Ring my bell

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Comment by Mark Matthew on March 10, 2010 at 8:39pm

You can buy an air horn that runs off compressed air. Occupies one of your cages, and sounds like a truck horn. Scares the bejeezers out of people, but again, not much use in an emergency braking situation.

Comment by Clive Palfrey on March 10, 2010 at 8:21pm

I have often thought that it should be possible to purchase a few cheap components from an electronics shop to make a light weight, very noisy audible warning device, preferably one that doesn't sound like a smoke alarm but it should be at least as loud. Do we have any members who have the knowledge and design skills to create such a thing. Perhaps they could post a diagram and list of components or even sell them in kit form through bicycle shops.

Comment by Wombat on March 10, 2010 at 11:49am

I have a TDU cow bell that hangs from my bike lock under my seat. It is rare tha it is not making noise on my travels.

Comment by Yvonne Woolfe on March 10, 2010 at 7:13am

I don't have a bell on my roadie, but I do believe that by law we are meant to. I find most people that aren't aware of me coming when on the track are those that are wearing their iPods so a bell isn't going to be of any use, often have to yell to get a reaction.
Jim will be able to tell you that I have a warning device on my hybrid, nice big pink horn. It's more of a novelty thing that my friends bought me for fun but it stays on there and does get a reaction (including a few laughs).
I don't feel that when I'm on the road that I have need for a bell, on the track is a different story.

Comment by heather on March 9, 2010 at 10:17pm

My bike is legal with a bell, but I never use it. I think that pedestrians prefer a call of 'cyclist'.
Drivers would never hear a bell and my yell is much louder. When a warning sound is needed, I am too busy swerving and/or braking to take one hand off the handlebars.
I did purchase an airhorn and very effective for startling drivers illegally parked in bicycle lanes. However, I cannot use the horn in an emergency. My gear and brake thing is in one piece. I cannot rotate it like some set-ups to get the horn close enough to use without taking a hand off the handlebars. In an emergency, need control of the steering and brakes.

Comment by Mark Matthew on March 9, 2010 at 9:17pm

Angus, my preference is two dings, one seems just rude to me!

The one and only time I have ridden one of my roadies along the RTLP, the guys I was riding with were pissing themselves, cos everytime we were approaching pedestrians, I would call out "ding ding"!

Comment by Mark Matthew on March 9, 2010 at 9:15pm

I don't think we dismiss bells on bikes, but there are circumstances where they are just impractical.

Both mtb's are fitted with bells, and get used constantly when riding the Linear Parks, as other riders here can attest too! Not only do I warn other path users with my bell, but when passing them, will also let them know if there are any other cyclists following me, and how many there are.

I don't have one on my roadies. These bikes I use for tapping along at faster speeds. If the drivers can't see me when they pull in front of me, they won't hear me dinging a bell and trying to reach for brakes at same time! I prefer to keep control of the bike and use both brakes in these emergency situations, and let my voice express my displeasure at the motorist! When passing slower cyclists, I will call out passing right as I overtake them. Unless they are of the ipod wearing type of cyclist, they hear my call and move to the left if neccessary.

I am thinking of fitting a horn to my chopper instead of a bell, but that is only for the novelty factor! that bike is too slow to pass anything!!

Comment by Clive Palfrey on March 9, 2010 at 9:10pm

With the modern style of one flick equals one ding bell, probably two.

Comment by Angus Kingston on March 9, 2010 at 9:03pm

One ding or two? What is more friendly?