The Chainbreaker Bike Book: A Rough Guide to Bicycle Maintenance

If you’ve ever wanted to understand your bike instead of just hoping it behaves, this updated, hand‑illustrated guide is the perfect place to start. Written by two mechanics with years of real‑world experience at Plan B Bike Project and French Quarter Bicycles in New Orleans, it breaks down the basics of bike repair in a way that’s clear, friendly and genuinely empowering.

The first half works as a full repair manual and cycling companion, packed with simple, illustrated instructions to help you diagnose and fix the most common issues — whether you’re riding a beat‑up commuter or a beloved vintage machine. The second half brings back all four issues of the original Chainbreaker zine, whose masters were lost during Hurricane Katrina, preserving a classic DIY resource for new generations of riders.

Trusted by the crew at Microcosm, this guide makes bike maintenance feel accessible, giving you the confidence to understand your bike and keep it rolling smoothly.