Quote Originally Posted by sara View Post
What does everyone think about getting "dinged" on the trail by a bicycle bell?
I recently got a bell for my bicycle, when I saw that people responded more quickly and favorably to my BF's bell than to my "on your left!" When I use my bell, I am calmer than when I'm yelling. The bell is a constant volume. With my voice, I'm never sure how loudly to yell, and I find myself tense and angry if I've yelled that I'm passing and people don't respond.

Sounds like the guy who passed you was pretty hepped up on adrenaline, and his bell-use just reflected that!

So far, I'm in favor of the bell over the voice. I've started saying, "I'm passing you!", as a lot of people seem baffled by "on your left". It's hard to know when to say the "OYL"--when faster riders pass me, it often seems like they're nearly upon me before they say anything, and then I want to jump. If they started dinging from a few more feet back, I'd know they were coming.