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I got a small bell (Lifeline) for my road bike and upon going to attach it find myself confused. Nowhere works!
Is it possible to fit a bell in such a way that it's usable from the hoods without moving my hands, and doesn't interfere with other hand positions?
The easiest place is in the middle of the bars on the untaped bit, but then I can't reach it without taking one hand off, and usually at times when I need to use the bell I also need to be braking, or at least covering the brakes.
I use a timber bell on the drop bars, then I can just give the bars a little wiggle to ring. I've seen bells on brake levers before now, and a quick google for "drop bar bell" comes up with suggestions like this
https://road.cc/content/review/252403-trigger-bell-safer-bike-bell
^^^ I've got one of those, works great!
Trigger Bell works well for me too - mounted on left, just above lever clamp, via a cable tie. Actuate it from the drops using left thumb, or from the hood/tops.
So the answer is "get a different bell, I recommend the one I've got"?
I should've guessed. 🤣
That trigger one does look good though.
So the answer is "get a different bell, I recommend the one I've got"?
It's the STW way.
I use one similar to what's pictured above (cheap AliEx version), mounted in a similar fashion. Works well.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008057067797.html
I mount mine up by the stem, my logic was that if I need the bell then I'm most likely sat up cruising, not hammering along in the drops / late braking. It's a nice loud Rockbros paperclip bell (spurcycle copy) so I tend to get away with dinging it a long way away and then braking. And if they've not moved by then I'm probably at walking pace anyway so it doesn't matter.
I get what you're saying about covering the brakes though.
If I came up behind someone on vaguely-gnarly singletrack and couldn't reach the bell safely I'd probably just give them a friendly "Good Morning" instead.
On my new bike I've actually put it around the stem as the OEM stem has larger bolts which clash with the bell if it's butted up against it. The dinger's still reachable without letting go of the bars, basically the same place, just at 90deg.
I've got big hands so accessories designed to mount to the hoods never work out for me.
Another trigger bell user. My logic is different to the above; if I'm using the bell it's highly likely I'm going to be using the brakes imminently too.
Nice tone and volume to it, surprising how far it works.
Stem cap. Lion do a very neat stem mounted bell. https://www.lionbellworks.co.uk/webshop.php#!/Classic-Bicycle-Bell-stem-mount/p/15650281
I hope it's on a gravel or CX bike and not a road bike otherwise there will be trouble.
I have a bell on the CX bike on the bar near the middle (where the bar tape stops) and I can flick it with my thumb then on the tops.
I mount mine up by the stem, my logic was that if I need the bell then I'm most likely sat up cruising, not hammering along in the drops / late braking. It's a nice loud Rockbros paperclip bell (spurcycle copy) so I tend to get away with dinging it a long way away and then braking. And if they've not moved by then I'm probably at walking pace anyway so it doesn't matter.
Agree with this. I've got a Spircycle Compact, which is pretty loud, and in practice the brake thing isn't really an issue for me. I do have it on the right though so I've always got the back brake covered.
. But yeah, I think in most situations you might find yourself needing to ring your bell you can probably get away with it not being on or near the hoods.
I hope it's on a gravel or CX bike and not a road bike otherwise there will be trouble.
Pleasant surprise riding Etape Loch Ness yesterday when overtaking roadies pinged a bell to announce their arrival, rather than elbowing past
It wouldn't be STW without someone who doesn't use a bell or ride drop bar bikes making a recommendation! Furthermore, I was influenced.
Literally just viewed an instagram post from Rockbros with a bell as handlebar end cap.
That trigger bell looks like a disaster for getting really annoying blisters.
I tend to have bells on road bikes mounted in places where I have to take my hands away from covering the levers. Normally in the middle, but I've had one on the seattube too. I don't really get the "if I need to use a bell, I might need to use the brakes quickly" crowd - if I'm using a bell, it's well in advance to let people know I'm there, if I might need to use my brakes quickly then bells are unlikely to help, and people are likely close enough that shouting is less confusing.
I agree with aidy. The bell is used when a distance away from folk. If its urgent a shout is better. My bell is on the stem
That trigger bell looks like a disaster for getting really annoying blisters.
My first thought also. A zip tie there? No thanks from me (I don't wear gloves if I can avoid it)
The bell is used when a distance away from folk. If its urgent a shout is better
And this.
https://www.cranebellco.com/mini-karen-bell
I have this, specifically the one that is mounted to headset spacer. It is slightly turned to left side so that my left thumb can reach the plunger when riding on hoods - it is very loud and rings quite a while. And the name is perfect.
Another Timber bell users. Once it's open, it just needs a little wiggle on the bars. Tried it at the end of the drop and by the stem. Settled in having it by the stem
I have this, specifically the one that is mounted to headset spacer. It is slightly turned to left side so that my left thumb can reach the plunger when riding on hoods
How big are your hands / narrow are your bars 😂
I used to have something similar but it drove me nuts offroad. I ended up making a silencer form a bit of rubber fuel hose to shut it up on group rides.
I hope it's on a gravel or CX bike and not a road bike otherwise there will be trouble.
I forgot it's past Easter so the people who take the Velominati seriously have come out to tell us how we're doing it all wrong.
I have this, specifically the one that is mounted to headset spacer. It is slightly turned to left side so that my left thumb can reach the plunger when riding on hoods
How big are your hands / narrow are your bars 😂
I used to have something similar but it drove me nuts offroad. I ended up making a silencer form a bit of rubber fuel hose to shut it up on group rides.
Had to go and check this even though I rode this bike yesterday 😀
You are right, in my mind it was just small thumb movement but I actually have to move my hand a bit. It is fast and intuitive movement anyway.
This one doesn’t ring constantly even on rougher tracks, I got rid of a Knog bell after 1 ride just because of that issue.
I forgot it's past Easter so the people who take the Velominati seriously have come out to tell us how we're doing it all wrong.
I like it! 😀
You are right, in my mind it was just small thumb movement but I actually have to move my hand a bit. It is fast and intuitive movement anyway.
From the hoods to the headset? Or do you mean on the tops? 😉
Mine goes under the seat round the seat post. Out of the way there and if I am riding around people I am pottering so it isn't an issue to reach back. If I am going to fast to do that pinging isn't needed, braking is.
spur bells on mine and hers tourers. fitted to the stem. perfect.
Double post
I've got a trigger bell too, it looks goofy, but you really can ting it wherever your hands are on the bar. Little finger when on the tops, thumb on the hoods or drops.
Sorry it's going to take additional spending, but I would 100% recommend one.
Edited to add - I don't wear gloves for mixed surface rides, the mounting strap (it's not a proper zip tie) doesn't bother me at all.
mine is a little band on one that you can rotate the pinger on, I fitted just bellow the LH lever, in a position that I can thumb flick it from the hood or rotate it round and operate it from down on the drop (although I don't tend to).
Does the job, still gets ignored by merrily oblivious Ramblers, walkers and Doggerists of course 🙂