Air horns
Air horns
Many moons ago I read a review for a small air horn for use on bikes. This consisted of a small CO2 cartridge, the attachment to make the sound and a small u-shaped trigger to activate it. The great thing was it fitted inside the end of a straight mtb-type handlebar in place of the end plug, with just the trigger showing. Very neat, but- I've never seen anything remotely like it since!
Does anyone know of anything similar?
Does anyone know of anything similar?
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Re: Air horns
I bought something similar in a moment of poor judgment in the mid-1980s. Mine was a tad larger than what you are talking about. Apart from any other considerations, the whole point of a horn-type horn is that the horn acts as an amplifier, so a tiny horn isn't much good. I tested it by sounding it behind an unsuspecting colleague and he said it sounded as though my brakes were screeching a bit. This wasn't particularly cheap; I can't remember when I bought it but I don't think it was a bike shop.
PS Mine was broadly similar to what you are talking about, not a pump-up jobbie.
PS Mine was broadly similar to what you are talking about, not a pump-up jobbie.
Re: Air horns
I use an air zound - but the horn is a decent size - nothing that would fit in a bar end...
I'd like a remote trigger for it though, I either catch the trigger on my thigh, or it restricts my turning circle by catching on the mudguard.
I'd like a remote trigger for it though, I either catch the trigger on my thigh, or it restricts my turning circle by catching on the mudguard.
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
- gentlegreen
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Re: Air horns
I'm planning to turn my AirZound into a raspberry - once I've found a way to extend the reservoir hose so I can hide it.
I've decided to put my Fiamm car horn back on as it's much more amusing when used against cars.
I've decided to put my Fiamm car horn back on as it's much more amusing when used against cars.
Re: Air horns
I like the idea of the OP's small CO2 horn..
I'm sick and tired of pedestrians "hearing" my bell and not even reacting! One even said, "I wondered what that tinkling sound was!" This also happens when I'm on Barbarella, and she has a Chinese Bell - the sort that rotates and sounds like a fire engine bell!
Anyone remember that YouTube video of the Japanese chap with a bell in his hand? Everyone moved to one side, even in department stores and on escalators! People in UK have forgotten that a bicycle bell is a warning of approach.
So the idea of a small CO2 powered horn - even though it may not be deafening - has merit IMHO. The Air Zound is too big and takes up precious water bottle space.
I'm sick and tired of pedestrians "hearing" my bell and not even reacting! One even said, "I wondered what that tinkling sound was!" This also happens when I'm on Barbarella, and she has a Chinese Bell - the sort that rotates and sounds like a fire engine bell!
Anyone remember that YouTube video of the Japanese chap with a bell in his hand? Everyone moved to one side, even in department stores and on escalators! People in UK have forgotten that a bicycle bell is a warning of approach.
So the idea of a small CO2 powered horn - even though it may not be deafening - has merit IMHO. The Air Zound is too big and takes up precious water bottle space.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Air horns
Mick F wrote:I like the idea of the OP's small CO2 horn..
I'm sick and tired of pedestrians "hearing" my bell and not even reacting! One even said, "I wondered what that tinkling sound was!" This also happens when I'm on Barbarella, and she has a Chinese Bell - the sort that rotates and sounds like a fire engine bell!
Anyone remember that YouTube video of the Japanese chap with a bell in his hand? Everyone moved to one side, even in department stores and on escalators! People in UK have forgotten that a bicycle bell is a warning of approach.
So the idea of a small CO2 powered horn - even though it may not be deafening - has merit IMHO. The Air Zound is too big and takes up precious water bottle space.
The AZ horn itself is a bit larger than I would like, but that's only because of it's location on the bars.
The bottle can be put anywhere with velcro - mine is behind my seat...
I also like the fact that it is rechargeable, if the small containers were rechargeable then maybe....
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
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Re: Air horns
gentlegreen wrote:I've decided to put my Fiamm car horn back on as it's much more amusing when used against cars.
I have a set of lights that runs off a 12V battery, and you've just given me an excellent idea!
- gentlegreen
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Re: Air horns
Ribblehead wrote:gentlegreen wrote:I've decided to put my Fiamm car horn back on as it's much more amusing when used against cars.
I have a set of lights that runs off a 12V battery, and you've just given me an excellent idea!
I've repeated this story several times, but I was once filtering past a long queue of cars and my dodgy push button shorted.
While I was stopped, madly trying to yank the wires off the horn, the driver adjacent to me got out and started remonstrating with the car behind - he just wouldn't believe the noise was coming from the knackered old 10 speed adjacent to him.
It's always a dilemma whether to put the horn on the back to answer back an impatient beeper, or on the front for when they've scraped past you ...
It was always a source of amusement for my girlfriend's daughter when her friends came to call.
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Re: Air horns
gentlegreen wrote:It's always a dilemma whether to put the horn on the back to answer back an impatient beeper, or on the front for when they've scraped past you ...
I'm not commuting by bike at the moment, but if I was it would have to be front-mounted.
1. I don't get that many rearward beepers
2. It's mainly people passing too close, and people pulling out in front of me
- gentlegreen
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Re: Air horns
Ribblehead wrote:gentlegreen wrote:It's always a dilemma whether to put the horn on the back to answer back an impatient beeper, or on the front for when they've scraped past you ...
I'm not commuting by bike at the moment, but if I was it would have to be front-mounted.
1. I don't get that many rearward beepers
2. It's mainly people passing too close, and people pulling out in front of me
And of course you might accidentally deafen a following or adjacent cyclist or pedestrian you hadn't seen ...
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Re: Air horns
gentlegreen wrote:And of course you might accidentally deafen a following or adjacent cyclist or pedestrian you hadn't seen ...
I've already got a rear-mounted gunge-cannon to deal with any cyclist who trys to slipstream me
Re: Air horns
Air Zound is loud!!! You can mount the control under your thumb and the reservoir is velcro mounted almost anywhere. I've woken up sleeping drivers as they tried to turn across my path.
"I thought of that while riding my bike." -Albert Einstein, on the Theory of Relativity
2007 ICE QNT
2008 Hase Kettwiesel AL27
2011 Catrike Trail
1951 engine
2007 ICE QNT
2008 Hase Kettwiesel AL27
2011 Catrike Trail
1951 engine
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Re: Air horns
I used to have one but the police took it off me.
Re: Air horns
I had a thought today while out on the bike - you could always modify a personal attack alarm, the ones that run off a couple of AA's or a PP3. They were popular for joggers a few years ago but i haven't seen one for a while. You could replace the pull cord with a push switch to operate it. They were not too large so could easily be strapped to your bars with a couple of elastic bands.
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway X2, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840