Should I keep the bell??

[Angelfishsolo]

LMFAO

Is that "Bellarus?

 

[srw]

Hello
But for now, should I keep the bell?? Or is that a cycling fashion faux pas?

If you're going to ride the bike in a town you should keep the bell. It's still the best way of alerting a dozy pedestrian that you're bearing down on them.

Sod fashion. You've already proved you're a slave to the fashionable by buying a road bike. Now start thinking.

 

[BentMikey]

Is this another bit where srw and I disagree? Maybe (s)he's stalking!

I don't like how many pedestrians get riled by the use of a bell, many seem to take it as a "get the xxxx out of my way" call from cyclists. I think it's far more sociable and friendly to call out a good morning as appropriate, as well as to slow down and be careful around pedestrians. Their journey is just as important as mine after all.

 

[HLaB]

I don't like how many pedestrians get riled by the use of a bell, many seem to take it as a "get the xxxx out of my way" call from cyclists.

What I don't like about a bell is I never know how people are going to react, assuming they even hear me. Some peopled get riled and obnoxious, others get pannicky and others thank you

 

[marinyork]

I don't like how many pedestrians get riled by the use of a bell, many seem to take it as a "get the xxxx out of my way" call from cyclists. I think it's far more sociable and friendly to call out a good morning as appropriate, as well as to slow down and be careful around pedestrians. Their journey is just as important as mine after all.

+1.

 

[foggy]

i use a bell and an electric hooter as i cannot shout
i am a larygectomy to many fags and not enough sense
foggy

 

[vernon]

but, in answer to the original question: while it is perfectly 'up to you' whether you keep it or not, it IS a bit of a sign of a novice to keep it on (whether that be a good thing or not). it does just look like you've 'forgotten to take it off'. It fits into that same category of things that shops have to put on either because they're legally obliged to for it to be sold as a bike or that they deem a safety item, like pedal reflectors, spoke reflectors, seat post reflectors, fork reflectors, bells, spoke protector discs - they can (and should) all come off.

Sorry but I'm far from a novice and my far from a novice's collection of bikes are all fitted with ping bells, seat reflectors and front reflectors. I've even fitted mudguards and mudguard reflectors to some of them. Vanity and safety are not natural bedfellows

Although I choose not to add a spoke protector disc to any of my bikes, I've witnessed the mess that a chain and dérailleur can make of the spokes in a rear wheel.

 

[bonj2]

most walkers I come across on shared things seem to use mp3 players anyway and I have to slow down to a near stop and edge past slowly. a bell is pretty much useless. makes them jump though, which can be fun. this was one of the things that first pushed me onto roads rather than cycle paths.

get a hope pro2 hub. they think its a rattlesnake