Bells on bikes to warn hikers of your presence...

[boboso]

I have had a bear bell on my bike for a while. Have had hikers thank me for it. Yeah it can get to be bothersome sometimes, but I just take it off in those areas I need peace and quiet or I know no hikers (or lions, tigers and bears, oh my!) are around. Good cheap investment and much better, to me, than the ding a lings variety

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by spookydave

and the 3rd option is the bear bell. Most of those have a little magnet that keep it from ringing when you don't want it to.

I have had mine on long enough......I only notice it when it is not making noise.

[tbowren]

I ride Coyote at Aliso alot and there have been a few times where hearing the other riders bell was the difference between a head on collision and a passing hello.

I used to have a pink jingle bell on my bars that my friends hated (obviously they are not as secure in their manliness) but I often found using it effected my grip on the bars.

I've debated getting a bell that would ring all the time but that can get annoying as well.

Having recently experienced a high speed head on collision with another rider in a blind corner makes me realize that "annoying" is alot better than "flattened".

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by tbowren

I ride Coyote at Aliso alot and there have been a few times where hearing the other riders bell was the difference between a head on collision and a passing hello.

I used to have a pink jingle bell on my bars that my friends hated (obviously they are not as secure in their manliness) but I often found using it effected my grip on the bars.

I've debated getting a bell that would ring all the time but that can get annoying as well.

Having recently experienced a high speed head on collision with another rider in a blind corner makes me realize that "annoying" is alot better than "flattened".

that's exactly what i'm talking about...last night it was getting dusk through there and at every corner we made sure we rang it as we were riding up coyote instead of down

[Code Blue]

Do you need a bell when you night ride

[socal ridur]

well lately iv been going to the oaks because its right around the corner but...everytime this week that iv gone iv almost come behind them stop and say hi. on ur left or right and i say that like 3 times and they dont do anything but keep walking and then i go up real close to them and i see that they have ipods blastings in there ears and cant hear anything, so i started to notice it more and more often when i go riding that people have ipods blasting and cant hear you so i think in those cases bells or screaming wouldnt work.

[foofighter]

^^^they're perfect Mtn Lion bait...cant hear a thing

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by TURNERob

I think hikers would much rather have a bell ringing to warn them instead of yelling something from a distance. A bell is much better than nothing at all.

Absolutely!!

I use a handlebar mounted thumb bell for when I'm coming up on hikers/horses from behind. I figure a bell "ding" is nicer to here than someone yelling "On your left".

Yes hikers and horses have the right-of-way and I slow down/dismount to pass depending on the situation, but being on a bike, you do need to pass. Even at a slow pace you are going faster than hikers and horses and you aren't going to go at their pace behind them for miles--so you have to get their attention somehow.

Also, before I got the bell, I would scare hikers accidentally by getting right up behind them and then saying "Can I get a pass please?"

This may sound silly, but I have a deep voice and a lot of people get "lost in thought" while hiking, biking, etc. and then all of a sudden a voice booms out behind them and they get startled. A bell is a much more pleasant and neutral way to get someone's attention.

My opinion is, people who don't use them come across as rude, but that's just me.

[53-12]

Normally only use the bell during rides in certain areas, or at certain times of the day. Lately though the hoards of peds on my local trails have gained in numbers, and they do not always do what you might expect. Normally they hear the rattling coming downhill from behind, turn to look and then move aside. But on more than one occasion I have had someone move into my path without looking back and have only avoided colliding at the last second. I never really liked the old roadie method of calling out "on your left" (or right), so maybe I will make the ol' bear bell a permanent attachment.

[CeeDubb]

Those that have ridden with me know that you can never have too much cowbell.

They're much more common to hear on the trails in Santa Barbara as I haven't seen/heard of any down here. Almost everyone I've come across has appreciated the sound of the cowbell getting increasing louder as I got closer to them on downhills.

Though my fellow riders have wanted to strangle me within 1 mile of riding with me because of the constant clanging.

[ShugaMama]

Originally Posted by socal ridur

well lately iv been going to the oaks because its right around the corner but...everytime this week that iv gone iv almost come behind them stop and say hi. on ur left or right and i say that like 3 times and they dont do anything but keep walking and then i go up real close to them and i see that they have ipods blastings in there ears and cant hear anything, so i started to notice it more and more often when i go riding that people have ipods blasting and cant hear you so i think in those cases bells or screaming wouldnt work.

I used to try and announce myself with an "I'm on your right" or I'm on your left, and the hiker would go the same direction, so we got bells, and I also still announce myself, as I think good trail courtesy dictates this. I also slow down, and say thanks. I, too have noticed hikers and other riders with I-pods where I try to communicate and they can't hear it
On another note, the hubby and I appreciate it when we ride with others or anytime folks want to pass us to at least make yourself heard, that way we know you're there and can steer accordingly, as the tandem handles like a beast We know we're not fast, but we have FUN!!!

[Waldo]

I always have a thumb bell on my bike, and often end up leading friends who don't because of it, especially at places like Aliso and Peters. In my experience, a friendly tap of the bell when you're still at a distance, along with a smile and a "thank you" when the hiker or slower rider moves aside is enough to keep everybody happy. I've had several hikers thank me, and some said they preferred the bell to a verbal alert. If I try to say something from a distance, it sounds like I'm barking a command, but the bell gets a friendlier response. I think people relate it to being a little kid with a bell on their handlebars and cards in their spokes.

[maxwell]

My Bear Bell has always gotten a kind word from hikers, and other riders.



I have it rigged so it easilie comes on and off.

[CPATCRASH]

And it helps us find your bike after you get up.

[BAD_S197]

I prefer the old school rubber ball (honk honk) horn... it's much funnier.

[Big Guy]

I wished some hikers we more careful, yesterday going down cactus in Withing, I got into a curve and this gorgeous woman stood there with a newborn baby on a baby rack on her chest. It scared me so much. I would have made nightmares if the baby got hurt. Who needs to hike so much that they have to carry an infant up a singletrack heavily traveled by mountain bikers. I think it is irresponsible, regardless where one stands on the hikers/bikers issue.

I had a great Fat Tire Ale Bell on my Coiler, but the guy who bought it insisted on keeping it and paying full asked price, I could not resist.

[bikelmo]

I'm with the thumb bell group. I find that ringing the bell with a friendly "hello" is better than yelling in advance. And anyway, I like to FORCE people to be friendly, dammit! Have a nice day! Or else. . .

[bobzrag]

i first bought my bear bell after coming down cactus at whiting and almost running into a horse and rider, luckily he had his head up!

i've gotten thanks from many hikers who appreciate knowing a bike is there - i find it's great, it gets their attention far enough away that they don't get startled, i slow down to show respct and say hi, how ya doing as i pass by

[RustyIron]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

[SIZE=3][color=Navy]help but feel embarrassed and ashamed when the rider in front of me rung her bell to announce our arrival and to clear the way.

I have a different opinion on this. I use a bell and I softly ring it when I'm pretty far back from another trail user. If they don't appear to hear me, I'll ring it again as I get closer.

PLUS, I always greet people. It's the polite thing to do. If they respond to my bell by waving a hand to pass, or otherwise, I thank them.

It's been my experience that by NOT using a bell, it's easy to startle someone. When riding slow and quiet, I've had old ladies nearly jump out of their skins. That ain't cool.

That's just my opinion on it.
Rob

[JustBike]

great subject.. I didn't think about using a bell but definately this would help. I just yell "corner" when i'm turning on a blind turn