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Inspired by a recent review of the ridiculoulsy expensive bike bell from the states recently on the STW site, I got to thinking that a cheap subtle bell to alert fellow trail users of my approach might be a good idea. Now I can hear your stifled giggles and those of you at the back openly laughing, but bare with me.
Being honest I didnt actually know whether this would be a good idea so I figured spend as little as possible and then if it ends up in the bin its no great loss. A few hours later and 0.0001 club card points better off I attached a tiny black bell to my handlebars (colour cordinated so it doesnt draw attention to itself - I have some dignity).
I want to tell you good people that this was truly liberating experience for me. I tend to go out and ride early Sunday mornings so towards the end of the ride it is common to come across walkers and I have always tried to maintain good relationships with other trail users but this means slowing down and saying excuse me - the alternative being shouting from a distance which often offends people, sensitive as they are. But not now, oh no, now a ding ding from the bell alerts the walker to my presence well in advance allowing me to maintain my speed as they politley step aside. But the best thing about it...........most people fall about laughing (myself included) at the hairy arsed mountain biker on super expensive trail beast ringing a bell like a girl - thus eveyone is happy. We all have a laugh and head off into the day with a smile on our face, I can ride faster and the relationships are not only maintained but enhanced. Trust me people its the future it really does work, got over yourself and get one! Now where can I get a dog whistle?
20p charity shop bell.. 😀
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I often get overtaken by fell runners.
They NEVER have a bell and they pass very closely uphill at great speed.
It's so inconsiderate.
Chubby of Cliviger.
bare with me.
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I can feel momentum gathering behind this movement - send a picture of your bell.........come on, we are better than that!
People don't always hear bells! I should know, I've been using one for years. 🙂
Good point CG,
'Ring ring' 'ring ring'
'Wheres your bell?' 'You should have a bell'
'Ring ring' [glower]
An all too frequent occurrence.. 😕
To be fair, I use the bell and call out politely. Not much you can do when folk have ear plugs in/using a phone/chatting etc.
I often get overtaken by fell runners.They NEVER have a bell
It's actually great fun to go running (OK, more like jogging for me) with a bike bell on your finger, you can ring it at walkers and chuckle as they keep looking for the 'invisible' bicycle 😀
Do you find that it's older people you get that response from? High frequency hearing is lost as you age, and the small discrete bells that don't look too shonky on your bike are very high piched as a consequence of their small size.'Wheres your bell?' 'You should have a bell'
Coffin Dodgers may genuinely not hear you, especially from a courteous distance.
@khani - where did you get the matchmaker mount for your bell?
I had it custom machined out of unobtainium ti alloy by an aerospace cnc company specialising on one off parts, it also holds an Aeropress with coffee beans that have been passed through a llama, and a antique silver hip flask filled with whiskey made by monks in a cave somewhere more remote than the moon...
and the small discrete bells that don't look too shonky on your bike are very high piched as a consequence of their small size.
That just about describes the complete opposite of my bell...
Bells are the 26" of acoustic warnings
This is where its at:
[img] http://washford.scene7.com/is/image/Washford/360559?$PDP_ENLARGE$ [/img]
If you're working hard enough, you can take the bulb off and play the Last Post before running down fleeing red-socks
I bought one of those expensive bling bells, but I'm not fitting it to my bike in case I crash and scratch it.
I had one on my bike, and as any of the Trolls can testify, it was ****ing anoying dinging to itself over every root and bump, and eventualy died in a crash.
Most walkers I encounter are deaf through wearing bloody headphones, bell, shout, tap on shoulder as last resort. Ban headphones I say
I believe there is a little known bye law stating that as long as it is safe and reasonable to do so and with the intention of drawing the intended recipients attention to impending danger, a nerf gun or water pistol is premitted for those wearing earphones. A little sponge never hurt anyone......its the heart attack that gets them! 😈
Bells are not needed if you have Hope Hubs.
To be honest I used to have a bell it scared more people than it warned on my old canal path commute.
I now use the hope hub back pedal and use headphones so i can't hear them whinge.
Ban headphones I say
Eh? What?
I believe in the bell, ending tension between user groups is imperative..
+1 for the Hope Hub, I think people actually ignore bells.