Bells !

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SteveH80

SteveH80

Well-Known Member
I've got a bell on one of the bikes but rarely use it, I would rather say 'good morning' or similar. People are conditioned to respond to human voices so if they don't I assume they haven't, or can't, hear me.
 
S

scotsbikester

Senior Member
raleighnut said:
^^^^^^^ Wot E Sed

Reflectors are also mandatory front/rear and on pedals and wheels but most people remove those also (I know I do*) although a lot of cycle clothing/shoes have some 'retro-reflective' flashes or motifs on them.

* The one exception being bikes with cantilever brakes where the reflector bracket also acts as a safety bar for the straddle wire, if a brake cable fails that will lock the wheel instantly.......................Ditto 'centrepull' brakes on old road/touring bikes
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Wouldn't mudguards solve that problem?
 
fwgx

fwgx

Guru
I found that ringing a bell will make pedestrians vere from their straight walk in to a wobbly weave as they look over their shoulder and lose the ability to continue in the same direction. This is amplified if there's 2 or more people together.

I'd rather call out "excuse me" or "on your left" or similar as a bell is quite impersonal, which people dont like IMHO. Especially as you're so close you could have a conversation.

The worst ones are those wearing bluetooth earbuds, especially if they're black buds, as you can't tell they won't be able to hear anything. Big obvious headphones you know you're not going to be heard from a distance away so can plan accordingly.
 
A

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
MontyVeda said:
On the rare occasion I use my bell, it doesn't seem to have much of an effect. It rings and they might look up into a tree, wondering if it was a wind chime they heard, but it's a little 'ping' bell, not a proper dring-dring bell.
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Mine is a "ping" type bell, but it is surprising how well pedestrians ahead of me seem to hear it.
 
fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Alex321 said:
Mine is a "ping" type bell, but it is surprising how well pedestrians ahead of me seem to hear it.
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Unless they are old and can't hear high pitch noises - seem to have a lot of that locally (i.e. deaf old duffers). Been told 'why didn't you ring your bell' when I'd had to say 'excuse me', and my freewheel isn't that quiet. Should take the full sus out with it's "angry hornet's nest" in the rear hub.
 
Methersgate

Methersgate

Regular
I seem to remember a time when the “in” thing was to have a large bell mounted on the stem, not the bars. Does anyone else remember this?

Fwiw, the louder the bell, the better!
 
fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Ming the Merciless said:
I hope you shouted “excuse me” to warn those downslope of your impending arrival.
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It was my fault as I was looking ahead (as you do) and I spotted my mate had stopped at the top of the next 'berm', it was wet as hell, and I just lost the front as concentrating on where my mate was. Flew off the side. It's a steep drop into a right hand drop berm, followed by a left hander the other side, that 'visually' appears very high up as you fly down. My mate saw my superman impressions. The video's are deceptive as they don't give you the 'velodrome' effect these berms have. I think any passers by would have heard the 'oh plop' !
 
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