into the underworld of professional bike mechanics, their workshops and their favourites tools. Although photographs are fantastic one should use them to illustrate the text that provides countless tips on how do carry out many of their daily tasks. The plan is broken down into three sections:* On the road which ccovers the daily rountine of prfessional mechanic, the behind the seen look tha gets little attention* Hardware which talks you through tools used by professional* The bike which covers a series of tips to maintain the key parts of the bike.As to the binding, the book is of an irreproachable quality, the paper is thick, smooth and glossy (Rouleur finition). This book will be the perfect Christmas present for a cycling and mechanic enthusiast.

At first glance it's an unconventional combination of subjects but that's where it's brilliance rests. A unique combination of insights into the life of a pro-tour mechanics and practical wrenching. Very few people could have authored this book successfully or had the panache and hands on knowledge to deliver it. I read it from cover to cover before I could put in down. Enthusiastic about bikes ? You'll keep going back to it !

Fascinating book about bike mechanics and the mechanics of bikes from the Rouleur team. Part reportage, part workshop manual, this is a fascinating insight into the world of the bike mechanic, with some lovely photos and plenty of useful tips thrown in. Very good indeed.

Not quite what I expected. Too much general commentary. Not enough specific guidance.

Great material!