souplesss

Cool thread. I've got three spur cycles at the moment.

curbtender

"Rings on my fingers and bells on my toes"... Never saw a pedal mounted version.

Johno59

​​​​​​Getting the groove for the Morris Dancing season. The cadence helps cut the shape for my moves on the street. If I put bells on my knees the neighborhood dogs lose their **** and everyone gets upset.

AustinFitz

It's not vintage, but it's my favorite bell. It's a half and half copper/brass Crane Riten. Beautiful, crystal clear "bring bringgg" with a long sustain. It lives on my '84 Centurion Elite GT.

tombakerim

pedestrians are afraid of a car-like bell.I usually go without a call, I say “please” to them while they let me through

Korina

Especially on a MUP! I have received compliments on my big VO brass bell; usually a ring or two, followed by "passing on your left!" Often with an accompanying "Beautiful day, isn't it?" I'm outside on my bike, I think that qualifies as beautiful. I like to give 'em plenty of warning, especially when there's a dog. Never surprise a dog.

Johno59

Cambridge has lots of foreign tourists and students who look the wrong way and step out from the sidewalk. An aerosol canned air-horn will launch any tourist/student three feet off the ground coz they believe a unseen truck is about to kill them. I had to stop before I fell off my bike I laughed so hard.

okane

thank you

FML123

Doh! I now see this is a 4-year-old thread and you already had the right answer from RHM! Like my wife says, I’ve gotta read more than just the subject line XD

noglider 

This thread reminded me of an experience I had. In 1978, I worked as a mechanic in a bike shop. This was in the days when it wasn't cool for adults to use kids' things just as it wasn't cool for men to wear traditionally women's styles, though we have gotten over those barriers now. Customers wanted to buy bells for their bikes, and the only bell we carried that worked worth a darn had Mickey Mouse on the top. Some rolled their eyes and bought it anyway, but some refused. I don't know why good bells were so hard to come by then, but that was the case. We didn't sell many bells that year.

BFisher

@noglider,

That's interesting. I would have guessed the opposite to be true regarding availability at that time.

I began using bells this year, and find them much more effective than any vocal alert. Everybody seems to know what to expect and most people thank me when I ring before passing. I thank them as well. I found that "On your left" is too confusing for people I encounter around here. They don't expect it. Almost everybody startles and moves to the left when I have used it, like they hear "left" and move that way as a reflex. I actually chose to simply say "Pardon me" instead because more people responded predictably. The bell has been 100% better, and seems to be much less startling. And they sound much better than my voice.

noglider 

BFisher, bells are very useful here in NYC. People jaywalk frequently, and now with the ubiquity of smartphones, they do it while reading. I ride with the green light, and I have to warn pedestrians that it's my turn to take the space. Sometimes when I ring, they look up and change course appropriately. Sometimes. And that's better than never. Sometimes I can't get to my bell fast enough so I use a vocal warning. The best thing to shout is HELLO. I try to make it sound urgent and friendly at the same time. Recently I was cycling on 8th Avenue where throngs of people will do very boneheaded things, so I was shouting HELLO HELLO HELLO, and someone on the curb started imitating me. OK, fine, he can mock me, as long as I don't have a collision.

curbtender

My favorite bell is cheap and plain, but it always rings loud with a deep tone. Seems to work better with older people and it can be heard from farther back. If they dont respond, I just pass to what ever side is safer. Now, the beer mug bell, it gets a ringing until some notices, lol.