Installing a bell on my road bike. Need tips on installation and placement!
08-21-11, 12:16 PM
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Installing a bell on my road bike. Need tips on installation and placement!
Live in Manhattan and I need to install a bell on my road bike. It's going to sit up near the stem (due to bar tape) which is kind of out-of-the-way.
I thought I would install it on the left hand side, freeing up my right hand for shifting and braking. I'm right handed if that makes a difference.
Anyway I figured I'd ask all the bikeforum commuters if they had experience with installing a bell. Bells are required where I live on all bikes and honestly is really a necessary tool IMO due to crowding on the bike paths and roadways. Basically, I'm a pretty strong rider and I go fast - and the bell lets people know you are coming. But I want to make sure I can use the bell and also steer / shift / brake at the same time.
I thought I would install it on the left hand side, freeing up my right hand for shifting and braking. I'm right handed if that makes a difference.
Anyway I figured I'd ask all the bikeforum commuters if they had experience with installing a bell. Bells are required where I live on all bikes and honestly is really a necessary tool IMO due to crowding on the bike paths and roadways. Basically, I'm a pretty strong rider and I go fast - and the bell lets people know you are coming. But I want to make sure I can use the bell and also steer / shift / brake at the same time.
08-21-11, 12:25 PM
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Spacer mount for bell, I have been wanting one of these for a some time. gets it out of the way.
VeloOrange
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...et-spacer.html
VeloOrange
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...et-spacer.html
08-21-11, 01:35 PM
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thanks wheels, i liked that setup and i think i found a good place to install my bell. i made sure it did not interfere with the brakes or shifters, and i can ding the bell from the drops or from the hoods.
kind of a ridiculous addition to my roadie, but it's probably going to be the MOST helpful piece of gear i own. it is a madhouse out there!
kind of a ridiculous addition to my roadie, but it's probably going to be the MOST helpful piece of gear i own. it is a madhouse out there!
08-21-11, 01:41 PM
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I have a horn on the right drop.
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Last edited by 10 Wheels; 08-21-11 at 01:45 PM.
08-21-11, 02:10 PM
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the air horn is amazing. dare i ask what is in the spray bottle on the left drop? also love those felts.
08-21-11, 02:14 PM
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That was another horn missing the horn part, it had a very high pitched sound so I left it on.
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08-22-11, 06:12 AM
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Car-free in the South
Off topic, but 10 Wheels, your tape has got to be the worst I have ever seen. Are you going for the full electrical tape look? 
I kid, I kid.
I kid, I kid.
08-22-11, 06:29 AM
#11
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From those pics I feel like a bit of an oddball but I usually try to mount my bell on the stem. I use a bell designed for a 31.8 bar which fits around the stem great and leaves space still for a light, computer and cross levers on my bars. Can use it just fine too when I am on the bar using the cross levers.
08-22-11, 06:55 AM
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Hi
I am another one that mounts there bell down on the inside of the bar near the shifter. I can ring it easily whilst riding on the hoods, my standard riding position in pedestrian traffic.
Regards
Andrew
I am another one that mounts there bell down on the inside of the bar near the shifter. I can ring it easily whilst riding on the hoods, my standard riding position in pedestrian traffic.
Regards
Andrew
08-22-11, 06:57 AM
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I've got one of the Velo-Orange spacer-mount bells and, quite frankly, I don't recommend it. The bell is simply not loud enough. I have an Incredibell on another bike and it is much louder, and less expensive.
08-22-11, 06:58 AM
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This is the best mounting option I have seen. Puts the bell close to your hands where you can easily reach it. What kind of bell is that?
08-22-11, 07:02 AM
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I know, some of the pics are old ones. I do alot of miles. Have some new tape to put on someday. Have 32,000 miles on that bike.
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It was in my spares box at the time.
08-22-11, 09:06 AM
#17
Banned
Incredibell on the quill stem shaft, seems OK to me.
More time spent on my trekking bar fitted bikes now , anyhow.
Grip bell on one side , Rohloff Grip Shifter on the other..
More time spent on my trekking bar fitted bikes now , anyhow.
Grip bell on one side , Rohloff Grip Shifter on the other..
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-22-11 at 09:11 AM.
08-22-11, 09:57 AM
#18
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I have a nice crane bell on the right drop. It gets rung with my pinkie finger. It can be rung while on the hoods and/or braking from the hoods at the same time.
08-22-11, 04:56 PM
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I live in NYC also, and those puny, sad bells don't work at all. A few bikers around my neighborhood have them and 'ding' them at cars that refuse to stop properly at stop signs (half of the car passes the stop sign and into the intersection). The driver can't hear a damn thing because they are blasting music with windows open or closed, don't matter. Get the Airhorn!
08-22-11, 04:59 PM
#20
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
https://www.mirrycle.com/adjustabell.php
Ah, they have a new one, the Omnibell, which has a dinger that can be turned to where you like it (that's what she said!) --
https://www.mirrycle.com/omnibell.php
I used to have one of the Japanese brass bells (like what Velo Orange sells) on my commuter, but since changing it to drop bars, I got the road bell for its Shimano brifters:
https://www.mirrycle.com/road_bell.php
08-22-11, 05:02 PM
#21
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
I live in NYC also, and those puny, sad bells don't work at all. A few bikers around my neighborhood have them and 'ding' them at cars that refuse to stop properly at stop signs (half of the car passes the stop sign and into the intersection). The driver can't hear a damn thing because they are blasting music with windows open or closed, don't matter. Get the Airhorn!
08-29-11, 02:28 AM
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Just got this bell on the commuter. Works great if you're using Shimano STI levers, and fits on either side. Nice bell for warning/annoying people!
08-29-11, 03:48 AM
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How about a cable actuated wheel-driven bell.
Last edited by MichaelW; 08-29-11 at 03:55 AM.
08-29-11, 07:42 AM
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I attached my mandatory-but-never-used bell (Incredibell) to the reflector mount, between the reflector and the handlebar. It is out of the way and does not take up any handlebar space.
08-29-11, 02:05 PM
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I did this as well for a long time. But last time I replaced my cables and tape I lost the room for the reflector even. I ran the cables to straight out. And have a computer on one side and a Airzound on the other.
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