Bell or speak?

[PaulSecteur]

Hi,

Last summer I rode the Tissington trail with my brother, and we are probably going to do it again sometime this year.

One incident i remember is coming up behind a group of walker-rambler types. Now me and my bro werent going fast, marginally faster than walking pace so instead of ringing the bell my bro said "Excuse us, could we nip passed you please?" To which several ramblers that seemed to be aware of us replied in a sarcastic "Oh, we`re soooo sorry! We would have moved but we didnt hear your bell!" They then started shouting to the rest of the group "DING DING!!! Cyclist!!! DING DING!!!"

Now, If I were in their situation I would rather someone say "excuse me" than an impersonal "ding ding".

Should it be a bell every time, or did we just happens across some berks?

 

[ianrauk]

They were just berks... and to be honest with you my experience of ramblers are the same as yours. Unfortunately a good few of them are sanctimonious old duffers who think it is ok for them to take up the whole road/path and find it a huge inconvenience for them to move over for you.

 

[HLaB]

You just came across berks, personally I prefer a polite excuse me also but I've had all sorts of reactions positive an negative to each.

 

[gbb]

You just came across first class berks

Personally, i do as you did, the right tone of voice (relaxed and friendly)..'coming through if i may'

I dont like a bell, i dont have one....ive seen too many stories of a ped becoming irate at someone ting tinging as they come up from behind..truth is, once in a while you can't win

'(expletive deleted) em' ...you're going to meet some planks once in a while, whether you're a ped, cyclist or driver.

 

[summerdays]

I often use Good Morning/Afternoon as an initial warning of my presence, and prefer to speak rather than the bell which can seem to me as if I am demanding a way through, however having cycled with someone who was deaf, the bell gave them a way of saying they were there. So me personally don't mind either being used on me.

 

[John the Monkey]

Why not use both?

Give a ring of your bell from a distance, wave in a friendly way when they turn & notice you, then thank them as you ride past.

Easy.

If you're having trouble making your pinging heard, a Brass Crane Bell "Suzu" will be heard from some distance away, with a delightful, resonant tone.

 

[andyfromotley]

the proper ringing f a traditional bell (like kids ones) works wonders and seems to be very non confrontational.

Failing that i try a loud but cheery (not an easy combo to get right!) Hello.

 

[addictfreak]

I had a bell on my MTB for a while, most people totally ignored it! I was also surprised just how many were walking along with ipods playing in their ears, so couldnt hear me anyway.
So Took the bell off and just shout now.

 

[BentMikey]

They were prats. A cheery good morning/afternoon/evening is a great way to alert walkers. Once or twice when I got a particularly stupid bell comment I blatted the airzound, and then asked innocently, "What, like that?" *stunned silence*

 

[gbb]

They were prats. A cheery good morning/afternoon/evening is a great way to alert walkers. Once or twice when I got a particularly stupid bell comment I blatted the airzound, and then asked innocently, "What, like that?" *stunned silence*[/QUOTE]

 

[Trumpettom001]

Sounds exactly like the ramblers on the tow path -who thought they were witty shouting ding ding at one another..... was tempted to reach for the airzond, but didn't want to scare any of them into the canal.... hmmmm...

 

[MarkF]

I've had exactly the same, I have a bell but sometimes I'll say "Excuse me", usually on the towpath where there are a lot of walkers and I am riding slowly. Many times I'll get the reply "Where's your effin bell"?

 

[HJ]

Yep, that's ramblers for you, Daily Wail readers the lot of them. Most people are happy to let you passed on shared use paths if you speak to them, sometimes I say "ding, ding, I haven't got a bell" which usually gets a smile.

 

[jimboalee]

I hope the next cyclist has a bell, 'cus the cheeky c**t rambler wouldn't be able to see much with big swellings round his eyes.

 

[jimboalee]

Thinking about this again, you made the fatal error of saying "excuse me". This immediately tells them you are apologetic about the situation.

A loud "RIDER COMING THRU" says 'get out of the way', and PUTS YOU IN CONTROL.