Ding Dong!!
No, not a reference to a well known Christmas carol, although that would be apt given the current level of excitement in our household, but a short musing on the benefits of a bell on your bike.
Actually, not just any bell but Tony’s bell, which has taught me over the past few Sunday rides that maybe it’s not such a good idea to remove the bell that the shop legally has to supply when you get a new bike.
Tony has just such a bell, a simple spring mounted bit of plastic which strikes a small metal dome when you flick it. It’s not even as sophisticated as the bells on shopping bikes in days or yore but it is surprisingly effective. I’m starting to get used to the soft ting! ting! sound it makes out on the North Downs.
Why is it useful? Well, first of all it lets other trail users know you’re there a lot earlier and more politely than a shout of ‘On yer right!’ So far whenever it’s been used the walkers we’ve encountered have been much less miserable than usual which is also a bonus. It’s basically the best and most non-confrontational warning you can give.
Second, it lets riders behind you know there’s something up ahead even if they haven’t seen them or it yet. Which is infinitely preferable to a handful of locked rear brake and an apologetic (but, you hope rugged) grin.
So I’m going to follow Tony’s example if I can get over the embarrassment factor of using it. Do they make one in 6061 hydroformed alloy? Or is steal real?
Ding dong indeed!!
About the author
Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.
Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.
An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.
If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.
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Tony says:
Yep. Its a great thing to subvert walkers. They hear the bell, turn around expecting to see a bike, move over and say a cheary hello, with a wave. You are off up the trail before they remember how much they dislike cyclists.
You need to “upgrade” to the bell that the other half (muddy-fe-mole?) has. It’s about 2inches across and you turn the top of the bell to ring it. You can hear it from miles away!
The other thing about the bell, is overtaking someone with a ding of the bell. Do you know how much that pisses off most cyclists!
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Posted on December 5, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Lee says:
Having seen it in use over the last few weeks, I can’t deny a bell offers a far more civilised and respectable warning to those who walk round these here parts and I applaud Tony for having one fitted. As for acttually fitting one….I’d rather cut my todger off! Each to there own!
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Posted on December 5, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Colin says:
Hope Pro 2 freewheel
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Posted on December 5, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Muddymoles says:
Shimano Alfine rear hub review
A review of the Shimano Alfine internally geared hub, as fitted to Tony’s Inbred 456 mountain bike.
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Posted on December 10, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Andy says:
Hayes HFX-9 with crap pads seems to make enough noise to make people aware of you lol.
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Posted on December 12, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Si says:
Also shouting ‘ding ding’ or ‘dingle dingle’ seems to work just as well as a bell lol
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Posted on December 19, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Related: Shimano Alfine rear hub review | Reviews, Components | Muddymoles: Mountain biking (MTB) in the Surrey Hills and Mole Valley