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Old 14th August 2008   #1
scaryeire
Bells People... Use them!

That should be; Bells, people... use them!!

Hi everyone,

I've just been reading about more deaths on the roads, more people getting maimed, etc.

I know people don't like putting anything unnecessary on their "builds" but just like brakes, bells are pretty much necessary.

When your riding beside a bus or a truck making yourself known to the driver by using a bell is a great idea. Granted it wont always be heard and granted that when most people hear a bicycle bell they automatically think "child's bike" when a truck driver hears it at 30 mph he might wake up. Most drivers will be thankful.

So maybe make bells cool again. Ride safe!!!!

Peace
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Old 14th August 2008   #2
wibble
 
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqTxNgEtL4I

cheaper alternative to a bell.. Vocal chords (about 40 secs into the vid)

Last edited by wibble; 14th August 2008 at 16:58.. Reason: should really have elaborated..
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Old 14th August 2008   #3
DirtyD
I love my bell - but not sure it works too well with trucks, buses, cars, etc... I wish it did. Maily use it for dopey pedestrians that don't look before they cross the road.
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Old 14th August 2008   #4
scaryeire
Quote:
Originally Posted by wibble View Post
cheaper alternative to a bell.. Vocal chords (about 40 secs into the vid)
I'm not sure bells are breaking the bank. And bells are unique, they cut through the other noise of the street, the thousands of voices, cars, dogs, etc.

I dunno, I'm just shocked at how little they are used.

Peace
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Old 14th August 2008   #5
whatfriends
 
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truck drivers dont hear bells. especially not at 30mph.

noone in a car/van/truck hears bells.

noone outside a radius of 10 metres hears a bell. and if they do they dont listen to it..


the only time they are of use is on traffic free cycle paths, but still, i hate them there too. its only my opinion, but i think shouting is the best way.
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Old 14th August 2008   #6
pajamas
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scaryeire View Post

when a truck driver hears it at 30 mph he might wake up. Most drivers will be thankful.
the only bell I've heard of going at 30mph is one on a nicked ice cream van..
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Old 14th August 2008   #7
wibble
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scaryeire View Post
I'm not sure bells are breaking the bank
Fair, but a penny saved is a penny earned.. apparently..

As for cutting through sound, the guy on the vid seems to do a decent job
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Old 14th August 2008   #8
CYOA
 
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I find this to be particularly handy when it comes to jousting motorbikes.
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Old 14th August 2008   #9
tomiskinky
Seen a few folk with whistles, now those you do hear... But a bell, bollock, no-one in their tn box is gonna hear one, ped alerter, that's all!
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Old 14th August 2008   #10
RPM
 
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b
o
l
l
o
x
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Old 14th August 2008   #11
Archi Pelago
 
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Very common in Amsterdam. Useful with locals but rubbish with tourists, who just still stand there in the middle of the road (yes, it is a road you fuckwit!) with map in hand looking every direction apart from where the sound is coming from.

I favour the "oi" and if that doesn't work, then the "OI!". That usually gets them at the very least doing the headless chicken dance in the road!
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Old 14th August 2008   #12
winston
 
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I have a specially imported Indian rickshaw bell that's about 15cm in diameter.....it works with most peds and most cars..

Unfortunately I don't believe there is anyway of distinguishing this bell i.e a coveted (but not necessarily high quality) brand name, or some kind of stamp of authenticity....so they probably won't catch on.
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Old 14th August 2008   #13
RPM
 
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if a truck is doing 30mph and squashing you into the side of the road, I think the only bell you're going to hear is your own death knoll.

trucks people....stay the fuck away from them
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Old 14th August 2008   #14
Chopsicle
here you go bell lovers;

http://www.dingday.org

Personally, I'll be dressing as Terry Thomas and growling 'ding dong' at girls in lovely dresses that I happen to glide past.
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Old 14th August 2008   #15
kowalski
+1 (to RPM)

Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

Last edited by kowalski; 14th August 2008 at 17:24.. Reason: slackness
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Old 14th August 2008   #16
DaveH
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chopsicle View Post
here you go bell lovers;

http://www.dingday.org

Personally, I'll be dressing as Terry Thomas and growling 'ding dong' at girls in lovely dresses that I happen to glide past.

what if I'm wearing a dress?
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Old 14th August 2008   #17
Chopsicle
I'll be offering you a ride on the vacant space on my tandem you lucky thing.
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Old 14th August 2008   #18
Archi Pelago
 
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Front or back?
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Old 14th August 2008   #19
pajamas
 
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The only space may well be on Chopsicle's bell..
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Old 14th August 2008   #20
DaveH
 
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I've bagged the back seat.............chopsicle is the man in this relationship.
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Old 14th August 2008   #21
Chopsicle
Dave, you can go on the front, and I'll use my big guns to hoof us a wheelie the length of Old Street before skidding it up in Hoxton Square.

Wear the pink one, it's my favourite.
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Old 14th August 2008   #22
DaveH
 
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it's a date....
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Old 14th August 2008   #23
arvy
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chopsicle View Post
here you go bell lovers;

http://www.dingday.org

Personally, I'll be dressing as Terry Thomas and growling 'ding dong' at girls in lovely dresses that I happen to glide past.
Point of order - You are confusing Terry with Leslie Phillips.
He played a character called Jack BELL (geddit? ...I'll get my coat)
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Old 14th August 2008   #24
Superprecise
 
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the thread title reminded me of this for some reason...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn62L...eature=related
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Old 14th August 2008   #25
Buffalo Bill
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pajamas View Post
the Only Bell I've Heard Of Going At 30mph Is One On A Nicked Ice Cream Van..
Lol!
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Old 14th August 2008   #26
Joe24
Vocal cords for me, or i will put one in my back pocket, pull it out when i need it. Chance always goes when i manage to ding it though.
a loud "OI" or even a "DING DING" gets the peds looking around.
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Old 14th August 2008   #27
wibble
 
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How about this instead of a bell? http://www.comforthouse.com/airhorn.html

or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2LaO...watch_response

Last edited by wibble; 14th August 2008 at 18:35.. Reason: additional material
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Old 14th August 2008   #28
dimi3
 
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Samui Air Zound Horn @ £14.99



120 decibel of funk
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Old 14th August 2008   #29
Jim Jones
 
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They's fooking loud those air horns. Couldn't help try one out when parked next to me. I'm an 'OI!', 'oi!' or gentle whistle man meself.

My old bike has a clown's horn on it, works pretty well, but can get an 'oi' out more quickly.
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Old 15th August 2008   #30
|³|MA3K
 
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Bells don't work with Iplod users either.
I prefere an:
Ey Yo!

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Old 15th August 2008   #31
teenslain
 
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+1 for the 100dB 'Ooooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiii!'
Bells are crap unless you've got one like Hops', hers sounds like an old-school police car... Jarring to the max!
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Old 15th August 2008   #32
|³|MA3K
 
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Her bell is continuous as well which is more attention-grabbing.
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Old 15th August 2008   #33
Pifko
 
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I just use my rape alarm. That usually does the job.
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Old 15th August 2008   #34
teenslain
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by |³|MA3K View Post
Her bell is continuous as well which is more attention-grabbing.
If I hadn't been blessed with such a fine baritone I'd probably get one... 'OOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIII! GET OUT THE THE FUCKIN' WAY YOU FAHKING FAT CAHNT!!!!! Works every time...
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Old 15th August 2008   #35
the-smiling-buddha
 
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I had a bell and I LOVED IT

but my bell

was turning me into BELL-END

I never stopped ringing the blasted thing

If you even looked at MY SPACE on the road

ding ding dingaling ding

I would go

I developed that holier than thou I am a cyclist

get out of my way attitude

and I started to piss myself off

now I just watch where I am going

and shout OI OI at the dunkerheads