Bells

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  • #911500
    Mark Blacknell
    Participant

    A friend just wrote me asking for a recommendation on bells, and I thought I’d post my (expanded) response here.

    I’m a big fan of the Incredibell line of bells. They’re not as “pleasant” as some of the other mechanical bells, but I find that the thumb-action lets you adjust them to fit the situation. You can lightly ping it in a “hey, I’m here” kind of way (suitable for say, working your way across the Key Bridge with heavy foot traffic at 3mph). Or you can clang it in a very sharp way (helpful when you just *know* those bros on the corner of Highland and Wilson are planning to step right in front of you). The manufacturer’s site has audio of all their bells.

    The original version fits most hybrid/MTB/older drop bars. I have one on every bike I own (except an MTB that never sees the road).

    The adjustable version is required for newer road bikes with thicker drop bars (i.e., 31.8 bars). It’s not quite as ideal as the original (the mechanism is a little cheaper, I think), but it’s the best option for thick bars. I did pick up a version that mounts on STI levers, but I doubt it would last very long.

    There are other bells that work fine, too, and certainly bells with a more pleasant sound. But this is pretty much the most effective and practical bell I’ve come across. You can buy the original Incredibell in just about any local bike store. It’s $15 well spent.

    #942715
    jabberwocky
    Participant

    Agreed. I used incredibells for years when I commuted on the W&OD. They work great, except when its raining (the water muffles the bell). I admit that I haven’t outfitted my newer bikes with them because I’m hardly ever on the trail anymore.

    I definitely got less confusion from pedestrians with the bell.

    #942717
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    You’re absolutely right about the differences between the original and adjustable Incredibells. The original is absolutely fantastic and should come stock on all new bikes, like reflectors. I had to move to an adjustable one when I got a road bike and it really is inferior…better than nothing, but inferior nonetheless. If you get an adjustable version, I recommend placing a rubber strip underneath it if you mount it on an exposed section of your bars, as the adjustable band is just plain plastic and isn’t grippy, so it slips when it’s wet. Several times in the rain I’ve gone to ding, only to have the bell slip, which is uh, sub-optimal.

    #942719
    jrenaut
    Participant

    Are there any bells that work well in the rain? Since I ride mostly in the city, I use the bell less for calling a pass and more for “Hey, stupid!”. Since people are more likely to be in a rush in the rain, they’re also more likely to jaywalk through the bike lane. And in the wet, the brakes don’t work as well. So having brakes AND bell function badly when you need them most is a bad combo. A new bell is cheaper than disc brakes . . .

    #942721
    mstone
    Participant

    agree the newer one is inferior, but the old one won’t fit on my new bike. :( It is fairly easy to position them somewhere convenient; I keep mine mostly under the bar with the thumb thing pointed up so I can ding it from the flat. Can squeeze in right next to the computer that way.

    #942722
    Dirt
    Participant

    I like the bar-end Incredibell for road bikes.

    http://www.mirrycle.com/barend.php

    #942723
    vvill
    Participant

    @Mark Blacknell 21921 wrote:

    I’m a big fan of the Incredibell line of bells.

    There are other bells that work fine, too, and certainly bells with a more pleasant sound. But this is pretty much the most effective and practical bell I’ve come across. You can buy the original Incredibell in just about any local bike store. It’s $15 well spent.

    Agreed! I have 2x Incredibell Omnibells. I have them mounted so I can flick them with my left thumb easily (sounds like it’s similar to mstone’s positioning). Sometimes I’ll let them ring when I hit them, and sometimes I’ll mute them again (with the same thumb) if I just need a short *ding*.

    They’re the only bells I’ve ever bought (others have been freebies/came with the bike).

    @Mark Blacknell 21921 wrote:

    I did pick up a version that mounts on STI levers, but I doubt it would last very long.[/quote]

    I’ve read that the STI shifter mounted one doesn’t work on newer Shimano shifters.

    #942730
    consularrider
    Participant

    I give a big thumbs up to the Incredibells, they’re what I have on all but one of my bikes. I also like that on some models you can move the striker around so that it is most comfortable for your thumb. I also agree that it seems on the newer models that the strikers are lower quality than those of just a couple years ago.

    However, on my daily commuter I use a Crane Suzu brass bell that has a strike lever. This has a loud and pleasant sound and works better than the Incredibells when wet (but I’ve found nothing that works really well in the rain, even though I mount them so that the water drains out). Just somehow, it doesn’t seem to fit the image for my road bikes, and then of course there is the extra weight factor and aerodynamics to consider. ;)

    #942733
    consularrider
    Participant

    From Dirt:

    I like the bar-end Incredibell for road bikes.

    http://www.mirrycle.com/barend.php

    I tried it, but it’s not loud enough. :( Besides that, it broke when I took a fall last fall. :(

    #942746
    FFX_Hinterlands
    Participant

    I have a newer incredibell on my folder and a big ol’ Crane brass hammer strike bell on my cargo bike. The Crane is 3x louder and has a long sustain. The sustain of the bell has a doppler effect and let’s people know you’re approaching. I ding far away and ding again when I’m 50′ away and the sustain carries through my pass.

    With the incredibell I need to give it a “ding-ding.” One ding and the pedestrian thinks he dropped a coin.

    #942757
    brendan
    Participant

    I like the free bells from New Belgium Brewery that they give away at sponsored bike events. They probably buy them via some sort of corporate promotional good supplier, but still: I find them both loud and flexible in terms of choosing what kind of ringing pattern I need from pass to pass.

    Brendan

    #942762
    JimF22003
    Participant

    Can anyone recommend a bell that has a quick-release that works well? I’d put one on while on the MUP but there’s no way I’m riding out on the road with one :)

    #942766
    5555624
    Participant

    @consularrider 21942 wrote:

    I like the bar-end Incredibell for road bikes.

    http://www.mirrycle.com/barend.php

    I tried it, but it’s not loud enough. :( Besides that, it broke when I took a fall last fall. :(

    In my experience, the cheap bar end version is louder. It’s also more vulnerable to crashes and scrapes, though.

    #942767
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    @JimF22003 21972 wrote:

    Can anyone recommend a bell that has a quick-release that works well? I’d put one on while on the MUP but there’s no way I’m riding out on the road with one :)

    The adjustable Incredibell takes about 30 seconds to attach/detach, although the mount seems a bit cheap (plastic screw used to tighten a plastic band) and may not hold up if you are attaching/detaching it a lot.

    #942779
    vvill
    Participant

    @JimF22003 21972 wrote:

    Can anyone recommend a bell that has a quick-release that works well? I’d put one on while on the MUP but there’s no way I’m riding out on the road with one :)

    The Incredibell Omnibell isn’t quick release, but the rubber mounting band is very quick to attach/detach and reasonably thick. It might last long enough for your purposes.

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