Horn, Bell or Voice, how to warn others of your presence and intentions

[Jeremy McCreary]

Forgot to mention: I'm favoring bells with fewer moving parts these days. Recently broke a friend's Schwinn bell — the geared kind with multiple rings per throw of the lever — when a pedestrian suddenly veered in front of me. Hit the lever hard, and the mechanism never worked again.

Granted, it was a cheap bell, but not a very robust mechanism, either. The simple spring-loaded flick levers on my bell (below) will take a lot more abuse.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Based on info here -- thank you very much -- I tried this ROCKBROS dual bell:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09ZL4JZH9/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A1LAO3E1F13N8P&psc=1

View attachment 144336
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Happy to report that it passed today's first test ride with flying colors. The thumb levers cover up most of my gear indicator, but I'm keeping it anyway.

Each bell's significantly louder than stock (below), and they're much louder together. The pleasing rings are clearer and longer-lasting, and the interesting unison beat could be attention-getting in itself.

Construction is sturdy, and each lever has a positive mechanical feel. The bell lever placement just inboard of the downshift lever is ergonomically perfect.

Most importantly, several pedestrians reacted to just one new bell at distances well beyond the reach of the stock bell below.
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Follow-up: This ROCKBROS dual bell was a reasonably effective warning in its first year or so. But corrosion in our salt air gradually made the ringing levers too stiff to get a good strike on the bell.

At the 2.5 yr mark, just now replaced it with my best attention-getter yet by far — the Incredibell XL by Mirrycle. Still has the friendly tone I want. Ergonomic, too. And could well be more salt-resistant.

Above is the one replacing the stock bell on my other ebike. As the XL implies, bigger than the regular Incredibell but still pretty unobstrusive.

 

[Chargeride]

I shout ding ding, then on passing say 'I cant afford a bell' 87% of pedestrians rate this quip mostly inoffensive and mildly amusing

 

[Base]

Cateye Comet (PB200) is on most of my bikes

Or a crane bells mini susu, givea a very clear and long sound

 

[Brian-s]

But do you also shout very loudly "passed on the right" to the twits that give no warning? Oddly usually the spandex riders

 

[Gionnirocket]

Cateye Comet (PB200) is on most of my bikes

Or a crane bells mini susu, givea a very clear and long sound

Love the Crane as you can easily adjust the volume by using less lever swing. From a friendly.. how do you do to a get the flock out of my way!

 

[stompandgo]

The Supernova horn that came with my bike is a PITA. It changes volume and tone during each ride. I figured that the horn disc that's excited by the electromagnet is getting hung up on the threaded post. So I took as much of it apart as I could, greased the post and the disc, and put it back together, using Loctite blue on the nut. I was able to dial the tone and volume in to be repeatable. Let's see how long this lasts.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

I just bought this yesterday.

This will be my second one. I've had my current one ever since I got my bike and I've repaired it a few times already. This is one of those items that can only be repaired a few times. I like this style for the rotary sounding bell. It just says "Hi, there is a bike approaching.".

 

[Catalyzt]

What do we think is the most lightweight bell or horn option? I find the 'flick the lever' type to be tiny, but curiously hard to operate under stress.

For truly clueless pedestrians, drivers, or other riders, I know I'll do what I've always done: "Yo, yo, yo, yo..." followed by, "Thanks, man" if someone moves out of the way, and if not, "...yo, yo, YO, YO! LEFT! LEFT! THE OTHER LEFT!"

 

[Rexlion]

I hardly ever use my bell. I get better reactions from the clown car horn. It's more audible, people move over faster, and they often express amusement.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

People wearing earbuds hear nothing.

 

[scottsdalecommuter]

People wearing earbuds hear nothing.

i'snt this the truth? i hardly bother to ring my bell anymore since no one reacts anyways. i just go around nice and slow.

 

[Mike_V]

I'm lucky enough to be able to whistle, which I do and that gets people's attention as well as their dogs.
My hazy recollection is teaching myself to whistle; however unable to produce the shrill loud command type of note like Dad.
Mom called us home for dinner from the neighborhood by her own whistles from the back porch.
On a wooded trail and blind corner bend the family with baby carriage, dog, mom, and dad are often alerted first out of sight.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

People wearing earbuds hear nothing.

But pedestrians don't need earphones to walk in a world of their own. Walking and talking on the phone or in person is just as bad if not worse, and many would still be oblivious to audible warnings without any of that.

Best bet: Assume that all pedestrians (a) have zero situational awareness, (b) can't hear your shout or bell or horn over whatever's going on in their heads, and (c) are about to step into your path for no apparent reason.

The only defense: Keep ringing anyway, slow WAY down as you get close, and have an evasive maneuver in mind. If you have no room for evasion at the moment, wait till you do.

This would all be sooooo much easier if the folks who DO hear you gave a little wave or nod to let you know they're aware.

 

[Brian-s]

This would all be sooooo much easier if the folks who DO hear you gave a little wave or nod to let you know they're aware.

Speaking as one who uses earbuds with a Garmin varia to 'hear' the people behind me, I do tend to repeatedly ring the bell until I get a response, even if it's just a flinch

 

[6zfshdb]

Speaking as one who uses earbuds with a Garmin varia to 'hear' the people behind me, I do tend to repeatedly ring the bell until I get a response, even if it's just a flinch

Interesting. I sold my Varia since it alerted me to bikers coming up behind me less than half the time on the trail. Worked great for vehicles on road though, where I rarely ride.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

But pedestrians don't need earphones to walk in a world of their own. Walking and talking on the phone or in person is just as bad if not worse, and many would still be oblivious to audible warnings without any of that.

Best bet: Assume that all pedestrians (a) have zero situational awareness, (b) can't hear your shout or bell or horn over whatever's going on in their heads, and (c) are about to step into your path for no apparent reason.

The only defense: Keep ringing anyway, slow WAY down as you get close, and have an evasive maneuver in mind. If you have no room for evasion at the moment, wait till you do.

This would all be sooooo much easier if the folks who DO hear you gave a little wave or nod to let you know they're aware.

A situation: a crammed MUP in Warsaw. A string of cyclists occupies the right part of the lane. A man riding inline skates occupies the whole left part. I'm ringing: nothing. I'm shouting at him. Eventually, he removes an earbud from his ear: "What?" -- "Wait until you get killed!" How could he not understand he was not alone?

 

[Nvreloader]

This looks interesting for a dual option bell,

https://www.amazon.com/TIMBER-Mountain-Bike-Bell-Multi-use/dp/B0C26BFWQD/ref=asc_df_B0C26BFWQD

At least you can shut it off, when not needed. ymmv