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I did a search...it was a LOT of random stuff. I have a Vitus road bike and am curious about the horn concept. Is there one that is very small and light? I googled too but am not sure what I am looking at.
Mostly, I just want an option when traveling fast and a car pulls out blindly in the bike lane, that sort of thing, for a busy road with a bike lane.
or is the whole idea not practical? I had someone say something with a "z"?
what is a typical response by motorists? do they freeze,.. what?
aloha
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I did a search...it was a LOT of random stuff. I have a Vitus road bike and am curious about the horn concept. Is there one that is very small and light? I googled too but am not sure what I am looking at.
Mostly, I just want an option when traveling fast and a car pulls out blindly in the bike lane, that sort of thing, for a busy road with a bike lane.
or is the whole idea not practical? I had someone say something with a "z"?
what is a typical response by motorists? do they freeze,.. what?
aloha
A bud of mine likes the following:
http://www.electricrider.com/accessories/airzounds.htm
You can find it on amazon and a lot of other sites.
I love my Airzounds. I've had it on my bike for 6 weeks. Portland's a pretty friendly place for bike commuting, but I had enough near misses to really want something to get some motorists to notice that they're about to plow into me. It's saved my skin 4 times so far.
Might be a thought to ask over in the Commuting forum. Although what I have read from there they seem to agree that the Airzounds are quite good.
Airzounds, yes...that's what I am looking for. Are there any downsides?
Airzounds, yes...that's what I am looking for. Are there any downsides?
They are very loud and you may run out of air at the wrong time.
The first issue is primarily an asset, unless you just want a gentle warning, such as for peds.
My brother just bought a Trek fitness bike. It came with a tiny bell on the handle bars. There is a little thumb lever that you flick to chime the bell. He kept the bell on to try it out along the bike path where he mostly rides. It works great. Peds respond to it a lot better than I would ever have expected.
As for blasting drivers out on the road, you can definitely use something louder like the Airzounds. A guy at work uses one on his commute too, and swears by it.
Downsides: Kinda ugly and really only good for cars. You'll scare the crap out of another cyclist or a pedestrian. I have a bell and an air horn.
You can get something like 20-30 horn honks out of one full air chamber. I've only used mine 4x in the last 6 weeks. I'm not worried about running out.
Downsides: Kinda ugly and really only good for cars. You'll scare the crap out of another cyclist or a pedestrian. I have a bell and an air horn.
+1 about the air horn being too loud for peds. I carry a whistle for peds and use an air horn to scare off aggressive dogs.
The only thng I don't like about the Air Zound is the size of the air reservoir. I have to mount it in a water bottle cage, or attach to my bar bag.
I prefer a smaller signal horn like Falcon's 1.5 oz Aqua Blast Personal Watercraft Horn. (http://www.falconsafety.com/marine/products/getprods.asp?CurrentPage=2&cat=10&subcat=28)
It's as loud as an Air Zound, but fits in your pocket or attaches to the bars with it's own velcro strap. The replaceable canister is good for about for 50 blasts, and the whole thing is smaller than the AirZound horn mechanism alone. The down side is that the refills cost about $7 each.
The Watercraft version has a button on top of the horn which is easy to operate with one hand. I do NOT recommend the SuperSound version shown on that same page, which requires 2 hands and is very difficult to operate with winter weight gloves.
Since my commuter has a 12v 8amh SLA battery to run my lights, I also run a 12v car horn that you can get at any auto supply store. The package said 135 dbl. A bell for peds and cyclists is good, but there's no MUP where I commute, and no pedestrians in the road. My car horn can definitely be heard by motorists.
I have an airzound and a bell. Airzound for cars, bell for peds or other bikes. You just have to remember to pump the airzound up frequently. Fortunately, you can pump it up with your bike pump. It's extremely loud. Louder than a cockatoo at full strength.
hmmm...thanks. yea, the airzound is kinda ugly, huh? Like most safety gear. Do the water jet ski horns just go into the bottle holder? A car horn...bet the possibilities are endless with that. I am trying to imagine the situations where I have been almost hit, and am wondering if the fraction of a second it takes to hit the horn...and then that the car most likely will just stop right in my way, making it more likely I would get hit.?? guess I don't have enough experience yet to think this through. When I rode today, I kept asking myself could I use it here? ...and I did not find a situation. I did have a guy reverse his car out of a driveway and into the bike lane the other day (while looking right at me in the mirror).
Do the water jet ski horns just go into the bottle holder?
If you're asking about the 1.5 oz Falcon Aqua Blast that I mentioned earlier, its pretty small ... about the same size as a small can of Halt!. Counting the horn it's only 4.25 in long and 1.25 in diameter. It can fit in a jersey or jacket pocket, hang from the handle bars on it's own velcro strap, or clip on the handle bars with a clip like this one that I use. (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=1152&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products) I never tried an 8 oz horns to see if it would fit in a water bottle cage.
Most of the big box stores carry both the 1.5 oz and 8 oz signal horns in the sporting goods sections.
hey...and only 4.95., think I will bite the bullet. thanks.
An Airzound can scare peds & other cyclists. That is why when I sound mine for either I do it far enough back so they can hear it but it does not startle them as it would if I were closer. I do not sound it for peds. or cyclists unless I am at least 100' or more behind them.
It can startle motorists though as I found out last year. On one of my commutes home a high school girl & her passanger boyfriend passed me to close. This was on an approach to a red light at an intersection. They wanted to get in front of me so they would not have to wait behind to cross the intersection when the light turned green. She sped up to cut me off & passed way to close as we were approaching the intersection. Their windows were down & I sounded the Airzound. I heard the girl let out a scream like she had been startled & the boy yelled something out the window at me, I think it was ******* in what sounded like an angry voice with fear, so I think I scared him too. After we stopped he stuck his head out the window & started yelling & flipping me off. I yelled back smile at the camera & started to take pics with my handle bar mounted sport action cam. of him & the plate number of the car. He got a scared look on his face & ducked back in. When the light turned green they took off like a bat out of hell.
Catherine I though using a horn in Hawaii was considered rude & inconsiderate unlike here on the mainland where it is common practice. At least that is what I was told when I recently visited last Nov. I only heard a car horn once while riding. It was when CBHI & I were riding he advised me it was a visiting tourist in a rental vehicle, not a resident of Hawaii. CB did not tell me about not using a horn. Don't the name of the person that did but it was someone who helped me with directions from the Ala Wai Promenade to get out to Magic Island. He saw the horn on my bike and advised me about the use of horns in Hawaii. So I am kind of surprised you're asking about using one on a bike.
If I recall correctly I only used my Airzound twice while in Hawaii. Once to let CBHI hear what it sounded like. The second time was when a straight truck accidentally drifted into my lane when we were coming to a stop light. The driver heard it & pulled back into his lane. When I stopped beside him he apologized & welcomed me to Hawaii. I said no problem & thank you. The light turned green & we were on our way.
I never had to use it any other time I was there, despite the heavily congested traffic. Which was the worst in the Waikiki area.
A bell certainly isn't loud enough for those peds with the ipods stuffed in their ears...
hey...and only 4.95., think I will bite the bullet. thanks.
Catherine,
That $4.95 is the price of a can of Halt! pepper spray from Bike Nashbar, not a signal horn . The Falcon Aqua Blast signal horn lists for $15.99, and refills are $14.99 for a set of 2 canisters. Prices in the big box stores should be about the same.
And the little handle bar clip costs $1.29 from Bike Nashbar.
I can get 2 seasons out of one canister, but then I only use it to scare off dogs, not cars.
A bell certainly isn't loud enough for those peds with the ipods stuffed in their ears...
That's another reason I love my car horn. The couple of times I've honked at peds was when they stepped off the curb without looking and with wires hanging out of their ears (that's about 50% of all peds in this area). By the look on their faces they thought they were about to get hit by a car. But with the younger crowd around here, they're daring cars to hit them so they can file a law suit. :mad:
There is always mouth-blown stuff:
http://www.stormwhistles.com/
http://www.safetywhistle.com/
http://www.insidersecrets.info/jet-scream.htm
I use the Storm whistle. It can be quite loud.
There is always mouth-blown stuff:
http://www.stormwhistles.com/
http://www.safetywhistle.com/
http://www.insidersecrets.info/jet-scream.htm
I use the Storm whistle. It can be quite loud.
Here is the problem with that in my community:
Section 10.52.100 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles.
2. No bicycle shall be equipped with nor shall any person upon a bicycle use any siren or whistle. (Ord. 85/T-4105; R-12185, 1961).
I do not know why we even have this ordinance but we do.
We have that, too. The general consensus around here seems to be that an air horn is neither.
Here is the problem with that in my community:
Section 10.52.100 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles.
2. No bicycle shall be equipped with nor shall any person upon a bicycle use any siren or whistle. (Ord. 85/T-4105; R-12185, 1961).
I do not know why we even have this ordinance but we do.
Back in the 60's you could buy a bicycle siren that was driven by the tire, sort of like a bottle generator for a dyno lighting system, except entirely mechanical, not electrical. These sirens sounded remarkably similar to the sirens used by police and emergency vehicles at the time, hence the reason for their banning.
Catherine I though using a horn in Hawaii was considered rude & inconsiderate unlike here on the mainland where it is common practice.
yes, that is correct. I would only use a horn in an emergency, although I wouldn't mind startling SOME drivers. I mostly am worried about what happens if the STOP when they hear the horn. It is possible that this could be worse, when I rethink my close calls.
Also, the button would need to be on the handlebars, for sure. yes, I stand corrected on the price.
Maybe its like a gun, would empower you even if you did not use it. lol, I am looking for confidence here.
I stand corrected on the price. Still..pretty cheap.
i use "airzound" here, when needed (vocal the rest of the times). make sure a/z air container is at 60psi, you will let others know of your pressence! the air pouch can fit into one of your water-bottle cages.
i use "airzound" here, when needed (vocal the rest of the times). make sure a/z air container is at 60psi, you will let others know of your pressence! the air pouch can fit into one of your water-bottle cages.
The bottle's rated to 100psi, fyi...
And I have both the airzound and an incredibell on my bike. I've only ever used the zounds pedestrians once. On the way down the MUT with my son on his trail-a-bike, a bunch of teen girls were 4-across on the MUT. As we got closer, they didn't budge... but started chanting choice words for my son to learn. I passed on the grass. We went down to our normal turn-around spot, and a while later, came up behind the same group of girls... I rang my bell, one flipped me the bird. I got good and close and then laid on the button for the zounds. They screamed and gave me room to pass. Sure... it was a childish thing to do. But it made me laugh my fenders off. :D
I use a whistle similar to this and it is loud enough to be heard inside cars and over the radio (if its not really loud). I use it as a warning or for emergencies and it has saved me numerous times. If nothing else it will get the attention of the people around me so if something does happen I have a chance at more witnesses. I wear the whistle on a long necklace and when riding in traffic carry it in my mouth once I hit the trail just let it drop and hang from the chain.
http://www.epicsoccer.com/en/prod/fox-40-with-cushioned-mouth-grip/902.html
All of the times I've heard bicycles with airhorns they are just sounding them to be jerks and startle me and cars who are in no position to present danger.
To the OP, I reccomend the Megalert Megahorn. Its a 9 volt powered electric horn that has a high shrill pitch that really cuts through traffic noise. Its rated at 105 decibels and you don't need to waste a bottle cage with the air bottle. All you need to do is secure the horn part anywhere on your bike and then attach the button to the handlebars. I don't know why these aren't as popular or mnore popular than the airzounds...
http://www.amazon.com/Megalert-Mega-Horn-Electronic-Bicycle/dp/B000AOA3DA
In regards to the legality of it, I could really care less. I'm actually happy that this sounds like a police electronic whistle, as I only ever use it in dangerous situations where cars don't think I am there. I have a small bell attached to my fork that I use to alert other cyclists and pedestrians of my presence.
To the OP, I reccomend the Megalert Megahorn. Its a 9 volt powered electric horn that has a high shrill pitch that really cuts through traffic noise. Its rated at 105 decibels and you don't need to waste a bottle cage with the air bottle. All you need to do is secure the horn part anywhere on your bike and then attach the button to the handlebars. I don't know why these aren't as popular or mnore popular than the airzounds...
http://www.amazon.com/Megalert-Mega-Horn-Electronic-Bicycle/dp/B000AOA3DA
In regards to the legality of it, I could really care less. I'm actually happy that this sounds like a police electronic whistle, as I only ever use it in dangerous situations where cars don't think I am there. I have a small bell attached to my fork that I use to alert other cyclists and pedestrians of my presence.
Not to get into a dick measuring contest over this but the Airzound is a 150 decibels per blast. Granted you have to fill it with air, but it is louder & probably lighter then the Megalert. The Megalert needs batteries too.
I don't doubt the airzound is loud (I have had one go off next to my head. Haha LBS guy. Very funny... ouch). I have the megahorn on my fixed gear bike which is fashionably free of bottle cages and cables and such. I found the megahorn was an attractive solution. I use the horn infrequently, so I appreciate its small size and the 'set it and forget it' aspect. As mentioned before, Airzounds are just fugly! I feel like this is something that the less than die-hard-yellow-safety-vest crowd can appreciate, or the OCP type. Either way its frickin loud and I can call my bike Robobike. You can call your bike H.M.S. Bike. Both are cool!
^^^ Hmm. Been looking for a substitute to strained vocal chords since my airzound died a while back. I may look into this.
Airzounds are great for winning honking matches with tractor trailers, but they are pretty big... and scare the crap out of the general public pretty much every time.
The problem with a horn is the person freezes right in front of you. If you use a bell they turn, look, think, and get out of the way. I also wonder about the reaction time. A bell can be mounted close to your thumb.
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