Ding, Ding! Bell or No?

[Velocivixen]

I love the idea of a horn!

[Eden]

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).

[hebe]

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.

[PamNY]

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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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.

[soprano]

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.)

[badgercat]

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.

[MomOnBike]

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.

[Velocivixen]

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.