The power of the bicycle bell
#4
Recreational Commuter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 5
From: Central Ohio
Bikes: One brand-less build-up, and a Connondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra Disc. A nicer bike than I need, but it was a good deal, so... ;-)
I'm amazed that people looked, saw no bicycle, and still moved over!
Paging Dr. Pavlov. Dr. Pavlov, please report to the lab, your test subjects are ready.
Paging Dr. Pavlov. Dr. Pavlov, please report to the lab, your test subjects are ready.
#10
Born Again Pagan
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario
Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB
That was awesome! I especially loved the escalator and store aisle scenes. Unfortunately, we in N. America seem way too desensitized to noise in general to react to a simple bicycle bell, or at least that's been my experience when using my bell. Or... maybe it's the IPods that everyone's wearing. In any case, here's my next planned purchase to announce my arrival:
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
From: Westwood MA (just south of Boston)
Bikes: 2009 Trek Soho
That was awesome! I especially loved the escalator and store aisle scenes. Unfortunately, we in N. America seem way too desensitized to noise in general to react to a simple bicycle bell, or at least that's been my experience when using my bell. Or... maybe it's the IPods that everyone's wearing. In any case, here's my next planned purchase to announce my arrival:


#12
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
One of my best purchases ever! Not used for pedestrians very often though - only the cel-phone talking oblivious jay-walkers, who ignore my bell or shout, and end up dancing like a startled school-girl after a blast from the horn. But on a shared path, the usual response to a bell is to do a frightened jump, and take a step into the only part of the path where I could possibly get through. I've long ago stopped using the bell, and just slip quietly by.
#13
stringbreaker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 2
From: wa. State
Bikes: specialized crossroads hybrid 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2 1971 Schwinn Varsity, 1972 Schwinn Continental, 1977 Schwinn Volare (frame)
One of my best purchases ever! Not used for pedestrians very often though - only the cel-phone talking oblivious jay-walkers, who ignore my bell or shout, and end up dancing like a startled school-girl after a blast from the horn. But on a shared path, the usual response to a bell is to do a frightened jump, and take a step into the only part of the path where I could possibly get through. I've long ago stopped using the bell, and just slip quietly by.
__________________
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
#15
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
That's only because you were going in opposite directions and she knew you'd be far apart in a couple minutes.
#16
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Not me. My bike bell is the ultimate MUP clearer.
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
I've been looking at getting either a bell or a massive horn. I don't have to honk so much at cars but part of my riding involves sidewalks that just happen to be popular for iPod-wearing joggers and walkers. I too gave up on saying anything and just either waited (they figure it out eventually), or just riding past them on the grass, off the curb, or something.
Frankly, I don't think a bell would do much here (America), as already stated by others and small horns are just kind of... lame. The horns worth getting aren't really meant for pedestrians IMO. Am I wrong on this? Should I give a super loud honk to some jogger who can't hear me until he pull a white earbud out from his ear?
Frankly, I don't think a bell would do much here (America), as already stated by others and small horns are just kind of... lame. The horns worth getting aren't really meant for pedestrians IMO. Am I wrong on this? Should I give a super loud honk to some jogger who can't hear me until he pull a white earbud out from his ear?
#18
Born Again Pagan
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario
Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB
Perhaps an AirZound on one side of the bars and a loud bell on the other would be a good compromise. That being said I can quickly run out of room on my cockpit once I add my lights, computer, etc.
What type of bell are you using, Doohickie?
What type of bell are you using, Doohickie?
#22
Bicycle bell as we know it is becoming an apparatus of the past due to invention of devices that mostly tampon up ones ear canals. I have attempted to utilise this device, attaching it to my bicycle frame, and the extra few grams on the bicycle did not reciprocate towards the intended effect. Utilising ones vocal cords has proven to be much more practical when applied at intense volume while using an appropriate phrasing techniques.
Future prospects for bicycle bell are not showing any fruitfulness. Only hope for its continuance is evolution into a new device named bicycle musical instrument. This appliance would mount on handlebars with several tunable bells on a single platform.
Future prospects for bicycle bell are not showing any fruitfulness. Only hope for its continuance is evolution into a new device named bicycle musical instrument. This appliance would mount on handlebars with several tunable bells on a single platform.
#23
however, he was speaking Japanese throughout the awesome video and everyone on it were also Japanese...
besides, on them can think of doing such craziness without hesitation or second thoughts! don't believe me? try searching for "japanese pranks" off youtube!
besides, on them can think of doing such craziness without hesitation or second thoughts! don't believe me? try searching for "japanese pranks" off youtube!
#24
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
This one. Not a loud bell by any stretch of the imagination. When I use it, I'll ping it from a ways back. If I get any kind of acknowledgment (squeeze to the right, wave, nod, etc.), that's it and I go through. If I don't get a reaction I'll ping again as I get closer. If still no reaction I go into continuous ping mode. Once in a great while I have to throw an "ON YOUR LEFT" in there, but that's maybe 1 or 2% of the time. The bell does the job the vast majority of the time after one, maybe two pings.








