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Bike whistle/warbler

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Old 06-25-18 | 08:23 AM
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Bike whistle/warbler

I am looking for a device to mount to my handlebars that makes a whistle/warble noise as I move when air is passed through.

Does such a device exist? I am not looking for an air horn, electronic horn, or anything of the like.
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Old 06-25-18 | 10:33 AM
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Sorry. Couln't resist.
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Old 06-26-18 | 07:51 AM
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You'd likely have to be riding at least 20 MPH or into a strong headwind to make something like that work, I think. Or I guess you could drill a bunch of holes into your frame and then play it like a flute as you ride.
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Old 06-26-18 | 10:07 AM
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In his book Just Ride, Grant Petersen suggests sewing a bunch of jingle bells to a fabric strap and loop it over your handlebars. It will jingle as you go down the road, and if you want to make a louder sound, rattle it. I actually bought the components to make one but haven't gotten around to it. I do have a bell on one of my bikes that tends to jingle like a bear bell, and it does prove useful.
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Old 06-26-18 | 11:11 AM
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In my collection of bells I have one operated by the tire, similar to the one in
. An Egyptian bell with the clapper moved by spokes is discussed on this page. Finally, when I was a kid, there was a fad of using wooden spatulas where you mounted one so it pushed against the spokes and produced a rattling sound.

As to the whistle itself, where air gets pushed through an opening due to bike motion, the bike moves too slowly to get it easily accomplished, as was mentioned. You would need to have a funnel collecting air into a small opening.
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Old 06-26-18 | 11:25 AM
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A CC version of the spoke rattler:


and the Indian version of spoke bell


Wow, I must have it!

Last edited by 2_i; 06-26-18 at 11:28 AM.
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Old 06-26-18 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 2_i
As to the whistle itself, where air gets pushed through an opening due to bike motion, the bike moves too slowly to get it easily accomplished, as was mentioned. You would need to have a funnel collecting air into a small opening.
Didn't the Chinese have kite whistles? I think it is possible to design some sort of aeolian flute that would work at higher speeds. Or maybe I will try one of those toy sirens we had as kids.
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Old 06-26-18 | 12:10 PM
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I just ordered a Turbospoke.

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Old 06-26-18 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Skankingbiker
Didn't the Chinese have kite whistles? I think it is possible to design some sort of aeolian flute that would work at higher speeds.
This page has instructions for making a kite whistle, which you might have already seen by now. The pictures there need to be clicked on. In the end, though, such a whistle is a piece of bamboo, plugged at both ends, with a slit opening. You could experiment with a small glass with an analogous cover, blowing air above. Again at bike speeds you are not going to produce a sound that anyone would notice.
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Old 06-27-18 | 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by 2_i
A CC version of the spoke rattler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kKFalYJKmE
They made a commercial version of a playing card and clothespin. Which also brings to mind a quote from the movie "Airplane!" "Flying a plane is just like riding a bicycle... it's just a little harder to put playing cards in the wheels."
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Old 06-30-18 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
I just ordered a Turbospoke.

........now when I was a kid ( early 60's ) there was a version that roughly speaking did the same thing. Can't remember now what it was called or who made it but basically it looked like a small ( plastic ) engine and was mounted somewhere on the down tube. I can't imagine now why I wanted one so bad but as a kid my parents would buy me stuff I wanted if I whined enough. I think I might of actually used it a half a dozen times before the thrill actually wore off. Thankfully the thrill of riding a bike never wore off.

*edit*...this is the motor, found it on

Last edited by 01 CAt Man Do; 06-30-18 at 12:08 PM.
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Old 06-30-18 | 12:17 PM
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^^ I remember that!

One of the kids in the neighborhood had one and I thought it was so cool.
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Old 07-02-18 | 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by 01 CAt Man Do
........now when I was a kid ( early 60's ) there was a version that roughly speaking did the same thing. Can't remember now what it was called or who made it but basically it looked like a small ( plastic ) engine and was mounted somewhere on the down tube. I can't imagine now why I wanted one so bad but as a kid my parents would buy me stuff I wanted if I whined enough. I think I might of actually used it a half a dozen times before the thrill actually wore off. Thankfully the thrill of riding a bike never wore off.

*edit*...this is the motor, found it on Youtube
That would only be cool if it were a real engine that powered the bike.
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Old 07-02-18 | 02:51 PM
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When I was a kid occasionally someone would use a clothespin to hold a playing card against the spokes. I honestly can't figure out why anyone would want an artificial noise maker on a bicycle other than young kids.

Exception, I hung a bear bell from my bike frame when I pedaled through Waterton and Glacier parks, but the roads were not rough enough to cause it to make any noise.
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