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Bicycle bell, left or right side?

Old 09-15-16, 09:04 AM
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Bicycle bell, left or right side?

You know how the left side is the front brake and the right side is the rear brake. Is there a traditional side for mounting a bicycle bell on handlebars? Which side do you put your bell (if you have one) on your handlebars?
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Old 09-15-16, 09:10 AM
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Bells were not loud enough for our traffic, went to a bulb horn for a much better response.

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Old 09-15-16, 09:31 AM
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Since when is the left side the front brake and the right side the rear brake?
Where do you get this information?
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Old 09-15-16, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by trailangel
Since when is the left side the front brake and the right side the rear brake?
Where do you get this information?
Go into any bike shop and test every one of their floor models. Then go to any major group ride and test all of the bikes there. Let us know what you find.

It not the universal configuration and there is no law requiring it but it's the vast majority in the US.

But, then you knew all of that didn't you?
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Old 09-15-16, 09:49 AM
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On a stem mounted bell, I give it to my right hand to ring, because front brakes are stronger than rear.



On a grip-mounted bell, where I can ring the bell with my thumb and brake at the same time, I put it on the left, because my left hand is better at doing that kind of multi-tasking.

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Old 09-15-16, 09:52 AM
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Since when is the left side the front brake and the right side the rear brake?
Where do you get this information?
Opinions on the internet


It is the Non Moto set up for how most bicycles in the US and some other Countries do it.
[UK drives on the other side of the road too you Know].
right brifter rear brake And rear shifter..

Change it to what ever suits Your personal Preference.

I have 2 , one set up each way.. Since I use both brakes .. , I just look before I get on which setup I Have,
on that particular bicycle.


Myrricle grip bell on left side Rohloff grip shifter on the right side ...on Trekking Bars , myself.
Incredibell Grip Bell ? Mirrycle Corporation

Other bikes, Its on the stem quill shaft..




./.

Last edited by fietsbob; 09-15-16 at 09:55 AM.
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Old 09-15-16, 10:21 AM
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After enough frustration with cheap bells that would ring going over bumps, or levers that jammed up partway through their action, I just took them off and went back to yelling.
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Old 09-15-16, 10:52 AM
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On my commuting bike, I run my bell on the left, but only because my IGH thumb shifter is on the right.. Front brake is right lever, the same way that most of my bikes are set up.

On my trike, the bell is on the right. It is there because its design makes it more difficult to use if on the other side. Oh, and front brake is right lever and the left lever is for the front brake.

Just set things up the way you want and go. Change anytime you want.
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Old 09-15-16, 10:54 AM
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I've already ridden 65 mi on greenways this week.
My bells count as pleasurable greetings to pedestrians, and they reply in kind.
The one lady I didn't ring it at was walking straight where I was turning right and I didn't ring my bell, because I didn't want her to stop in my path and turn to look. So I turned behind her and spooked her badly. I apoligized...

I'm sold on Crane mini-Karen bell. I really like the mount, the way it flams the spring hammer (sound of an old-fashioned telephone).
Rivendell sells a spare stiffer spring hammer for a couple of bucks, and I carry spares because they eventually break with high use. I usually throw a couple in with any order. (I like their nylon pants, also, but they're OOS on the good stuff currently)

The whole L/R F/R thing is off topic.

Just a heads up about Mirrabel - pedestrians can hear it, but other bikes can't, because the high pitch is in the wind noise bandwidth

Last edited by bulldog1935; 09-15-16 at 10:59 AM.
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Old 09-15-16, 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by trailangel
Since when is the left side the front brake and the right side the rear brake?
Where do you get this information?

It is a CPSC requirement for new bicycles sold in the United States.


Unless a customer specifies otherwise, the hand lever that operates the rear brake must be on the right handlebar. The lever that operates the front brake must be on the left handlebar. A lever that operates both brakes may be on either handlebar.


Other counties may have different standards.
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Old 09-15-16, 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by ckarr
You know how the left side is the front brake and the right side is the rear brake. Is there a traditional side for mounting a bicycle bell on handlebars? Which side do you put your bell (if you have one) on your handlebars?


Tektro has a few levers with integrated bells, these all have bells on the left side. The consideration isn't about which hand is used for braking but which hand is used for shifting. There is much less shifting done by the left hand.


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Old 09-15-16, 11:48 AM
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Both.

Stereo.
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Old 09-15-16, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
After enough frustration with cheap bells that would ring going over bumps, or levers that jammed up partway through their action, I just took them off and went back to yelling.
I use the Mirrycle "Incredibell" which has none of those vices; I back it up with a police whistle hung around my neck to alert oblivious IPod listeners to my approach.
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Old 09-15-16, 12:01 PM
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On my bike, it is on the left. On the fiancee's, it is on the right.

All depends on which way the lever operates and how you have it mounted. I've got mine nestled up under my brake lever to I can ding it while on the hoods. Couldn't position this model in this manner on the right, because I couldn't push the button.

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Old 09-15-16, 12:05 PM
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My bell is located on the right drop. Can be rung while on the hoods or in the drops. "Sometimes" I need to brake, ring the bell and shout all at the same time.
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Old 09-15-16, 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Bezalel
Tektro has a few levers with integrated bells, these all have bells on the left side. The consideration isn't about which hand is used for braking but which hand is used for shifting. There is much less shifting done by the left hand.


Who'd a thunk???
Have you ever seen these levers in real life?
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Old 09-15-16, 12:14 PM
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btw, for those whom bell is anathema, a bell will stop a deer dead in its tracks, and turn a squirrel from trying to run through your front spokes.
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Old 09-15-16, 02:13 PM
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New Brompton for 2017 have further integrated the bell on the left Lever, which Being British is the rear Brake/.
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Old 09-15-16, 02:15 PM
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Mine is on the right side on my road bike but on the left side on my commuter and the dutch bike.
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Old 09-15-16, 04:02 PM
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This thread rocks.

Originally Posted by JanMM
Who'd a thunk???


Have you ever seen these levers in real life?
My daughter's bike has this... not positive it's the same set but the same configuration and the bell is on the left. It's an REI comfort bike.

My foul weather road bike has a bar-end bell on the left.


My FG commuter has a thumb bell on the left.



I don't know that I gave it much thought, but they all wound up on the left... so it must be the natural order of things.
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Old 09-15-16, 04:17 PM
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I tried one of the bar-end bells, too, and that's the one that drove me crazy - it rang on every tar strip
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Old 09-15-16, 05:19 PM
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Left side.

I always want my right hand free for the rear brake. And my left thumb is more flexible. The right is stiffer from injuries and arthritis.

And I'm adding one of these soon for riding the MUP. Pretty much hands-free, other than to activate/deactivate it. It rings continually while riding, varying with the terrain. Perfect for busy days on the MUP. Unless everybody else gets one. Then it'll sound like an ice cream truck flash mob.

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Old 09-15-16, 06:50 PM
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I'm left handed. That settled it.
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Old 09-15-16, 07:03 PM
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I have my cell on the right and had my bell on the left but took the bell off.
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Old 09-15-16, 07:17 PM
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Mine is on the right. I am right-handed and so it just felt right that way.
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