trail bells(merged)

Joe, I understand what your saying, but after speaking with a number of hikers on this same issue they almost all have stated that they love the bells. I like to ring it, and then watch what side they choose to stand on, or if they don't want to move that's fine to. I'll ride up close, dismount and walk my bike around them. Most are happy to move to a side and I almost always engage them in some chit-chat and wish them well. Very few have responded negatively. I tried riding with the cow bells and a lot of hikers thanked me but after a while it was driving me nuts.

 

How Bout An Air Horn Like The General Lee On Dukes Of Hazard

 

Do you use a bell on the trails?

Just a quick question for everyone. Does anybody use a bell when riding the trails? When I ring my bell when I approach hikers, they often thank me for letting them know that I am coming. It has also come in handy at blind turns - saved me several times from other bikers slamming head-on into me. I came from NorCal and it seems like most of the MTBers up there have bells. I know some of the parks in NorCal require bikers to have bells. Are there no such regulations in SoCal? :-k

 

I use one around blind corners and coming up on others, they seem to enjoy it as much as I enjoy ringing it.:wave:

 

I use this: http://www.rei.com/product/721998

No need to ring the bell, as it's always ringing (with the magnet off at least).

 

I used to until some low life swiped it.

Of all the things they could have swiped, my bell?

I used it more in remote areas to scare mt lions and bears.

Not sure how good it was for that purpose, but I will assume it works great as I never saw any at close range while riding.

 

Bells rock.

 

yes i use my bell every ride. i have seen too many blind corner head ons

 

Jingle bells
jingle bells
jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
down a single track all the day!

Yep!

 

i use my super hiker/biker/horse dodging skills . Bells annoy the crap out of me

 

I second that remark...... Damn annoying.

 

I was thinking about mounting a horn instead of a bell! putting the air can in the bottle holder! :?:

 

they already exist FOR bikes....


http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Airzound-Bike-Horn/dp/B000ACAMJC

 

i have a bell on all my bikes... better safe than sorry.

 

Sorry, but I couldn't help myself. I always LOL when I think of this.



But yea, I run a bell, the REI "Bear Bell".

 

I'm going to rock the cow bell once I find time to goto harbor freight.

 

I'm annoyed by turn signals so I just use my super NASCAR like driving skills. :-s

Guys, it's not all about you.



To the OP, thumb activated bell on all my bikes for use as needed, velcro bear bell for downhills that don't have wide open sight lines (pretty much just ridge top fire break routes) and all night time downhill runs (had too many close calls with deer years ago).

 

Not all trails are necessary to use a bell, but for some it's a must. I use a bell on multiuse trails with multiple blind corners with the possibility of high speed.

Being from Santa Barbara where the bell program started, I am a huge advocate of bells on certain trails. I am not talking about the "ring-ring" bell you are talking about that you manually thumb or finger click. I'm talking about the Kona Bell or "mini cow bell". In all likelihood the forest service would have closed the trails to bikes if not for the bell program installed by SBMTV in conjunction with VeloPro as a test compromise to keep from closing the trails. This was seen as a preventative measure to a drastic action.

Since then, the bell program in SB significantly reduced trail conflict and almost every hiker and horsie rider I've ever come across thanks me for the bell, especially hikers with small children in tow. I am not an isolated case in the overwhelming positive responses from other trail users either.

The main thing the bell does is reduce the "startle effect" to other trail users and prepares them for another upcoming trail user. Unless you hike a trail with bikes on it, you have no idea how quiet we really are. Chains, brakes and tires don't cut through a corner to reduce the "startle effect" and help maintain a sense of internal peace to other trail users. Yes, that may seem paradoxical, but the irony remains.

Regarding the comments about noise, the alternative, closing trails, obviously is not welcomed, nor helpful.

Here's my bell and doggie on Jesusita in SB.

 

Yep, I ride with a super small bell attached to my handlebars.
I actually started doing this when I would ride in bear or mountain loin territory.
After a while I don't even notice the slight ringing, but most hiker's (and even mountainbiker's) I come across are ready for me by the time I approach.
I think it actually makes my ride more enjoyable, since I don't have to fumble to make extra noise to let someone know I would like to pass.
I also get a lot of "Thanks for the bell" comments from hikers.

 

I use a small bell but my brakes sounds like Chubaka in heat #-oso hikers and others hear my brakes before they hear my bell :lol: