tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post962472588569164921..comments2024-03-29T04:01:31.445-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Ringing Them BellsVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27540829737904972782016-07-07T16:22:31.900-04:002016-07-07T16:22:31.900-04:00the brass bells (ones with the star rivet) picture...the brass bells (ones with the star rivet) pictured above are viva bells.Tenement Cityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08842489519319697847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-63066602134258381732013-11-24T20:26:51.697-05:002013-11-24T20:26:51.697-05:00Freon horn. That'll shift 'em.Freon horn. That'll shift 'em.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50701134816285636962013-01-10T18:52:13.786-05:002013-01-10T18:52:13.786-05:00Long-time reader, seldom if ever comment. Chiming ...Long-time reader, seldom if ever comment. Chiming in very late- hope I'm heard! I use the spring/plug-only (no lever) Crane in solid brass and like it. I don't polish it. It does need to be manually muffled when riding over rough surfaces, which I resent. I'm tempted to modify it to the Lion Bells (mentioned above) design, or maybe just move the spring down one washer in the stack to lessen the accidental rings. Anyway- I wanted to ask the commenter on the Parlan bells above if that's a rotating thumb bell like some of the Incredibells (and about that size)? Also, I'm pretty sure any of us fascinated by bike bells must have wanted one of these: http://goo.gl/uPmYv at some point. I've been trying for years and can find no other reference, let alone get my hands on one. It seems to be a tiny brass or bronze spherical ding-a-linger, with gorgeous repousse embellishment, with an integral handlebar/stem clamp. It's worth every cent of $1.50 Canadian, even all these years later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87687276118082950362012-07-21T16:50:25.028-04:002012-07-21T16:50:25.028-04:00I have a bar end bell on my hybrid and have been d...I have a bar end bell on my hybrid and have been disappointed with it from the beginning. There's no gusto in the bell's sound, nobody ever hears it except me. As a matter of fact, I spoke to a pedestrian I was approaching instead of using the wimpy bell - I knew he either wouldn't hear the bell or would guess it was a child's toy. <br /><br />Another annoying aspect of the bar end bell is that it tends to chime over every bump and jostle, like a little exclamation at the size of the pothole I just rolled over.<br /><br />The brass Crane bell I have on my Raleigh gives a loud, resounding ring and I am very happy with it.LanzaMariehttp://sylvanlampworks.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-63844562784931784822012-07-18T06:47:30.083-04:002012-07-18T06:47:30.083-04:00Try a Lion Bell from www.lionbellworks.co.uk.
The...Try a Lion Bell from www.lionbellworks.co.uk.<br /><br />These are made in the UK from solid brass and sound greatttt!!!!joey fishwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14863593254405691054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60099227270127601252012-07-12T12:56:05.767-04:002012-07-12T12:56:05.767-04:00My favorite type of bell is the classic "ring...My favorite type of bell is the classic "ring-a-ding" type. It has a ratcheted mechanism that engages a pawl and rings the bell.<br /><br />It's easy to ring the bell with just a tap, or more loudly if needed. The bell seems to get the attention from other riders or pedestrians without being too startling.<br /><br />Here's a photo of the one I have on my Rivendell Road Standard: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37964304@N05/6036428189/in/set-72157619758078965<br /><br />It's a vintage bell, and it was purchased on eBay.Pimadudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345785381009488765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-69104704222285768842012-07-11T19:32:45.632-04:002012-07-11T19:32:45.632-04:00I'm with you on the striker bells. I've go...I'm with you on the striker bells. I've got one on my Fuji. It's comfortable to use and LOUD. I rang it at a couple walking along a path one day and the lady literally jumped into her partner's arms whilst grabbing her chest (god, I hope she didn't actually have a heart attack while I rode away...) It's definitely an attention getter. I've thought about replacing the one that came on the Pashley with the same (Crane, I think) bell.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08236210810344032312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-77770800069283822832012-07-11T16:31:19.247-04:002012-07-11T16:31:19.247-04:00Material matters too, brass bells sound so much sw...Material matters too, brass bells sound so much sweeter than any other metal. Louder too, which I feel is worth the price difference. I'm not too good at yelling so I need a bell to do the work for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-55037710542968598592012-07-10T19:39:42.749-04:002012-07-10T19:39:42.749-04:00I just got a beautiful brass Crane Riten rotary be...I just got a beautiful brass Crane Riten rotary bell. Holy hell, do I love that bell! Cha-CHINNNnnnnnggggg....<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SuL-BgsmAsgo_Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05170755415965925629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-42958766625235209092012-07-10T17:53:24.275-04:002012-07-10T17:53:24.275-04:00I have seen a few bells made by a Japanese firm ca...I have seen a few bells made by a Japanese firm called "Viva", which look very much like the Crane bells. I don't doubt that there are others as well. Still, Crane absolutely seems to be the dominant supplier of Japanese-sourced bike bells in the US. I'd wager that an overwhelming majority of the products referred to as "Japanese bells" on the interwebs are made by Crane. <br /> Regardless, I don't refer to my IncrediBell as my "Chinese bell", or my Vidhi as an "Indian bell". I say, if you've got a Crane, call it a Crane. On the off-chance you have a Viva or a bell made by some other Japanese company, call it a Viva or whatever. <br /><br />On another "note", has anyone seen/heard the IncrediBell woodpeckers in-person?Screechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397676711365438175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31413702907401485522012-07-10T15:12:01.809-04:002012-07-10T15:12:01.809-04:00Forgot to add:
(I'm probably not the first or...Forgot to add:<br /><br />(I'm probably not the first or only person to do this but) on my reversed North Road bars I've hung the bell "backwards" on the right hand side grip. This way a person can twitch the lever with the "trigger finger" - adds a slightly agressive feel as well as being more erogonomic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-78285477851524561162012-07-10T12:23:37.111-04:002012-07-10T12:23:37.111-04:00I was hoping someone would link to that, thank you...I was hoping someone would link to that, thank you! I saw it once and failed to bookmark it.sausendnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88733414620762414142012-07-10T12:22:56.876-04:002012-07-10T12:22:56.876-04:00The lovely Celeste features a brass Incredibell mo...The lovely Celeste features a brass Incredibell mounted on the stem....not as pretty as a Crane (or the French or Italian equivalent) but as Somervillain says, small and loud, yet pleasant. <br />The ring itself - the "bloom" of the note and the harmonic overtones - are different from the all metal Crane bells. There is a stronger fundamental and later harmonic overtones. The bell cuts through well in noisy situations.<br /><br />It may get replaced at some point by a stem-mounted brass or copper bell. ( Unless I can devise a pretty metal mount for it.)Corey Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381826721030941179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-89173627722625146182012-07-10T12:01:16.264-04:002012-07-10T12:01:16.264-04:00I use brass bells, striker and spring both. One o...I use brass bells, striker and spring both. One other thing: his and her bikes - get two bells that are tuned a perfect 4th apart. (sing here comes the bride: leap between 'here' and 'comes' is a P4. Or go over to Berklee and ask someone to demonstrate. )They should be *tuned*. Why P4? It sounds like Chinese bells.<br />Nothing says, "BIKE!" like a bell. Pedestrians tune out yelling, or turn to get the meaning of what you are saying. But a bell gets through with the meaning intact.Phil Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06588332937109449568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-48419884838937874032012-07-10T11:50:47.859-04:002012-07-10T11:50:47.859-04:00I totally agree. You need to give people two cues...I totally agree. You need to give people two cues - this is why I don't like the 'single bing' striker bells. I favour the 'ding dong' bells because they have two tones built in. The first wakes the ped out of their daydream, so their brain can then register the second sound. Also, the two sounds help the ped to triangulate where the bike is. I've used both striker and ding dong around Boston and find the ding dong way more effective. So much so that I basically never use the striker anymore, it just scares people (really loud). An added advantage of the ding dong is that I think it's just more recognisable as a 'bike bell', and less intimidating than an single piercing 'biiiing' or ,easily perceived as impatient, multiple 'bing bing bings'. <br />Unfortunately I've found it hard to find good quality 'ding dong's' in the US.Fifahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15255236451102797818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-58447118457963392372012-07-10T11:39:46.599-04:002012-07-10T11:39:46.599-04:00The Swedish bell is called "Pärlan" and ...The Swedish bell is called "Pärlan" and is/was made in Hedemora near where I live. If u search for Pärlan and Ringklocka u can find picks of generic ones. It's an old classic, good for Sweden where we use mitten 7mos of the year. <br /><br />http://www.evaldsmtb.se/ringklocka-parlan-yws-krom-p-20581-c-820.aspxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90250574019228926372012-07-10T08:04:27.943-04:002012-07-10T08:04:27.943-04:00I've got a generic ding-dong bell on my bike, ...I've got a generic ding-dong bell on my bike, although the sound it makes is more like 'ring-ring' than ding-dong. I like that I can vary the tone by controlling how far I pull the lever, so I can make it really loud if I need to, or just a small sound as a polite reminder that you're there. Like Cyclotourist, I find it does sometimes jingle when I'm riding over rough ground, but I don't mind that - it's festive!lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04516483442612121049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-65374243690693451282012-07-10T07:55:31.293-04:002012-07-10T07:55:31.293-04:00"In Boston, pedestrians tend to freak out mor..."In Boston, pedestrians tend to freak out more than anything."<br /><br />If you give them an initial ring about 5 seconds before you are ready to pass them, and let the sound swim around in their heads for a bit to remember the meaning of a bicycle bell, and then ring the bell again when you are ready to pass them, it works like magic and even American path users to move to the right. I find that strategy to be 100% effective in the US for path users not wearing headphones. If you only ring when you are ready to pass, it typically results in causing the pedestrian to freak out.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12289745556219478251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-6603597972599697772012-07-10T05:41:57.348-04:002012-07-10T05:41:57.348-04:00For looks the Sogreni is my favourite http://sogre...For looks the Sogreni is my favourite http://sogrenibikes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2<br /><br />I like using the brass bells and the similar ones in alu that I find on vintage french bikes.<br />badmotherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32641858429179537132012-07-10T00:42:31.208-04:002012-07-10T00:42:31.208-04:00Not sure if the reference was intentional, but &qu...Not sure if the reference was intentional, but "Ring Them Bells" is one of my favorite Dylan songs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3324720210286900992012-07-09T23:35:00.783-04:002012-07-09T23:35:00.783-04:00I ended up with a Mirrycle Incredibell Adjustabell...I ended up with a Mirrycle Incredibell Adjustabell (wow, a lot of made up words) for my All-City Space Horse's 31.8 mm handlebars. This was the only one I found with a big enough clamp. I'm quite pleased with it, although it is a very small ding -- I can imagine it not being suitable for big city riding.dulciehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12760899303000488079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-58243187572634733602012-07-09T23:22:43.591-04:002012-07-09T23:22:43.591-04:00I have one on my Bike Friday and I like it because...I have one on my Bike Friday and I like it because it's small, innocuous looking and makes a very loud, pleasant tone. Nice harmonics, not at all harsh. It uses a plastic striker. Function-wise, it's my favorite, but it doesn't "look the part" on my vintage bikes where a brass bell seems more appropriate. They come in all sorts of colors, including silver, which could look fairly neutral on any bike.somervillainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13903377050982678550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-70301126648105918822012-07-09T23:00:24.938-04:002012-07-09T23:00:24.938-04:00I wrote a post about bike bells a while back and g...I wrote a post about bike bells a while back and got a lot of interest in the spherical brass bell which is on my daughter's bike and which I included in the post:<br />http://bicyclesinnewcastle.com/2012/05/30/bicycle-bells/<br /><br />The spherical bell sounds truly lovely too, it has a wonderful sustained ring to it.Vickihttp://bicyclesinnewcastle.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-77485381191182963752012-07-09T22:52:03.050-04:002012-07-09T22:52:03.050-04:00"If you get the bell positioned just right in...<i>"If you get the bell positioned just right in relation to the hammer's resting postion you can play it like an instrument. The spring is responsive enough to allow for soft rings ...as well as the sonorous"</i><br /><br />That has been my experience also; I have not found other bells I've tried to be as versatile.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10179248727878553522012-07-09T22:38:07.160-04:002012-07-09T22:38:07.160-04:00The nice folks at Calhoun have a page on which you...The nice folks at Calhoun have a page on which you can listen to the many bells they carry:<br /><br />http://www.calhouncycle.com/shopcast/wp-content/uploads/bells/album/index.html<br /><br />When I want to be low-key and polite, I use the standard bell on my Brompton, which is perfectly functional when I'm on a multi-use trail and I'm riding around people who are clearly capable of hearing a low-key, polite bell, meaning they're walking in a group and socializing. If I'm approaching someone walking alone, I can also use the Crane bell that I mounted on the other side for a little more volume--I've gotten pretty good at pulling the striker back only part way. If I discover that the person I'm passing is wearing head phones, I wail on the Crane for all it's worth to ensure that they don't do something deeply stupid like step right in front of me because they don't realize I'm there. I've already slowed down a bunch and given them the berth that I'd give my own grandmother, but people can do some surprisingly silly things.<br /><br />When I'm out on the street, the only bell I use is the Crane, which is plenty audible over road noise, though probably not over Led Zeppelin played at 11 on a car stereo.Scotthttp://practicalbiking.orgnoreply@blogger.com