The name of the MKS Aero Bell says it all. It’s a bell. It’s aero – or aero-ish. Bikes have to be sold with bells in the UK, although you’re free to remove them afterwards. Owners of road bikes often do so, more because they ‘look out of place’ than because of the minimal weight added or the micro-seconds lost to increased air resistance.

At £20, the MKS Aero Bell isn’t cheap, but hey, nothing aero is. And it’s cheaper than the MKS Titanium Racing Bell, which is £35. It works fine and it doesn’t look bad either. It’s designed with a sleek, simple alloy body that sits directly in front of the pinger. It fits to any diameter of handlebar via a single, flexible strap that tightens with a threaded plastic wheel. (Tools aren’t required.)

How much benefit an aero bell will give over a non-aero version is debatable; clearly not much. Yet it does look the part on a road bike, which is surely the point, and road-crossing pedestrians and shared-path users will be glad you’ve got any kind of bell.

Verdict

Works fine and looks nice but £20 seems steep, given that ping bells cost £3 or come free with new bikes.