Fifty Plus (50+) - Any Bell (ding-dingers ... not helmet) Users?

I asked the Road Cycle forum on recommendations for a nice bell ... that would look good and have a nice sound to let pedestrians know I'm approaching from behind.

I got a couple of good leads, and even some more liberal approaches ranging from air-horns to flame throwers. Since the intent is to politely acknowledge an oncoming bike to walkers ... and not to annihilate the walkers ... I thought I'd ask the 50+ gang the same question.

Know of any nice bells that I can check out?

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=IBDBS&tn=0

http://www.jitensha.com/eng/bells_e.html

Also, try this one. It's a single dinger and not really loud, but it works well with pedestrians. I use it on my hybrid for park trail rides. It sounds so out of place that people look around like "Wot the heck is that" and smile when they see you.

My favorite is an old fashioned ding-dong bell, it must be 3-4" diameter. Never a bell on the road bike, and no one pays any attention to the cutsie bells that are about 1" or so. There is also a large spinner that sounds a bit like an old fashioned telephone ringer, but i don't like those. You have to hunt for them, and I think they are all made in China now...

Mostly i use my voice, I call out pleasantly and politely and if in a group, I tell the pedestrian how many bikes to expect. Works far better than even the bells I use.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=IBDBS&tn=0

I bought that model Incredibell and had to return it. It won't fit modern diameter bars. Here's the one I bought to replace it. Not as nice but fits.

http://www.mirrycle.com/cleverlever.htm

The Mirrycle website has a lot of bell choices.

I bought the bell for an easy group ride I was leading on a bike path a few months ago. I originally planned to take it off after the ride, but I ended keeping it on, as I've been riding some local bike paths frequently on easy training rides. I think it works a lot better than shouting "on your left". Before I got the bell, for a while I was shouting out "beep beep". That works too.:)

I like my bells. Pedestrians seem to equate a bell with a bike and move to the right. Not loud enough to startle them, and they usually smile as I pass. Doesn't do anything for the pod people, of course. Need a truck air horn for them, I am afraid.

Well, yeah, me and Mrs. Road Fan use bells! First reason is that here in Ann Arbor, MUP users are much smarter than I am. If I yell "On yer left" they will conclude I need them to move to their left and graciosly allow me to pass on the right. How did they know?

So we are trying bells. She tried a two tone 4 inch Bermuda bonger, and it is just too big and clunky, even for her Breezer.

Now she uses the cute little INcredibell, and people do notice if they do not have earbud in their ears.

I use an antique Raiche ding bell, similar ot the Jitensha and VeloOrange ding bells, on my quill stem. Very French. People can't hear it too well, but then I sayh "Good Morning! Two passing!" and that seems to help.

Needing a new one for a road bike, I'd look at the VeloOrange site.

Road Fan

I think the combination bell/compass that Nashbar sells is very handy if you have a poor sense of direction like I do...

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=115&subcategory=1130&brand=&sku=2387&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Safety%20Products

. . . MUP users are much smarter than I am. If I yell "On yer left" they will conclude I need them to move to their left and graciosly allow me to pass on the right. How did they know?
I like my bells. Pedestrians seem to equate a bell with a bike and move to the right. Not loud enough to startle them, and they usually smile as I pass. Doesn't do anything for the pod people, of course. Need a truck air horn for them, I am afraid. +1. I've found a bell to be the most effective (and polite) method of letting people know I'm approaching from behind on a MUP. It seems to be less confusing to them than any form of verbal notification. I use this one:

http://www.mirrycle.com/incredibellXL.htm

And for the "pod people", or when I'm riding on the road and need to make my presence known to a cager, I use this:

http://www.abikestore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=abs&Product_Code=megahorn

Incredibell. Got mine at REI.

I have an Incredibell on my beater and a 3" "ding dong" bell on the tandem.

Somehow, while the bigger bell seems appropriate for a tandem, it doesn't get anything done that the smaller, less offensive sounding, Incredibell won't do.

I removed my old bell from my other bike and mounted it on the Dahon. It need to be replaced since it doesn't really sound like a bell, more of goose being choked to death. It is not as loud as it did originally ringing like a true bicycle bell. So I use bell when I approach from behind or turning a corner on a bike path to alert others a bike is coming. I sure need a new one and thanks for the variety shared by the members here. It's poilte to warn pedestrians when you are approaching, they smile and greet you mostly or I say, "Thank you" after I pass.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=IBDBS&tn=0

That's the one I use. You can just see it on the stem:
http://i12.tinypic.com/53ovuwi.jpg

it doesn't really sound like a bell, more of goose being choked to death.

I'm thinking there must be a good story about how you came to know what a goose being choked to death sounds like.

I also might be interested in having a bell that makes that sound.

I'm thinking there must be a good story about how you came to know what a goose being choked to death sounds like.

I also might be interested in having a bell that makes that sound.

+1. That's a good one.

I'm thinking there must be a good story about how you came to know what a goose being choked to death sounds like.

I also might be interested in having a bell that makes that sound.

I knew somehow I would get questioned by the authorities about that post. All I know, it doesn't ring at all other than producing a sound which is a cross between a duck call and a goose getting choked or chased. How's that? The bike path I regularly ride, circle a small man made lake, about 2.5 miles around where geese habitate and geese police visit the lake once a week to chase them away. You read it right, there's a geese police contracted by the town around here. I know I'll get crucified by everyone so whether you believe it or not, it's true we have a geese police force.

http://www.geesepoliceinc.com/dogs.html

http://www.manta.com/comsite5/bin/pddnb_company.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=3550&id=901p53

I knew somehow I would get questioned by the authorities about that post. All I know, it doesn't ring at all other than producing a sound which is a cross between a duck call and a goose getting choked or chased. How's that? The bike path I regularly ride, circle a small man made lake, about 2.5 miles around where geese habitate and geese police visit the lake once a week to chase them away. You read it right, there's a geese police contracted by the town around here. I know I'll get crucified by everyone so whether you believe it or not, it's true we have a geese police force.

http://www.geesepoliceinc.com/dogs.html

http://www.manta.com/comsite5/bin/pddnb_company.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=3550&id=901p53

I love it! I'm so glad that I asked. So do you happen to own any Geese Police stock?

How about an Incredibell? http://www.mirrycle.com/

I love it! I'm so glad that I asked. So do you happen to own any Geese Police stock?

I would have owned some stock if I was accepted to be the Geese Police Chief. I didnt qualify since I'm not good with Kayak.

If I yell "On yer left" they will conclude I need them to move to their left and graciosly allow me to pass on the right. How did they know?
Road Fan

You too? I finally gave up on that approach. Now I just say "Behind you" and let them pick what side they want to go, then I go on the other side. Sometimes they are paralyzed by the choice. Left? Right? Left? Right? So, they pick neither. Jeez, folks, it's not that hard to figure out. Just MOVE!

Forgive the intrusion by the "whipper-snapper" :D On my flat bar bikes I use a Mirrycle Incredibell Brass Duet (http://www.mirrycle.com/brassduet.htm) (in chrome).
However, this came up in another bell thread:
Japanese Bell on a Headset Spacer
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-84224226242177_1949_8322344 (http://www.velo-orange.com/jabemoonhesp.html)
This will certainly be part of my next build. :D

Incredibell

I have this one (http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/miscellaneous/31367.html) on my Rivendell Glorius. It's very pleasant sounding, but sometimes I have to holler at folks anyway.

My wife and I both use the Incredibell. Once before I had the bell I caught up with a couple riding slowly, one on each side of the 12' wide bike trail. As I approached from behind I slowed down and said, "I'm coming between you". The lady who was on the left, let out a shriek and ran completely off of the right side of the road while holding up both feet. I stayed behind them and somehow she veered back onto the trail and got behind her husband. As I passed I apologized for scaring her and her husband said "maybe if you had a bell you wouldn't scare people!" After not saying what I was really thinking, I replied, you are right I will get one, and he was correct. Now when I ding my Incredibell people move over and usually smile and wave.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=IBDBS&tn=0


I bought that model Incredibell and had to return it. It won't fit modern diameter bars.


That's the one I use. You can just see it on the stem:
http://i12.tinypic.com/53ovuwi.jpg

Who's On First? The duel-dinger that BluesDawg recommended was a cool choice, but began thinking it would be too small to fit.

The duel-dinger apparently will mount on a widget with diameter between 21.7 mm and 24 mm. But then, how can it be mounted on a stem, with the assumption that the stem's outer diameter is quite a bit wider than 24 mm??

Soooo, would the duel-dinger fit on the vertical quill that the stem sits on? I'm not sure what the diameter of road quills are. I Don't Know's On Third...

if you have an "old school" quill stem, it will probably fit.

if you have a current threadless fork + separate stem, probably won't fit.

Who's On First? The duel-dinger that BluesDawg recommended was a cool choice, but began thinking it would be too small to fit.

The duel-dinger apparently will mount on a widget with diameter between 21.7 mm and 24 mm. But then, how can it be mounted on a stem, with the assumption that the stem's outer diameter is quite a bit wider than 24 mm??

Soooo, would the duel-dinger fit on the vertical quill that the stem sits on? I'm not sure what the diameter of road quills are. I Don't Know's On Third...

What?

Soooo, would the duel-dinger fit on the vertical quill that the stem sits on? I'm not sure what the diameter of road quills are. I Don't Know's On Third...

22.2mm.

We use one of those single dingers on the tandem. Usually well received on bike/pedestrian paths, people generally look, see and smile.

Don't have one on the single, but I seldom use the single on paths, and a bell doesn't seem to have any influence on road traffic.

My feeling is that bells are a good idea, and are well received, when you're sharing with pedestrians and other cyclists. With cars, they are uninfluential.

However, when I'm riding with a lot of other bikes (and on a tandem I'm conscious that I have more momentum and less braking power than the others), bells don't seem to have a lot of influence either - I just have to be aware that I'm driving the equivalent of a truck with minicar brakes!

I rarely ride on MUPs, but I do use the bell when I do. The main purpose of my bell is to warn riders I'm passing on large organized rides where there are many riders on the road with a variety of ages and skill levels and a wide range of speeds. Bells usually get better respose than being the 500th person to say "on your left".

Bike World USA has the bell you need. It's a big two-tone 80mm Ding-Dong bell. It's LOUD and very effective. It's also on sale for
$3.99.
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_info.php/cPath/25_34/products_id/93
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/images/27_1_b1.jpg

Guess what Retro Grouch, I replaced my bell with the brass Incredibell. When I took the old bell which is at least 23 years old and opened up to find why it was making such croaky sound and non mettallic ring, there was a spider and another insect shacking up in the dome of the bell. Besides, all the steel parts have rusted. Now I have a normal bell. I wonder if there's a spider police too like the geese police force that could patrol inside my new bell.

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=20003

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=20003

:( :( So many of these won't fit my handlebars :(

I like the $8.00 brass bell from Rivendell at http://www.Rivbike.com it has a pleasant sound with a warm tone. I am considering however, making myself one out of silver. For a pleasant warning they are fine but some folks don't hear them so you may have to yell or whistle anyway.

The Incredibell Duet Brass Bell produces an incredibly pure sound that fascinates me. :o

but what will fit on my 31 cm road bars?

LOOK at this teapot bell from the roadie forum!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/giantcfr1/BIKES%20My%20Bikes/CANNONDALE%20BAD%20BOY%20SI%20DISC/12january08016.jpg

I've got an Incredibell on my 'slow' recumbent, and I like it so much I'm going to replace the 'telephone bell' on my lowracer with one this spring. I find them useful even on the road. Ringing it while I'm passing a paceline really winds them up!