Bells

[Mark Blacknell]

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.

Topic

[Arlingtonrider]

When my bell doesn’t register, I’ll sometimes slow down and ask them in a friendly way if they need any help with directions. Often they say no thanks and step to the side. Otherwise, I mow ’em down. Just kidding about that last part, but I like for people to leave town with a positive feeling toward cyclists.

[brendan]

@Arlingtonrider 23522 wrote:

…Otherwise, I mow ’em down. Just kidding, but I like for people to leave town with a positive feeling toward cyclists.

Heh, brings this to mind…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MifyYHbnGaE

(I think most of the audience was missing the point)

Brendan

[vvill]

Bells are now totally pro!

thank you Peter Sagan

[GuyContinental]

@vvill 24606 wrote:

Bells are now totally pro!

thank you Peter Sagan

Bummer, they made him take it off before S11 as an “extraneous fitting.” Seems like it would be a good tool for a domestique on a water run to have…

[Dirt]

I hate bells a little bit less than I did yesterday morning.

STi Incredi-bell thanks to the lovely folks at Bikenetic.

I’ve never liked the impersonal *Ding Ding* “I expect you to behave” way of getting through traffic. I’d rather talk to people or better yet, sing to them and I’ve had better luck with it. That said…. For a bunch of reasons I found that I MUST get over my dislike of using bells. This bell makes it pretty easy to just do a variant of what I already do… Greet people by voice, give them a little ding, talk to them again and then thank them and wish them a happy day. So far it has worked pretty well. I really only had one person go Crazy Ivan on me… which they might have done even without my use of the bell… Their jump to the left (unfortunately not followed by a step to the right, putting hands on their hips or pulling their knees in tight) might have happened even if I hadn’t added the ding to my routine.

Not sure that I’m really a convert yet… but this barnacle brain might bend.

Love,

Dirt

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Dirt 31678 wrote:

I hate bells a little bit less than I did yesterday morning…. This bell makes it pretty easy to just do a variant of what I already do… Greet people by voice, give them a little ding, talk to them again and then thank them and wish them a happy day.

Not all of us have the lung capacity for that. I’m lucky to squeek out a wheeze along with my bell on some parts of my ride.

[Dirt]

@ShawnoftheDread 31691 wrote:

Not all of us have the lung capacity for that. I’m lucky to squeek out a wheeze along with my bell on some parts of my ride.

Singing is actually part of my workout.

[pfunkallstar]

I’ve never been a big fan of bells, mostly because of crippling thumb arthritis and a haunting childhood fear of large bells brought on by a trip to Philadelphia.

I usually just whistle as much of Beethoven’s 4th as a I can remember, if I get lost I start over with Penny Lane then transition into barbershop.

[thecyclingeconomist]

http://deltacycle.com/Airzound-Bike-Horn

I have an incredibell, but this is for the “in-the-city”… “hey stupid…car driver”…

I wouldn’t use for people/pedestrians or otherwise, but for in-traffic, this is legit.

[vtben]

@Dirt 31678 wrote:

STi Incredi-bell thanks to the lovely folks at Bikenetic.

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea such a thing existed. I just picked one up–much easier and safer to reach than the bell it replaced.

[Author]

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