Discussion
I've always thought that bells belong on kids and lady's shopping bikes. However I ride to work in the Redways in MK. Since fitting slicks to my MTB it makes practically no noise at all. I always give plenty of room when passing and often click my gears but people don't hear that and I have made a few people jump.
I am not sure I want to be ringing bells at people and them think I am trying to get them to move out the way. I also don't want them to jump in to path!
Whats the general consensus on bells?
I am not sure I want to be ringing bells at people and them think I am trying to get them to move out the way. I also don't want them to jump in to path!
Whats the general consensus on bells?
I think if you end up needing to use a bell, you might as well just ask someone to move out the way, as you should be preparing to stop anyway in case they don't hear you / are deaf etc anyway? That's how I've ridden anyway. I must admit, since moving out from the urban commute to the countryside, I don't miss pedestrians, especially schoolkids with headphones in who just step out into the road 
I have a bell on my commuting bike and it's an absolute godsend, I now wouldn't ride without one. There are a number of dog walkers and children going to school on my route, as well as random bits of wildlife (bunnies, deer, birds, etc) and all of them hear the bell a long way away, which gives them time to move without me having to slow down much. Honestly, for the sake of a couple of quid, it's well worth it.
The only watch outs are people with zombie ipods in their ears don't hear you and horses don't like the noise much and can bolt if you sneak up on them. I've suffered both of these, but normally people appreciate the fact that you've warned them you're coming.
The only watch outs are people with zombie ipods in their ears don't hear you and horses don't like the noise much and can bolt if you sneak up on them. I've suffered both of these, but normally people appreciate the fact that you've warned them you're coming.
scubadude said:
Not to mention its a legal requirement on the road I believe?
I have one on all my bikes, very useful- people hear a bell and think bike, shouting and horns don't have the same instant effect IMO.
Whilst horns are great fun for scaring car drivers, they are useless for peds. I had one on for quite some time and it would make people jump - predicting which was quite difficult so it often made passing them even more difficult. I have one on all my bikes, very useful- people hear a bell and think bike, shouting and horns don't have the same instant effect IMO.
I took it off recently as it caused more issues than it resolved as it sounds very aggressive. I just tend to shout now, but am meaning to purchase a bell for the commuting bike, as I agree a bell = a bike.
My 6 mile commute takes in 3 miles of coastal cyclepath that is shared with dog walkers.
After a week or two of stop start frustration I got a bell, not a "ring-ring" bell but a "ting" bell, the difference is amazing, a little ting-ting and the people all know I am coming, obviously I am not going fast but I found that with a breeze blowing no-one could hear me coming up behind and didn't like being surprised.
After a week or two of stop start frustration I got a bell, not a "ring-ring" bell but a "ting" bell, the difference is amazing, a little ting-ting and the people all know I am coming, obviously I am not going fast but I found that with a breeze blowing no-one could hear me coming up behind and didn't like being surprised.
We are all so terribly British aren't we? We (and I include myself) are so afraid of giving offence with a little ting-ting that we deliberate about whether a bell is a good idea or not.
In France (the only other country I've cycled in) bells are expected and no offence is taken by pedestrians, and they dutifully move to the side upon hearing one. I can just see some jumped-up Brit shouting "Don't you ring your bloody bell at me" when you give them the chance to give up a part of the pavement they are shifting along (fat people don't walk - they shift).
I haven't got one - I send my 8yo son in front of me to ring his. I'm such a coward.
In France (the only other country I've cycled in) bells are expected and no offence is taken by pedestrians, and they dutifully move to the side upon hearing one. I can just see some jumped-up Brit shouting "Don't you ring your bloody bell at me" when you give them the chance to give up a part of the pavement they are shifting along (fat people don't walk - they shift).
I haven't got one - I send my 8yo son in front of me to ring his. I'm such a coward.
D4MJT said:
I think if you end up needing to use a bell, you might as well just ask someone to move out the way, as you should be preparing to stop anyway in case they don't hear you / are deaf etc anyway? That's how I've ridden anyway.
Same. Doesn't solve anything though in my experience, it still ends up in the same result of 'youve startled me by politely informing me of your presence, I shall now give you a load of verbal'.
shouldbworking said:
D4MJT said:
I think if you end up needing to use a bell, you might as well just ask someone to move out the way, as you should be preparing to stop anyway in case they don't hear you / are deaf etc anyway? That's how I've ridden anyway.
Same. Doesn't solve anything though in my experience, it still ends up in the same result of 'youve startled me by politely informing me of your presence, I shall now give you a load of verbal'.My bike came with a bell fitted by the previous owner. It went in the bin along with the reflectors.
After a week or so of commuting on it I realised that there was one particulare set of lights with a separate left only phase where announcing my impending arrival would be nice so I bought another. Its a very usefull thing to have, in London especially, when you've got a lot of continental european tourists looking the wrong way before they cross the road.
After a week or so of commuting on it I realised that there was one particulare set of lights with a separate left only phase where announcing my impending arrival would be nice so I bought another. Its a very usefull thing to have, in London especially, when you've got a lot of continental european tourists looking the wrong way before they cross the road.
I've found one of limited use - a lot of people don't hear (ears point forwards ), some seem to respond negatively as though you're trying to get them to move against their will, whilst if you don't ring it some say "haven't you got a bell?". So basically can't win! A friend has a little buzzer in the end of the bars (runs off AA battery), sounds very effective, but I've not found one for sale (he's had it years).
), some seem to respond negatively as though you're trying to get them to move against their will, whilst if you don't ring it some say "haven't you got a bell?". So basically can't win! A friend has a little buzzer in the end of the bars (runs off AA battery), sounds very effective, but I've not found one for sale (he's had it years).Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff