Bells, horns and sirens

[clive]

Living in the country we get problems between riders who arrive quickly and silently with no warning and horses and riders frightened by sudden flashes of cycle colours or dogs , dog walkers and pedestrians in collision with cyclists they didn't see or hear, often because of wind noise in the hedges and trees. Bells often aren't fitted or used. Unlike cars and mororbikes there's no engine noise to give early warning of approach. A shout can often be ineffective and very difficult to work out from which direction it's coming. The only electric horns I've seen are very loud and just as likely to frighten people and animals with accidents therefore likely to happen. Does anyone know of a horn or siren that starts quietly but builds in volume that might solve this problem. Alternatively has anyone got any other good ideas how we can live peacably and safely with others who are using country lanes?

 

[Llama]

i have a bell for peds - something like this
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...0&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003154c003140c003573

and emergency use!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20105

dont bother with the battery operated horns, there not worth the hassle, the airzound is powered by compressed air - just pumped up with a pump

 

[Alembicbassman]

The voice is accepted as a warning instrument for cyclists in the Highway Code, a polite 'excuse me' followed by a 'thank you' always works.

I have a pingy bell on my hybrid bike, but nothing on my road bike. I cannot take the road bike down the country lanes anyway because there's too many pot-holes.

 

[gaz]

i literally shout and it gets people to stop.

 

[wafflycat]

Living in the country, if I am cycling and see a horse & rider up ahead, I will give a friendly "Cyclist behind" shout, slow the pike, pass wide & slow and talk to the horse as I pass. This seems to alert hrose & rider and the talking to the horse seems to show it I'm not some weird predator but something odd-looking but the same species as the person on its back. The response from riders tends to be "I wish other cyclists would do this. Thank you!"

 

[wafflycat]

I have a pingy bell on my hybrid bike, but nothing on my road bike. I cannot take the road bike down the country lanes anyway because there's too many pot-holes.

Is your road bike made of cheese?

 

[Alembicbassman]

The attitude in South Yorks is to pay up compo rather thanfix the 3-6 inch deep holes in the road. I choose to ride on the newer smoother roads rather that subject £1000 worth of bike to the potential hazards of country lanes. My hybrid has a beefier frame, forks and wheels and I don't do 40mph on it.

 

[wafflycat]

Living in a rural area myself, so I know all too well about potholed roads, with many an expensive bike in the household (aluminium, steel, carbon) with wheels from basic to full carbon, I've never found any bike to be quite as delicate as you seem to think they are.

 

[Fiona N]

Absolutely Wafflycat.
If you keep your tyres pumped up properly you won't even get snakebite punctures either.

Greetings from South Lakeland where we also know about potholes, although to be fair, the Lib Dems are making headway - slowly

 

[wafflycat]

Haven't been to South Lakeland for years..