Bell Recommendations?

[Sjoerd]

First bell I ever bought (circa 2005) was from CatEye, still have it on my MTB. And to be honest, it's the best I've ever come across, though their way of fastening isn't ideal. Nowadays I use HideMyBell's on my race and gravel bike. It's been hit or miss with these ones. Some are very loud out of the box, but some just sound a bit dull. Owned a Spur Cycle bell at one point, but sold it. The older people just didn't seem to hear it, maybe the tone was too high?

[covfefe]

*Ding Ding*

Haha... That's so funny

"passing on your right"

Really? Wouldn't a bell just be easier?

[warthog101]

*Ding Ding*

Haha... That's so funny

"passing on your right"

Really? Wouldn't a bell just be easier?

No. A bell aint as loud and I leave my hands where they are on the bars.
If a bell was easier and more effective I'd use it.

[froze]

Where I live it takes me about 20 minutes to get out into the country on bike paths going south, and about an hour to get out into the country on paths going north, lots of people in certain sections where the path goes through parks. But I live in America, and no one considers it rude to yell at people, everyone on bikes where I live yell all the time. If we were screaming "GET THE F OFF THE ROAD", then that would be rude! Either way, a bell or yelling, you still have to slow down as you approach people, because people can't decide to go left or right.

But if you want and or need a bell then get one.

Different places different cultures I guess.

The good thing about a loud bell is, that people will hear it from further away and have time to decide wether going left or right. And you actually don't have to slow down, because the road is clear, when you pass people.

Just out of curiousity, what is that you're actually yelling? Is just non verbal sounds or actual words?

I'm yelling "on your left" so hopefully they go to their right, some do, some don't, others will go left then right then left and then right again, and some will split the group, part of the group goes left and the other right...Hey, we're Americans, what can I say!

We do have a few riders who use bells, entirely with women as far as I have ever seen, and the dinging of the bell resulted in the same confusion as I experienced yelling.

[warthog101]

Yes, telling them which side you are passing lets them know which side of the path to stay on rather than scatter like quail.

[jayjay]

I'm yelling "on your left" so hopefully they go to their right, some do, some don't, others will go left then right then left and then right again, and some will split the group, part of the group goes left and the other right...Hey, we're Americans, what can I say!

We do have a few riders who use bells, entirely with women as far as I have ever seen, and the dinging of the bell resulted in the same confusion as I experienced yelling.

It is the same in Germany.

[covfefe]

I'm yelling "on your left" so hopefully they go to their right, some do, some don't, others will go left then right then left and then right again, and some will split the group, part of the group goes left and the other right...Hey, we're Americans, what can I say!

We do have a few riders who use bells, entirely with women as far as I have ever seen, and the dinging of the bell resulted in the same confusion as I experienced yelling.

It is the same in Germany.

It's the same everywhere. It's not special for US or Germany. It's just human nature.

And that's exactly my point, and why you need a loud bell. If the bell is loud enough, people have time to move - even the ones that are confused and move back and forth all over the place. Because you can ring it from a far discance, so that people have 8-10 seconds to get out of the way. And that's why those "designerbells", that look pretty don't work. They simply aren't loud enough.

Tbh the one loud bell I have, I would have to scream very loud, to be louder than it. I would have to scream so loud, that I would scare people into thinking I was warning them about a fire or terrorrist attack. I don't want to scare people, I just kindly want to tell them, that I'm going to pass them in 8-10 seconds. That's all. And it works beautifully. Only downside is, it's discontinued.

[froze]

This topic has run its course.

[usr]

Yelling at people is considered very rude - especially since bells are required by law. So a bell is a must-have here. And it is just a joy politely to tell people to f.... off with my bell. If you yell at people here, you are the joke, and people will just yell back "get a bell".

Yeah, that's how you use a bell: you ring it, fully expecting it to get ignored, then you shout, then you ring the bell again to make the "get a bell!" response implode.

[usr]

Yes, telling them which side you are passing lets them know which side of the path to stay on rather than scatter like quail.

They hear "left" and half of them will open a path on the left, the other half will go to the left. It's really not all that surprising, I think it's better to simply stick to conventions without involving words prone to getting misunderstood.

[warthog101]

Yes, telling them which side you are passing lets them know which side of the path to stay on rather than scatter like quail.

They hear "left" and half of them will open a path on the left, the other half will go to the left. It's really not all that surprising, I think it's better to simply stick to conventions without involving words prone to getting misunderstood.

I generally try to stay away from shared paths. I ride on the O'Keefe rail trail here a bit though.
I sing out "passing on your right" from 75m back or so, then again when I get closer. I generally get a wave of thanks and they stick to the left. Far more effective than just yelling out passing in the same manner. They then have much greater tendency to veer right or stay right as I have not made it clear where I will be.

[froze]

Yes, telling them which side you are passing lets them know which side of the path to stay on rather than scatter like quail.

They hear "left" and half of them will open a path on the left, the other half will go to the left. It's really not all that surprising, I think it's better to simply stick to conventions without involving words prone to getting misunderstood.

That's right, which is why if a group of people are walking one side of the path or the other, I'll just pass them without saying anything because people will do unexpected stuff. The only time I yell is if they're taking up the entire path.

[warthog101]

Passing without letting them know you are coming is ime, by far the worst option. At least let them know you are coming from some way back, to avoid frightening them with the result they jump in all directions when they realise you are there.

Each to their own. I will keep doing what works for me and doesn't upset others.

[usr]

The best result of course is when they think it's their own achievement that they noticed you. That's why freewheels noises and carbon resonance work so well. They don't feel ordered around, they feel like having an opportunity to be polite (well, some do). But the bell is always ready to burn the "get a bell"s

[warthog101]

I expect we probably are talking about very different scenarios and pedestrian congestion level.
If there are too many pedestrians I will choose to ride elsewhere. Tottering along at walking pace too frequently isn't much fun and I'll brave our bogan driving public instead.