* they look uncool

* they’re heavy, and I’m a weight weenie

* they scratch my precious handlebars

* they don’t stop walkers stepping out in front of us

* they make an annoying rattling about noise.

all of them lol and also the stupid spring ones, every time you jump or even go off a curb they bing at you.

The Highway Code states that a verbal warning is acceptable.

I *do* have a bell on my Rockhopper (my town/urban bike). But, I get through a cheapo bell every 3-4mths, as it gets so much use.

It wouldn't matter what you have. Bikes are so relatively silent, pedestrians walk round in a stupor listening for cars and not looking. Only yesterday I was riding down a lane, and a pedestrian appeared out of nowhere in front of me. Thankfully, I was already breaking to turn off. But, the look of utter shock on her face as I almost flattened her was priceless. She had clearly assumed there was no traffic and just waltzed straight out into the lane from behind a hedge.

Hope hubs are the only solution!!

Never have a problem when riding my other 2 bikes (both Pro II equiped!).

I feel the same way as you do Marcus. It only takes a little forethought to slow down whenever you see pedestrians and let them know of your presence or even get off your bike and walk round them giving them a big smile!! Most people will be nice and say sorry for slowing you down. Some will even chat to you as you say.

On my commute a bell is a necessity. My pet hate? Mothers walking with their pushchairs in the off the road cycle lane. On approach a tinkle with the bell is enough to veer them off back onto the pedestrian side of the white line. I think bells are less effective in UK, as pedestrians basically don't know what to do if they hear one. Go to a Scandinavian country, Germany or Holland, pedestrians don't panic and move further in away from the road nearly subconsciously. If more people cycled, more road/pavement users would be aware of cyclists.

I agree with LostinTheWoods intrinsically they are a good idea, but people in this country don't really know what to do. On on the trails if you ding a bell at someone they just freeze like a rabbit in headlights - so the more we use 'em the more people will get used to 'em.

The stopping and chatting bit is also a good idea, makes us MTB'rs seem like normal people and not the countryside destroying anarchists that we can sometimes be made out to be by other certain walking associations! Mind you when you're hurtling down a sweet bit of singletrack with a little bit of gravity helping you along you don't want to lose the flow. So generally go for the cheery wave and thanks. Unless of course its a night ride and in the woods when both parties look a bit scared and depart rather quickly.

Stopping to talk to random strangers in the dark, in the woods, in the middle of nowhere, hmm I'm sure there's a few films that start like that!

Lots of walkers seem to look at you when you ring a bell and then then just carry on walking in the way. That is incredibly annoying!

hi everyone!

Yes, maybe it could be annoying to use the ring bell specially in te cities where there is a lot of traffic in the streets and people all over walking while you´re trying to bike.

i have the fortune to live in an island in the mexican caribbean called Cozumel , and i bike everywhere in an easy way, lovely scenarium to have a ride, pristine waters to refresh in after a while biking, so i feel the luckiest guy when i can spend all day long riding my bike trough the island, i invite everyone to visit us here and enjoy the amazing places we have to bike in the area...take a look to www.onejungle.com and you´ll find a wide range of activities .Hope to enjoy it!!

they do look naff but if you use towpaths as i do regularly sadly you do need 'em as the dog walkers and day dreamers really are a liability(they still look at you like your s**t).we're also lucky to have very quiet B roads round here with aimless strollers on them so i've even put one on my road bike !

the reason bells aren't useful on bikes is the same reason they're no longer used on ambulances & fire engines:

1 - they're not loud enough for modern traffic situations

2 - even when they're heard, they're ignored

lt just demonstrates how out of touch with the needs of the urban cyclist the powers that be are, that they brought in the daft law that something as anachronistic as a bell, be a legal requirement.

l'm having a personal joke about this law, by putting a tiny little Xmas tree decoration bell on my bike - technically it's 'a bell', so my bike's road legal!

The answer to making your presence felt on the road, is:

1 - air horn

2 - VERY LOUD VOICE

Who needs a bell when you have a Hope Pro II rear hub? I just coast a bit when coming up behind peds & they can't fail to hear me coming. I do tend to announce my presence to horse riders in advance though. I wonder who's liable if the person you hit is blasting their ears with an ipod & would be none the wiser even if you had a fog horn attached to your Monkeylites?

I have just bought one of these! much cooler than a bell, louder and is fun! I have a silent freehub so unless I am talking to someone or have squeaky discs nobody will hear me. http://www.hawkin.com/find/category-is-Toys/category-is-Outdoors/Price-is-2,0-to-4,0/product-is-08034

I dont use a bell, I just S H O U T!

Works for me:-)