When I got my first job at a bike shop, my boss handed me a copy of Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance and said “read this by next week.” Lennard has been making bicycle maintenance instruction manuals for 11 years and has perfected teaching in a way that we can all understand. His latest teaching tool comes on DVD.

Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance (DVD) is a fully comprehensive manual for mountain bike maintenance, repair, and component installation. The material is presented in a manner that is clear and easy to understand in even in the most intricate procedures. This DVD is a wonderful introduction for the would be mechanic, acts as powerful reference tool before starting more complicated repairs, and is great way for solid mechanics to learn some of Lennard’s many tricks.

If you ride frequently you have undoubtedly realized how expensive and inconvenient it is to bring your bike to a shop every time it needs servicing, which is arguably before every ride. For this reason many bike enthusiasts also become a do-it-yourself bike mechanic. There is no better way to familiarize yourself with the basics on how to keep your beloved steed running perfectly than to watch to Lennard explain it on this informative DVD.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this instruction manual is how Lennard breaks down even the most complicated repairs into step-by-step procedures that we can all understand. This enables intermediate mechanics to be confident with advanced procedures. Zinn overhauls a Shimano and Mavic hub, several different style headsets, and even a complicated Fox fork. I found the section on disc brakes quite helpful; Lennard bleeds a Shimano XT, Avid Juicy 7, Hayes El Camino, and Hayes Nine hydraulic disk brake. He also talks about how the job differs with other popular models. These are just a few of the repairs Lennard explains as the DVD does a very thorough job of covering every part of a mountain bike. In some sections there are even multiple explanations of the same job: one using basic tools and one that explains how to use the cool really ones that make life easy.

Zinn’s new DVD doesn’t replace or outdate his books, but instead complements them. Lennard suggests watching the relevant video sections before attempting unfamiliar repairs, then keeping the book handy for reference while you are working. In this way Lennard has created a multimedia-learning tool that is particularly effective for reaching people of all different learning styles.

I have been a professional mechanic for several years and still I learned a few things from Zinn’s DVD. I liked it so much that I have lent it to several other mechanics at the shop; it gets two big thumbs up from me! My only question is: what’s next? Maybe Zinn and The Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance, book on CD?!

Calef Letorney

Here is my take on the two bikes you have provided.

First the big cranks, although they take some getting use to with the larger rotational diameter, they soon feel "correct" for my body and alloy me to put down much more power in a more efficient manner.

Both my new Zinn mountain bike and Zinn road bike are the best all-around bikes I have owned. They perform as designed. Decending is confidence inspriing, even when pushing the limit. Climbing is much improved with the larger cranks and more rigid (yet still comfortable) frames. On the flats is where I have noticed the biggest immediate difference, the stiff yet comfortable Mg frame and big cranks on the road bike allow me to efficiently pump out at least an additional 5mph at the same effort level.

One of the best non-advertised things about working with Lennard on a new bike is his expertise and personal experience with almost every component out on the market. Depending on what you want, he will steer you in the right direction.

Richard Coffin

Got the bike! The frame fit is perfect! I went for a 60 mile ride on Sunday, I was quite surprised how "springy" the magnesium frame felt. It doesn't beat you up like my Orbea xl8r or has dead feeling like my Calfee. It rides more like my Litespeed but fits so much better and a bit lighter. I'm not sure why more manufacturers wouldn't want to use it as a frame material. The only question is, if I crash and sparks fly, will the bike combust? :) It's been the debate amongst my riding buddies.

The custom cranks are a godsend! I don't think I'll go back to the standard sizes. I was able to maintain a higher cadence and did not feel any knee aches I normally feel after a couple of hours hard riding.

Rom Tamondong

The bike Lennard built for me has truly changed my life. I can ride long distances with virtually no joint pain and wake up the next morning feeling great. As a result, I've decided to cycle across country this summer with my son. The prime motivation for this was actually the last presidential election, which left me feeling that a lot of things are going wrong in this country and wanting to do something that would make a difference right now. I decided to try to raise $100,000 for my favorite charity--Partners In Health--an organization that is doing truly incredible things in Haiti and elsewhere. I figured that cycling would be a good way to get people to pledge a lot--a dollar a mile on this trip comes to $3,600; 10 cents is $360. But this fundraising scheme would have been infeasible before I got my Zinn, because my joints would not have survived.

Len Burman

I bought from first handmade bike from Lennard in 1989. At that time he was working out of his basement. I have worn out two gruppos, but the frame is still perfect, and even the paint looks good. I have over 15,000 miles on that bike.

A few years, later he made me a titanium bike over the phone with the same measurements as the steel bike. I now have over 10,000 miles on that bike. Last year I bought another rather expensive bike from a national competitor that I never have liked. It hangs in the garage. Mr. Zinn is a wonderful source of information, and by the way, I am not tall at all. He is a consummate professional.

Dan Goldman

I'm 6'6", I've had my Zinn custom road bike for about a year and a half, and every time I get on the thing I am still giddy about riding a bike that fits and works so well. My old bike was an 80's vintage road bike with a frame that barely fit, had small crank arms, not enough gears, marginal brakes, and wheels that frequently went out of true or spokes that broke on nearly every ride.

In contrast, the new Zinn custom has perfect fit of the frame, the 210 mm crank arm length is just right, and I've put several thousand miles on wheels that have never gone out of true. If you are tall, and every time you look at a bike in a standard bike shop and the store employee scratches his chin and says, "you know, you are a good candidate for a custom bike" I'd recommend getting a bike from Lennard Zinn without reservation.

Peter Haeussler

I am very happy with my bike. After about 2 years of riding the only thing that I have had to do is make some spoke tension adjustments to keep the wheel straight. This, of course, is an expected thing and every spoked wheel will need this attention periodically.

Basically I would say that the bike is flawless. It is literally impossible for me to buy a bike off of the shelf that fits because of my body size. I didn't realize how poorly my old bike fit me until I first rode my Zinn.It took about two weeks to get used to the feel of the Zinn and now I cannot imagine riding any other bike.

The most amazing thing of all is that there were pieces of tape on the bars and the seat post to be used by me as guides for where I should place everything initially when I first put the bike together from the box it was shipped in. I have never had to adjust anything from those initial settings. It is really neat that Lennard is able to do such a good fitting job from 1000 miles away with a few measurements.

My bike really is perfect for me and I will always consult Lennard if I am thinking about doing any component upgrades in the future.

I cannot imagine buying anything other than a Zinn in the future.

Stephen M. Boone

The fit is fantastic. It really makes a huge difference. I ride a lot more now because it is such a great experience. The long cranks in particular make hills easier to grind up. I guess the best testimonial is that I like my road bike so much that I bought a Zinn mountain bike this spring. Now my only problem is deciding which one to ride. He really puts out a fantastic product and is really a great guy. He even helped another builder who was making a tandem for my wife and me. He is really great about equipment selection as well. Everything that he has spec-ed has worked really well.

Matt Alves

I count my blessings every day for you Lennard. How in the world could I possibly enjoy my life without the great bikes and expertise that you provide. I've lost over forty pounds biking the last year, and I'm humbly in the best shape of my life at 45. Think about this; as you know I played on a Final Four National Championship Basketball team at University of Kentucky in college, and yet thanks to you; I have been able to take my fitness to an entirely new level riding my Zinn. I have investigated every frame builder over the past few years; nobody can compare to you.

I look back nostalgically now remembering my first visit to your house in Lafayette many, many years ago. Is it possible that it was twenty or twenty-five years ago? You had frames hanging in the garage and the basement, and everywhere. I thought at the time; "what a dream come true for someone tall."

I'm looking forward to the titanium frame fitting later this month. Titanium is going to be the furthermost evolution in bike design for me, my friends are telling me that I'll not believe how nice the ride and performance is going to be.

Scott Courts