"Cheap but good" - feature for Cycle magazine

[Bmblbzzz]

Or even better, if you can get them, Bikesters. I haven't tried wearing two pairs at once – it's a bit warm for that now, but maybe I'll remember to try it next winter.

[atoz]

Cheap can be good. I have been using cheap Wilkinson cycle bells on my old bikes. They don't fit the bars but do fit quill handlebar stem. Paid around £1.50 each at the time. Recently acquired bell from LBS for the "best bike", cost was £5.99.

Also have a cheapo Wilkinson rear light that can attach to D loops on ancient Carradice Nelson saddlebag. Around 15 years old now, good as supplementary backup rear light for winter bike and shopping trolley CB Dalesman.

Sadly Wilkinson's are no more ..

[axel_knutt]

Or even better, if you can get them, Bikesters.

They stopped making them long ago, but the back of the waist on the tracksters seems to have been raised a bit at about the same time.

I haven't tried wearing two pairs at once

The most I've had on at once is three, all over the top of my Lycra shorts and a pair of Helly Hansen thermal long johns.

[Cowsham]

Cheap can be good. I have been using cheap Wilkinson cycle bells on my old bikes. They don't fit the bars but do fit quill handlebar stem. Paid around £1.50 each at the time. Recently acquired bell from LBS for the "best bike", cost was £5.99.

Sadly Wilkinson's are no more ..

My go to bell is now this from decathlon £4

Small, neat, has a nice positive action to it and a nice traditional gentle ting-tong to it -- harsh one ting bells I think annoy walkers at times -- they annoy me.

[AndyB1]

Not sure if thin leather workwear gloves for summer / hot weather use have been mentioned?

They cost around £5 on ebay and give sun protection for the back of your hand (IMO better than a mesh back which allows the sun to burn your hand). They have full fingers (I want my finger ends covered for sun and road rash protection) but these could always be cut off and any sewn seams in the fingers oversewn to stop then unravelling. They worked well on a recent trip in mid 30C temperatures.

Also for warm weather riding - alloy bar ends. Old alloy MTB bar ends are cheap and easy to find and keep your hands cooler than modern plastic type bar ends.

Orange JERZEES riding jersey for winter. Just a normal cotton / polymer jumper that breathes a bit but nice and bright and about £12 on the internet.

[atoz]

Cheap can be good. I have been using cheap Wilkinson cycle bells on my old bikes. They don't fit the bars but do fit quill handlebar stem. Paid around £1.50 each at the time. Recently acquired bell from LBS for the "best bike", cost was £5.99.

Sadly Wilkinson's are no more ..

My go to bell is now this from decathlon £4

Screenshot_20231126-213547_Chrome.jpg

Small, neat, has a nice positive action to it and a nice traditional gentle ting-tong to it -- harsh one ting bells I think annoy walkers at times -- they annoy me.

In my experience some can't hear bells. The Wilkinson cheapo bell is quite loud, but recently when using it on canal towpath got the classic "Where's your bell?" I'd just rung it! People of a certain age can be hard of hearing (and sometimes not so old). My parents hadn't a hope in hell of hearing a cycle bell when out walking, and freely admitted it. The voice can be more audible but it can go down badly. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[Cowsham]

My go to bell is now this from decathlon £4

Screenshot_20231126-213547_Chrome.jpg

Small, neat, has a nice positive action to it and a nice traditional gentle ting-tong to it -- harsh one ting bells I think annoy walkers at times -- they annoy me.

In my experience some can't hear bells. The Wilkinson cheapo bell is quite loud, but recently when using it on canal towpath got the classic "Where's your bell?" I'd just rung it! People of a certain age can be hard of hearing (and sometimes not so old). My parents hadn't a hope in hell of hearing a cycle bell when out walking, and freely admitted it. The voice can be more audible but it can go down badly. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I think that's why a double knock bell ( ting - tong ) is a good thing cos as a walker you can miss a single ting ( especially older folk whose hearing maybe losing the higher frequencies. ) the decathlon bell is quite loud but it's a pleasant sound not harsh like some I've tried ( expensive ones in that mix too ).

I tried a few till I got the right mix ( to my ears anyway ) also ergonomics comes into that mix -- is it easy to reach with the thumb without taking my eyes off the road? Does it fit properly on the bars and most important -- is it effective and pleasant sounding?

There are people especially younger ones who are wearing earphones constantly ( they miss so much about their journey IMO ) so they won't hear any bell.

[Bmblbzzz]

There are people especially younger ones who are wearing earphones constantly ( they miss so much about their journey IMO )

I agree, where they're actually listening to music or whatever through the phones. But many of them, in an urban context at least, are using the earphones as either a "don't disturb me" sign, plausible deniability for not responding to verbal abuse, or to mitigate some sort of noise intolerance that may be related to autism or similar.

[jb]

I have a 'Lion' bell which can, under the right circumstances cause the obstruction to jump into the canal or adjacent ditch giving a warm feeling of love to all humanity. Unfortunately it doesn't have the same effect on sheep or dogs.

[Brucey]

I have a 'Lion' bell which can, under the right circumstances cause the obstruction to jump into the canal or adjacent ditch giving a warm feeling of love to all humanity. Unfortunately it doesn't have the same effect on sheep or dogs.

try a real lion. That'll work.

[Cyclothesist]

I have a 'Lion' bell which can, under the right circumstances cause the obstruction to jump into the canal or adjacent ditch giving a warm feeling of love to all humanity. Unfortunately it doesn't have the same effect on sheep or dogs.

I have one too. They're a beautiful work of art made in the UK. They have various mounts and finishes all to a high standard and optional personalised engraving. A fab present for the discerning cyclist.
https://lionbellworks.co.uk/

[Carlton green]

Lion Bell, h’mm. They might be good BUT at circa £25 each they certainly aren’t cheap , when I saw the price I nearly fainted .

I quite like these mini flick or ping bells for circa £5 : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320713627171 ... C4W816KCN4
Mine have lasted and served me well.

[Cyclothesist]

Lion Bell, h’mm. They might be good BUT at circa £25 each they certainly aren’t cheap , when I saw the price I nearly fainted .

I quite like these mini flick or ping bells for circa £5 : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320713627171 ... C4W816KCN4
Mine have lasted and served me well.

The difference is the Lion bell is an aesthetic as well as functional asset to a quality bike (it's loud with a lovely tone too). You wouldn't want a cheap (and cheap looking) bell on your best bike surely?
It's a good job you didn't look up the Spurcycle bell. Twice the price and half as good from the USA.

[Brucey]

......It's a good job you didn't look up the Spurcycle bell. Twice the price and half as good from the USA.

they do work out expensive here, but they are certainly not half as good. The spucycles design is widely copied and some of the copies are OK as well as being, ahem, 'more attractively' priced.

[Cyclothesist]

......It's a good job you didn't look up the Spurcycle bell. Twice the price and half as good from the USA.

they do work out expensive here, but they are certainly not half as good. The spucycles design is widely copied and some of the copies are OK as well as being, ahem, 'more attractively' priced.

OK you have me there Brucey, maybe a third as good?