What do you recommend for a bell?
#53
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
3 of my IGH bikes have a Mirrycle Grip bell on the opposite side.
Incredibell Grip Bell ? Mirrycle Corporation
Incredibell Grip Bell ? Mirrycle Corporation
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 587
Likes: 35
From: Southern Calif
Another vote for Spurcycle bell.
I purchased the clone from Amazon and the actual Spurcycle bell from their website. Equal amount of use, the clone bell just gave up the ghost. The Spurcycle bell is still going strong.
I purchased the clone from Amazon and the actual Spurcycle bell from their website. Equal amount of use, the clone bell just gave up the ghost. The Spurcycle bell is still going strong.
#55
Senior Member



Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 6,127
From: Manhattan & Woodstock NY
Bikes: 2024 A Homer Hilsen, 1992 Paramount PDG Series, 1991 Mercian King of Mercia, 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 1969? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Pro Mk I
I'm taking a chance on this $3 bell which claims to be brass. I don't see how it can be true, but I've got $3 to burn. It will take a while to arrive from China.
Of all things, I'm overthinking this. I like the Crane, but for NYC street riding I feel like single-ding bells just don't get enough attention. You've seen and maybe heard the cheapo bell I have on my International, it has the classic r-r-r-ring-r-r-ring sound (no idea how else to describe it) and that seems to get more attention. The one I have has plastic innards so one of these days it's going to give up, but they're cheap - I could buy 3 for the price of a Crane.
The bicycle rickshaw guys use another kind of bell that's reasonably loud with a two-tone ding-dong that's noticeable.
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2024 A Homer Hilsen, 1992 Paramount PDG Series, 1991 Mercian King of Mercia, 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Pro Mk I, 1969? Falcon San Remo
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
2024 A Homer Hilsen, 1992 Paramount PDG Series, 1991 Mercian King of Mercia, 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Pro Mk I, 1969? Falcon San Remo
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
#56
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,223
Likes: 6,480
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Has it arrived yet?
Of all things, I'm overthinking this. I like the Crane, but for NYC street riding I feel like single-ding bells just don't get enough attention. You've seen and maybe heard the cheapo bell I have on my International, it has the classic r-r-r-ring-r-r-ring sound (no idea how else to describe it) and that seems to get more attention. The one I have has plastic innards so one of these days it's going to give up, but they're cheap - I could buy 3 for the price of a Crane.
The bicycle rickshaw guys use another kind of bell that's reasonably loud with a two-tone ding-dong that's noticeable.
Of all things, I'm overthinking this. I like the Crane, but for NYC street riding I feel like single-ding bells just don't get enough attention. You've seen and maybe heard the cheapo bell I have on my International, it has the classic r-r-r-ring-r-r-ring sound (no idea how else to describe it) and that seems to get more attention. The one I have has plastic innards so one of these days it's going to give up, but they're cheap - I could buy 3 for the price of a Crane.
The bicycle rickshaw guys use another kind of bell that's reasonably loud with a two-tone ding-dong that's noticeable.
I know what you mean. The brrrring-brrrrring bell is easier to modulate and easier for the pedestrian to understand. But practice with the Crane, as if it's a musical instrument, pays off. Since it's loud and vibrates for a good long time, I can ring it from 30 feet back, and it's still ringing while I'm passing the pedestrian, so it serves the purpose. I wait to see them turn their heads or otherwise acknowledge hearing it. If I see no sign, I assume they'll act erratically, and I pass them very slowly.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#57
Senior Member



Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 6,127
From: Manhattan & Woodstock NY
Bikes: 2024 A Homer Hilsen, 1992 Paramount PDG Series, 1991 Mercian King of Mercia, 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 1969? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Pro Mk I
Sold out.
__________________
2024 A Homer Hilsen, 1992 Paramount PDG Series, 1991 Mercian King of Mercia, 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Pro Mk I, 1969? Falcon San Remo
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
2024 A Homer Hilsen, 1992 Paramount PDG Series, 1991 Mercian King of Mercia, 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Pro Mk I, 1969? Falcon San Remo
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
#58
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,223
Likes: 6,480
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#59
Señior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
If I have a noisemaker mounted at all, it's an Airzound. Almost all of my riding is on high speed (60 MPH) roads. There's only a small part of my current route where pedestrians are even a possibility, and I've never seen more than 2 or 3 a day. For cars, bells are useless.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
#60
Optically Corrected
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 586
Likes: 68
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus , 2012 Specialized Roubaix Comp
Yet another vote for the Spurcycle bell.
It's incredibly well made - in the good ol' US of A!
Sounds great, no false rings going over rough terrain, fits any handle bar diameter, and a super-secure attachment mechanism that stays put.
The all metal (brass and stainless steel) materials used in it's construction show no signs of corrosion after three seasons of sweat and precipitation.
I think it looks great too!

It's incredibly well made - in the good ol' US of A!
Sounds great, no false rings going over rough terrain, fits any handle bar diameter, and a super-secure attachment mechanism that stays put.
The all metal (brass and stainless steel) materials used in it's construction show no signs of corrosion after three seasons of sweat and precipitation.
I think it looks great too!
Last edited by KLiNCK; 06-14-17 at 07:57 PM.
#61
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 1,046
From: Chicago area
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"

I've used one of these for years, and I have found it very effective in traffic. I don't know about it making people laugh, as suggested ^^, but I think cars definitely do not expect this loud a sound from a bike, so they respond as if they think they've failed to notice another car. Results can be fairly dramatic.
FTR, mine is a "Blast", which I got from BioLogic (BioLogic Blast Airhorn | Premium Bike Gear). I believe it is a re-branded AirZound.
Two recommendations:
1) mount the horn where you can reach it *while* braking, and
2) always leave yourself an "out"... the horn is not an airbag.
Steve
#63
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,223
Likes: 6,480
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I had a squeeze horn back in 1981 when I was living in Boston and working in Cambridge, MA. Remember those? Mine had three horns pointing forward, and it made a dissonant chord. Twice it saved my butt, and they were amusing. Once, a car driver tried to right-hook me, and I honked, and he stopped, and I proceeded. When he saw I was "only" on a bike, he honked back. The other time, two pedestrians stepped off the curb against the light. I honked, and in unison, they JUMPED BACKWARDS back onto the curb!
The horn looks silly and childish, but it works. The trouble is, you can't find a well made one any more.
The horn looks silly and childish, but it works. The trouble is, you can't find a well made one any more.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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