I'm thinking of fitting a bell

I ride down a too-narrow protected bike lane every day that has nowhere to go if a pedestrian steps into it. I've god a Cateye bell mounted on the left, just below the STI, that I can operate with my left thumb while braking. I've used it a lot, often while braking, just too many idiots walking off the pavement into a bike lane without looking.

Ah the lion bellworks ones, I saw them a while ago and wanted one, great! Thanks for posting! To buy with my Christmas bike-pressie money (was simpler than specifying the exact items)

Father Christmas bought me a Lion Bell Works brass beauty. I am one happy rabbit.

)))))on your right/left mate-nice one thanks((((( always works for me.

Just taken a pinger type off my son's race bike but I might fit it on my old MTB that I use on-road.

If you're going to encounter pedestrians then fit a bell; it's just polite and, if they're not listening, at least you've made an effort to warn them. Not sure why one of the oldest cycling accessories is seen as a bit 'uncool'? Rapha! - make a bell; it'll be on every road bike in the country before you know it!

Who said bells are uncool? I mean titanium that's always cool - isn't it?

http://www.vannicholas.com/componentsdetails.aspx?id=114

And at that price it really is cool - right?

Saw some spacer mounted bells in my LBS...

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.System-EX-A-Headset-Spacer-Bell_62128.htm

I have a loud Hope 2 rear hub and a small ping bell with an o-ring (attaches anywhere in a second).
If none of them have any effect, I use my "enforcer" - 120dB Airzound
Although VERY LOUD (even in traffic), with a bit of practice it can be used gently or in a intimidating way, depending on a situation.

The single ring bell works really well. I have one on my hybrid and I can be 100 yds from people and they hear it. No idea why but they do - just seems to cut through the background noise and as a single 'ting' it doesn't seem to annoy people

I have a bell on my commuting bike. I've had the same one for about 15 years now, it's seen 3 different bikes. It has a smiley face floating in oil and it is also a compass as it always looks to the north. My daughters gave it to me as a fathers day present and I would never swap it for another. Fortunately it makes a very in tune ding.

As others have said though ringing the bell often has no effect at all as walkers tend to be plugged into iPods etch and completely oblivious.

We have our work bikes fitted with two bells each. The classic Dutch 80mm ding dong on one side, traditional dring dring on the other. Very useful when signalling, especially on descents. The variety is enjoyable, you can mute them with the palm of your hand if you want to, or ring them together for a hell of a noise; all good for the streets of Croydon. Surprisingly, we've never had any complaints from pedestrians or cars, though the foxes get terrified.....

Bell on the seat tube, in my case!

I gave up using a bell. Pedestrians either didn't notice, didn't care, didn't know how to react (do they step left or right?), or even found it aggressive as parksey pointed out (the bike equivalent of beeping your horn).

I prefer calling out, either 'on your right' or 'on your left'. Still get plenty of people who don't know how to react, but that to me is the most sensible call, warning people that you're coming and telling them which side you intend to pass them on.

Now I think of it, my bike didn't come with a bell fitted, although I would've probably removed it anyway.

Had cause to use a busy shared NCN path for a couple of miles on Boxing Day and just found that a cheery "excuse me" did the job, together of course with keeping to an appropriate speed.

I otherwise tend to avoid shared paths when commuting though, too many pedestrians about who either can't hear (i.e. wearing headphones) or don't care (i.e. local yoofs) that you're coming, bell or not.

I've even witnessed the use of a bell being seen as an act of aggression towards pedestrians, whilst others moan if you don't have one... Seems to really be a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't!

It all depends on where you are going to use it. I have to say that for the section of canal path I ride along on my commute a bell is invaluable for letting people know that I am approaching. Other than that I find on main roads I never use it.

I've found the ratchet noise from a Hope Pro 2 Evo rear hub is more than enough to alert people to my presence.

Naughty Ribble didn't put a bell in with my bike. So I got one- first priority was that it had to be white to match my frame/bars/bar tape...
I view it as essential. You'll always find yourself at some point on a shared path/bike path/backstreet where there are oblivious pedestrians and slower cyclists blocking your way. A polite ding is better than yelling "oi"- and of course your bike itself should be compliant with the principle of silence; no rattling gears or squeeking bearings.

I have my 99p bell-with-attached-compass. Poor man's GPS. Don't mock - I found my way to Brighton using that thing (just keep going South till one hits water).

Rarely do I actually use it as a bell though.

If it's good enough for him...

Strangely enough I prefer the traditional bell. I find the modern pinger just doesn't attract attention. Whilst not great for traffic, bells are perfect for interacting with pedestrians and other non-vehicular road users. It's down to personal preference. You just need to find a bell with a tone you like, you can also dampen the pitch with a bit of gaffer tape if need be. Bear in mind it's as a warning to others, so a lot are going to be pissed regardless whenever you use it. I think road.cc reviewed a couple but can't find the link.

As for the reflectors I suggest that you defo refit the rear as the current government has slipped in an amendment to powers for PCSO's giving them the powers to fine cyclists for various cycling offences. Not sure if it has reached its final reading but it's there. The last thing we need is a pretendy peeler on a power trip dishing out fines. At least with a regular cop you can usually come to a compromise until you can sort it. Here's the link http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/pcsos-soon-able-to-fine-cyclists-withou...

Um, yes, I'm sure shouting religious claptrap will make people get out of the way sharpish.

Odd, isn't it. I personally find a traditional 'drrringgg drrinnnnnggg' bell a little too strident, a bit 'get out of my way', and the little 'ting ting' ones that new bikes come with are rubbish. What I want is the gentle, warm 'thunnngg' of a large gong, but I'm fairly sure there are rules against carrying 20kg of suspended metal around.

In my experience bells are only of any use on shared paths or in busy towns where the space is shared with pedestrians but not motor vehicles. Also any bell which makes a sound even slightly different to the traditional "ching-ching" is of no use whatsoever.

We have bells on all our bikes road and mountain and I must say they tend to be a waste of time if you're on road. As roads are noisy people don't hear them especially cars, granted that on a cycle path it has worked a few times but mostly people don't hear or ignore it due to iPods and the like. Quite often I find myself shouting "ding ding" to which many people shout "get a bell mate" so I just ride on and ignore them.

My point is I've just changed the handlebars on my road bike and not refitted the bell and guess what , it's made no difference at all to my passage through pedestrians or other road users.
So Ding Ding it is for me….......

This http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-bar-xtender-handlebar-extension/