Ding, Ding! Bell or No?

I love a good bell, and I have a good bell on my hybrid. I ride where there are people walking dogs, jogging, kids, etc. and my very loud Crane brass bell let's them know I'm coming. I still call out, as I get closer to people, "passing on your left" so I don't startle anyone.

My only issue with my bell is that it looks more like a bell you'd see on a cruiser bike. My hybrid is sporty looking and the bell looks like one of those pictures you see titled "What doesn't belong here?". I had an adjustable Incredibell Bell by Mirrycle, but it broke, so I returned it for the Crane.

I don't have a lot of room on my handle bars and the Crane, although, really loud and functional takes up a lot of room.

So....do you have a bell? Why or why not? Favorites?

I have a bell that came installed on my hybrid - I don't know what brand it is or even whether it was installed by Trek or by the LBS.

I leave it there, I use it for politeness' sake, but eight times out of ten, people ignore it. That's why I have a loud bunny-shaped squeeze horn right next to it. (Which only gets ignored about two times out of ten.)

On the roadie, I just holler, which is louder than either of those in any case (and it's also easier to modulate the volume and tone, so the pass-ee can tell whether I'm being polite, or whether I'm exasperated from hollering at them for the third or fourth time).

Not having a noisemaker on the roadie is less because of a lack of room on the bars, than because I rarely ride the roadie in situations where I'd need one (frequent passing of people who aren't experienced cyclists who know what to do when someone hollers), plus there's really no place to put any noisemaker on drop bars where I wouldn't have to reach for it.

I love the idea of a horn!

I have an irrational hatred of those cheerful little dingy bells...... I would be more than happy to melt them all down... (no I don't have one on any of my bikes).

I have one on my hybrid (plain small black tinny), but took the one off my mountain bike. Most of the time I just shout/call out, and if anyone didn't hear me shout they probably wouldn't hear the bell either. I think that bikes sold here have to be sold with a bell.

I think Electra have some pretty bells.

Bells are required by law and common sense where I live (I suppose another sound device would be legal; I don't know for sure). Whistles do not satisfy the legal requirement

I have a largish, clunky bell right now. Incredibells are fairly small and don't look too bad; I'm going to get one eventually.

I love my brass bells on my two bikes- they are like miniature versions of those Buddhist monk brass prayer bowls. Such a lovely sound. There is more than one place to strap on a bell as needed.
Nothing I like better than to ding my lovely brass bell when passing by some little kid who is staring at me on my bike like I am so amazing- they love it!!
Remember the movie where they said "Every time you hear a bell ring it means an angel just got their wings"? Well every time i ring my bell some little kid will one day get a bike.

i say anything that makes me feels good and works well, like my bike bells, automatically falls into the 'beautiful' category.

Velo Orange has nice bells.

There's something about a bell that says "bike" when people hear it. I live near a school for the blind. Bell = priceless. (Yes, I yield to blind people trying to cross the street. It's when I'm coming up on someone and don't want to get the white cane tangled in my spokes that I ring.)

I have a DringDring turtle on my commuter. It was a surprise gift from DBF that he picked up at what has become our favorite LBS, and I completely adore it.

I have a very minimal black bell on my mountain bike, it is the Mirrycle Incredibell Bellini Bike Bell. My husband teases me about leaving it on for races but I can't be bothered to remove it. It is a life saver on the trails, very simple and a nice clear noise. I have had many hikers, dog walkers and slower riders thank me for the bell warning.

Is it unusual for bells (or equivalent) to be required by law? Granted, if you are mostly dealing with cars, it's useless (though I ring mine anyway just for fun) but if you deal with peds or other cyclists, it is essential, I would think.

Supposedly in Western Australia, bells are a legal requirement on a bike. Apparently they can fine you but i've never known anyone that has.

No freakin way am I putting one on mine.

One-hardly anyone has one on theirs & if they do they're a senior
Two-i'll use my voice and say "On your right" or "rider" or biiiiiiiikeeee (if i'm going around a certain corner).
Three-there's no room on my handlebars! GPS, bike light..that's it

Half the freakin time people don't pay attention anyways on some of the bike paths here so why even bother. This is another reason I avoid certain bike paths! I like my detours :D

I never know if a bell is being rung from behind me or or behind another rider etc.

Same with mtb...I heard "rider" yesterday behind me at our event but it was another rider behind someone else in the distance..

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Two-i'll use my voice and say "On your right" or "rider" or biiiiiiiikeeee (if i'm going around a certain corner).

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Do you never deal with people from other countries? It's rude to assume everyone speaks English (IMO).

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Supposedly in Western Australia, bells are a legal requirement on a bike. Apparently they can fine you but i've never known anyone that has.

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Legally required here too but most roadies don't have one. The police have a blitz on the inner city commuters every now and again so a lot of those riders have them. I have a noisy hub on the roadie which does the job if I'm on a path, but I haven't seen a 4WD stopped by a bell.

I don't have a bell on my roadie I'm not sure it would do much good. Badgercat that is the cutest stinkin bell ever. I might entertain having one if I had one like that or maybe a lady bug because my bike is black and red.:D

Pam...I've never come accross anyone of a NESB on the bits of the bike path I ride on...Older upper middle class folk manily. In Sydney it might be different but in Perth nope. Not all bike infrastructure is the same accross the planet....

(however....most of the NESB folks in my neighbourhood ride on the footpath..which is illegal..no lights, no bell, helmet on the wrong way etc :rolleyes: and scare the $($($( out of us when walking...)

As I mentioned before..I now take avoid certain bike only paths & take the road which is actually safer than the bike path.

There's a few corners in Perth that a bell might help but heaps of people cut them & don't give a $*$&*$& anyways....It's one big testosterone laden bike path here..oo nooo we can't slow down..:rolleyes: we might have a slower ride in...:rolleyes: and we then can't tell all our friends that we did our ride 20sec faster than the previous day and 40 sec faster than the day before that...:rolleyes:

Aslo, most of the roadies i pass have $*$$& Ipods on & wouldn't notice if someone had a bell...

Most of the kwinana bike path going south (i don't go north very often) doesn't have anything along it...The houses are set back from it with a small noise wall then after that, pretty much nothing.

One more thing...our mtb trails in Western Australia aren't walker/rider shared. The walkers have the Bibbulmun track & we have our dedicated mtb trails. I've never ever ever seen anyone walking on our mtb specific trails.

There's a well known recreational walking/bike path in the hills here that cris crosses roads etc. I might come accross one or two folks w doggies but I stop even before they see me so i don't frighten them. It's better at night!

I have a little bell on my Commuter but not on my MTB. I don't use it if I can avoid it, because people tend to either turn around, give me a scared look and then jump in any direction if they hear it or feel offended. Calling out, as many of you describe, would be considered rude and I guess it wouldn't work anyway - nobody is used to it. So I usually just approach them slowly and pass if there's enough space somewhere.
We have a lot of mixed bike/foot-paths and they are real hazzle as a cyclist.

Around here, at least, it seems that all of the walkers and runners have buds or other music-listening apparatus stuck in their ears or they are plastered to a phone (walkers). I haven't bothered to get a bell for this reason, and there really isn't any place to put it on my handlebar. Between my shifters/computer/HR monitor mount there really isn't any other room. Also there aren't many pedestrians on my country roads to worry about.

If I were to start commuting, however, chances are I would break down and find a bell for whichever bike I chose to use as my commuter, and remove the HR monitor mount.

Just to add my two kroner - I wear a not-an-ipod bike commuting, and I can easily hear a bicycle bell at any distance within which I have to do something about it. I can also hear traffic, horns and sirens ditto. Sure there are many clueless gits out there, but wearing an ipod doesn't necessarily mean you have it on full blast or are not paying attention to your surroundings.

I am not starting a discussion on ipods on bikes, just don't not ring your bell behind an ipod-wearing runner because you assume he or she can't hear you.

I use a bell and find it very handy for warning people well in advance that I am approaching "their space".

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Originally Posted by PamNY

Do you never deal with people from other countries? It's rude to assume everyone speaks English (IMO).

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I don't think it's rude at all when you're dealing with rules of the road, which encompasses pedestrians as well. We're not talking about complex communications.

When we drive - or walk - in Europe, we're expected to know and obey the road signs whether or not we understand the language (and on our first trip, some of the signs were very counterintuitive to Americans). IMO the same thing applies to people who don't speak the predominant language wherever they may be. Even assuming someone is tooling around in the middle of the lane where they're not supposed to be anyhow - so that it may be important for them to understand which side you intend to pass them on - I think the words for "right" and "left" are some of the first words anyone learns in any language, and I think it's safe to assume that even a tourist would understand those words.

Re: a bell, I've never heard of that being a requirement, but I'll take your word that it is in your state. In Ohio, there's actually a section that permits a bicycle to have a bell, as distinguished from prohibited sirens and whistles. Florida doesn't mention it. Most states have a requirement that anyone passing, in any vehicle, give an audible signal, but a verbal warning qualifies when you're riding a bike.

My rides through both regional parks and neighborhood parks on multi-user paths dictate that we give a verbal warning that we are approaching (biker warns pedestrians) & it is also considered a courtesy.
There is a senior woman who only rides about two months out of the year and I would be walking my dogs and she would be right up on me, not saying a thing, and scare the cr*p out of me. I always had to watch for her, and finally I stopped to talk with her and gently told her that it is customary (around here), to call out. Especially to dog walkers because it can take a few seconds to get out of the way or whatever.

I think it is an actual law in Indiana to have a BELL on the bike, not that everyone pays attention to that... I could be wrong, but that was what my first LBS told me.

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Originally Posted by PamNY

Is it unusual for bells (or equivalent) to be required by law? Granted, if you are mostly dealing with cars, it's useless (though I ring mine anyway just for fun) but if you deal with peds or other cyclists, it is essential, I would think.

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Out here it is bell or voice warning when passing - and that is only when on a MUP. I also avoid MUPs when at all possible.....

One of the trails I like to ride is a spider web layout. I use the bell at intersections and have again had people thank me. It keeps us all safe. On my road bike my voice is plenty to alert people. I don't use MUP. I will take a picture of my bike set up once the new one arrives. I use a tiny stem and bars but my bell is minimal and doesn't take up any valuable space for me. Road bars there is a shortage of real estate though.

I have a bell and love it. Sometimes I ring it just because I like the sound. It has more serious, adult, boring uses, as well.

On the MUP - I ring when coming up on walkers, joggers, etc. Most have earbuds in, but most acknowledge me and move over. I also call out, as a courtesy.

On RAGBRAI - When DH & I rode RABRAI a few years ago, we'd use our bells as a SLD (Spouse Location Device). Whomever was in front would occasionally ding. If the following spouse dinged back, all was well. If not, maybe we needed to be looking around more.

It is also a compass. I like to tour. A compass is nice to have when in unfamiliar places. Here's a view of my bars on one tour. The compass/bell is right there where I can see/ring it.

Ohhhh, I didn't know they made bike mounted compasses!!! What kind is that? Is it bike specific? I don't have a smartphone and can't afford any Garmin devices, so that is so cool.

I was afraid someone would ask that. I have no idea who made it, or any other helpful details. It was at the LBS and I snagged one, then got another for DH. It is bike specific, so if you want one, ask at your LBS. We've had them a while, I don't know if they are still made, even

Sorry, wish I could be more helpful.

Several options, although it kind of looks like they all come from the same factory in China :rolleyes:

https://encrypted.google.com/search?...w=1440&bih=712

The Adventure Cycling catalog was the first place I looked, and I was very surprised that they don't have one.

The commuter has a bell for the section of my commute that's on a MUP. I tried the voice thing, and too many people couldn't figure out what "passing on your left" meant :rolleyes:

The commuter's bell occasionally gets moved over to a roadie for large organized rides and tours. I can only say "on your left" so many times, and I prefer to give some kind of notice before passing other riders.

Each of the MTBs has one too. A bell is a nice thing to have going into a blind corner, or coming upon some hikers.

I'm pretty much out of handlebar read estate, plus the bell clamp didn't want to play nicely with my drop bars; the clamp wasn't large enough.

So, I unscrewed the bell mount assembly, chucked it, and screwed the bell + ringer arm directly into the downtube shifter boss.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...2/DSCN0194.jpg

When I had my tuneup this winter, I asked the mechanic if I was asking for trouble with this arrangement, because the bell screw is shorter than the screw that was originally in that location. He said nope, it was fine, and if it wasn't, I'd have known immediately.

I had thought about ordering one of those headset spacer + bell mount combos from Velo Orange, but since this solution was free and works just fine, I'm sticking with it. I do occasionally reach down and make sure that the bell is still firmly screwed on. I should probably Locktite it down.

I have a brrrrinnng bell. It's chrome and fairly old school. I love my bell! I too will ring it sometimes just for the lovely sound of it and also as a friendly "hello" when I see friends in their yards or driving by in cars and I always get a big smile and wave in return.

When I take my bike into the LBS I have had the person who is wheeling it into the back room give it a few brrrrings just for the heck of it. When I had it on the trainer over the winter and family or friends came over most people will give it a little ring when they hop on it or pass by it. It's just fun and makes a person feel like a kid again (except for those who really dislike bells).

It serves a purpose and I've learned to control whether it makes a big BRRRRRIIIINNNNG or just a little ping. I make a soft sound with it when approaching people from a ways back to give a heads up and a little more as I get near, most people thank me.

I have absolutely never heard or been told that a bell is required by law in the USA, but could that be a state-specific law? I've been riding since the 1980's and only got my first bell (the one with the compass on it - also useful) a few years ago when I started riding a mtb in a park with a lot of pedestrians on MUTs. On the road, I can't imagine using a bell, since it's cars you're dealing with, not peds. If there are peds, they should be walking/running towards you (if they are on the correct side of the road) and thus see you. And I'm out of real estate on my narrow drop bars anyway.

I do have an Air Zound air horn on my Bike Friday for dogs and even for cars, but I rarely have to use it. It is seriously LOUD, so I would only use it in pretty severe conditions and never on a pedestrian. :D

The bell requirement is a New York City law.

Yes, as I have called out "passing on your left" the pedestrian then moves TO their left and then I shout out, "no-your other left!"

Bike Writer - Every time I have my mountain bike serviced I catch at least one of the wrenches having to try out the bell. Either when wheeling it back, wheeling it to me or test riding. I think it provides a little fun for them. When I do big group rides in the summer we start a little chorus for the heck of it. I think they are fun myself. :)

I'm remembering one time my bell made me happy. DH and I were stopped at an intersection on our commuters when a convertible full of kids came around the corner, just having a good time. The driver tapped out the "Shave and a haircut" cadence on his horn ... and I dinged "Two Bits" on my bell. :D It cracked up all six of us!

I put a bell on my bike if I'm going to be riding on a path or trail. Most of my riding is in the Washington DC area on the Washington & Old Dominion trail which gets very busy in nice weather.

Often a bell is the only way to get the attention of someone with headphones on, or (my pet peeve) mothers who insist on walking with strollers 2-and-3-abreast on the trail who don't seem to understand "on your left" even after it is yelled 3 times at them.........

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I'm remembering one time my bell made me happy. DH and I were stopped at an intersection on our commuters when a convertible full of kids came around the corner, just having a good time. The driver tapped out the "Shave and a haircut" cadence on his horn ... and I dinged "Two Bits" on my bell. :D It cracked up all six of us!

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Oh, that makes me giggle.

Last night I was passed by a guy singing at the top of his lungs -- good strategy for a crowded area, and he had a good voice.

Bike bells are such a lovely tradition. What a happy sound! Makes others want to get on their dusty old bikes. I think of a bike bell as sort of a biking 'ambassador of good will'.

I've always loved this video on 'the power of the bike bell'- cracks me up every time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtv2_-2mHck

I have bells on all of my bikes except my road bike and Specialized Sirrus hybrid. I use the small Incredibell types that are about an inch in diameter. On one of my adult trikes I have a Brass Solo. It's still small, but has a nicer tone to it.