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Ding Dong!!
Posted by Matt on December 05, 2008 under 'Tips'.
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No, not a reference to a well known Christmas carol, although that would be apt given the current level of excitement in our household, but a short musing on the benefits of a bell on your bike.
Actually, not just any bell but Tony's bell, which has taught me over the past few Sunday rides that maybe it's not such a good idea to remove the bell that the shop legally has to supply when you get a new bike.
Tony has just such a bell, a simple spring mounted bit of plastic which strikes a small metal dome when you flick it. It's not even as sophisticated as the bells on shopping bikes in days or yore but it is surprisingly effective. I'm starting to get used to the soft ting! ting! sound it makes out on the North Downs.
Why is it useful? Well, first of all it lets other trail users know you're there a lot earlier and more politely than a shout of 'On yer right!' So far whenever it's been used the walkers we've encountered have been much less miserable than usual which is also a bonus. It's basically the best and most non-confrontational warning you can give.
Second, it lets riders behind you know there's something up ahead even if they haven't seen them or it yet. Which is infinitely preferable to a handful of locked rear brake and an apologetic (but, you hope rugged) grin.
So I'm going to follow Tony's example if I can get over the embarrassment factor of using it. Do they make one in 6061 hydroformed alloy? Or is steal real?
Ding dong indeed!!
If you would like to link to this post, please use the following url: http://www.muddymoles.org.uk/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/409
Further reading
You might also find the following interesting (includes further reading from the Muddymoles and third parties)
Shimano Alfine rear hub review from Muddymoles.
A review of the Shimano Alfine internally geared hub, as fitted to Tony's Inbred 456 mountain bike.
Reader comments
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Having seen it in use over the last few weeks, I can't deny a bell offers a far more civilised and respectable warning to those who walk round these here parts and I applaud Tony for having one fitted. As for acttually fitting one....I'd rather cut my todger off! Each to there own!
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Tony says:
Yep. Its a great thing to subvert walkers. They hear the bell, turn around expecting to see a bike, move over and say a cheary hello, with a wave. You are off up the trail before they remember how much they dislike cyclists.
You need to "upgrade" to the bell that the other half (muddy-fe-mole?) has. It's about 2inches across and you turn the top of the bell to ring it. You can hear it from miles away!
The other thing about the bell, is overtaking someone with a ding of the bell. Do you know how much that pisses off most cyclists!
Posted on December 5, 2008 12:47 PM.