Cycling UK Forum

As a Londoner I never used a bell, but now on quiet Cumbrian lanes I use my bell - a LOT. The great thing about a bell is that you can ring it in a precautionary manner. I'm not sure what the vocal equivalent would be - "Anyone walking their dog round this next bend? Herding cows? Picking blackberries? Cyclist coming!"

Having said that, of course I use my voice when necessary, usually loudly to get the attention of motorists.

Having both options works best for me.

PaulCumbria wrote: ................ Having both options works best for me.

Me too.

MickF wrote PaulCumbria wrote:
................ Having both options works best for me.
Me too.

Absolutely, and I'm very happy with my shiny new bell.
I suppose I haven't really had that many complaints from pedestrians about me not having a bell but they do tend to stick in my mind. I've been on the lookout for a nice bell for a while and the Lion one fits the bill perfectly.

Although the Lion bell http://www.amazon.co.uk/Retro-Bicycle-E ... B0077PQJFQ looks lovely I wonder whether it suffers from the tendency for the pinger the vibrate the bell when going over rough surfaces?

I've got a Japanese brass bell http://www.amazon.co.uk/XLC-Retro-Desig ... 379&sr=1-3 that look almost identical and I took it off the bike because of this. If I had a nice town bike, I might use it. Shame really as it's rather nice.

it is a legitimate concern, but you can't tell from looking at the bells, only from trying them.

In order for the bell to ring accidentally, the pinger weight has to move on the spring in a direction that allows it to strike the bell. I reckon if it moves much in any direction over bumps it'll flap about in other directions a bit too so really it is just if the pinger moves much or not.

The pinger will be more likely to move more/more often if it is heavy and the spring doesn't have much preload.

Preload?

Well, the pinger spring is a form of extension spring. Extension springs (that are wound coilbound) can be of identical appearance, identical stiffness, but have different preloads built into them.

You can read more here;

http://springipedia.com/extension-design-theory.asp

amongst other places.

My guess is that the Lion bell has a spring with a fair preload, it won't ring going over bumps.

cheers

Brucey wrote:it is a legitimate concern, but you can't tell from looking at the bells, only from trying them.
In order for the bell to ring accidentally, the pinger weight has to move on the spring in a direction that allows it to strike the bell. I reckon if it moves much in any direction over bumps it'll flap about in other directions a bit too so really it is just if the pinger moves much or not.
The pinger will be more likely to move more/more often if it is heavy and the spring doesn't have much preload.
Preload?
Well, the pinger spring is a form of extension spring. Extension springs (that are wound coilbound) can be of identical appearance, identical stiffness, but have different preloads built into them.
You can read more here;
http://springipedia.com/extension-design-theory.asp
amongst other places.
My guess is that the Lion bell has a spring with a fair preload, it won't ring going over bumps.
cheers

Hi,
Only you can deliver a sort of chemistry type experiment on something so simple and make it sound like its straight out of a text book

NATURAL ANKLING wrote: Hi,
Only you can deliver a sort of chemistry type experiment on something so simple and make it sound like its straight out of a text book

sorry about that.....



cheers

CREPELLO wrote:.......... I wonder whether it suffers from the tendency for the pinger the vibrate the bell when going over rough surfaces?

Nope, not at all. I tried it.
Completely silent .................. until I flick it.

Madame used her sogreni on the straight barred multi use bike of mixed heritage she had before and it would ring all the time, but mostly because she insisted it was set level, so it looked pretty, and going over lumps the bolt dinger thing would bounce up'n down, driving the sane spare. When I set up my mtb as a weirdy bike with moustache bars, I mounted it on there, but facing forward like a like, with ringer at the top. This didn't jingle all the time.

One of two Lion Bells, this one mounted on Sunday pootler

It's got zing! The ring goes on forever!

I was inspired by this thread. It's about time that the Galaxy had a classy accessory, instead of them all ending up on the vintage bikes Last weekend at a jumble prior to the vintage bike club AGM I picked up a rather nice Lucas brass bell dome.
Yet more foul weather this afternoon meant I could creep into the workshop without feeling guilty about not doing all those outdoor jobs that stack up over the winter. Anyway, this is the result - a slightly modified seatpost clamp and some stainless steel odds and ends turned and threaded into the right shapes, and here it is -





The downside is, it'll be something else that will have to be unscrewed from the bike when I leave it

Steve

Mick F wrote:

CREPELLO wrote:.......... I wonder whether it suffers from the tendency for the pinger the vibrate the bell when going over rough surfaces?

Nope, not at all. I tried it.
Completely silent .................. until I flick it.

It wasn't silent today.
It was pinging away like a good 'un without me even touching it.

Why?

Hailstones!

I've noticed Evan's put bells on all of their road bikes, big old style ring-a-ding bells too. They look quite odd tbh.

I found the Lionworks bell as fitted to the headset stem and mounted on the side meant that honking was a problem. Perhaps riders with bells aren't supposed to? Easily rectified by placing it facing forward under the stem. Needed to re-arrange the washers after I changed to a shorter stem. I find it's easier to whack the pinger now also (less hand movement).

BUT, the bell cost nearly £15 inc post and then I decided I needed to change outer cabling from black to gold to match at a further cost of £11

South ridge of Snowdon visible - Mountain Rescue been very busy this last weekend

Brucey wrote:the bike in question does belong to an American..... and personally I would prefer two brakes.... but I did think it might suit some people; the bell could be mounted almost anywhere.

cheers

I'dathought that you could use a similar setup to ring a bell while you brake (lever actions both). Would get on your nerves after a while tho.