Some people still don’t understand the bike bell, especially on mountain bikes. I envy them, because presumably, they live in a place where there either aren’t many mountain bikers, aren’t many hikers, or congested trails aren’t really an issue; which leaves unsanctioned or mountain bike specific trails.
For those of us who ride on multi-use trails, utilizing a bike bell is one of the first forms of defense against conflict, and I’ll say defense because it’s usually mountain bikers who have to defend the how and why of our trail use. Much like the right-of-way triangle and volunteer trail work, the onus to be courteous largely falls on mountain bikers, whether we like it or not.
As the saying goes, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. It’s not that I thought bells were dumb, but I’ve never been eager to use them and thus, I’ve never spent money on a bell. Spending money on a component that doesn’t help me ride faster or improve my bike’s looks seemed like a way to lower my bank account balance and add weight without any actual functionality. Unless of course you reframe the proposition as spending money on something that improves your ride experience, and if bells help reduce the chance of conflict or an argument on the trail then it seems like money well spent.
Fortunately, Knog sent me one of their Oi bells to try out recently and after a few weeks of riding on Colorado’s busy Front Range, I won’t be taking it off my handlebars any time soon. Looking at bells, you’re faced with a choice: a manually ringing bell like the Knog Oi, or a bell that rings continuously when engaged, like a Timber bell. Both have their pros and cons.
For riders new to bells, like me, the Knog Oi rang my attention, first because of its low profile. I’m not knocking other bells, but I like a clean cockpit — or as clean as possible — because my brakes, dropper remote, and shift levers are usually all different brands and never mate up anyway. I’d argue this makes my drive for a simpler line across my handlebars stronger.
The Knog fit in between my other controls neatly, like another remote, and doesn’t protrude farther than any other control on my bars. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a clamshell design, so it requires sliding the grips and other controls off to fit the bell on. I’m obviously joking a little when I mention weight gain from adding a bell. The Oi Classic small rings in under 20g.
Really, the hardest part of using a bell is remembering it’s there and remembering you have the power to part seas on the trail. While it may seem onerous to mountain bikers to have to use a bell, it also puts some power under our thumbs. The noise is sharper than shouting “on your left!” and it feels like the reaction to “ding!” is more instinctual than “coming up behind you. Thanks. Just me.” Hikers tend to hear the bell farther away than a human voice and start to move more quickly in my experience.
The Knog Oi isn’t perfect. There are bells that ring more loudly and carry sound farther. The Knog’s ring isn’t too long. The Oi can also be tricky to use when you’re descending and have to use your thumb to control your bike rather than pull the lever back. This is the disadvantage compared to something like the Timber, which will ring continuously; important when you can’t lift a thumb. The Knog also takes up more space on a set of handlebars than no bell at all.
But the ring has proved its utility and has made interactions with trail users at least a little bit better. I still find myself slowing and saying hi and thanks when I pass people, but the bell does seem to take some of the sting off passing certain people. At the end of the day, most of us want to get out for an hour or two and blow off some stress, and if a small $20 device like the Oi can help mitigate more stress, then it’s well worth the effort.
I find bells to be rude when there is no verbal follow up. But I also have trouble getting hikers and bikers with loud earbuds to hear me no matter what I do. If you feel you must use a bell please thank those who are considerate and always let them know how many are in your group and “I’m last” if you are riding sweep. Let’s not let the trails become yet another place where volume wins over politeness and common courtesy.
I ride with a Timber! bell. It has a clutch that turns it off so it will not ring while riding or on so it rings all the time. It is probably one of the best accessories I have ever installed. People can hear me coming on the downhills and step out of the way before I even see them. Blind corner on busy trails are not so sketchy any more. People thank me for having the bell. Calling out is great but is not such a great method on a curvy trail in the woods. I think every bike that uses busy trails should have this bell. I still slow down and say “Hello” or “Thank you” when passing. Is it our responsibility to not startle hikers? If we want to keep using the shared trails and avoid shut outs it sure is. Letting hikers and other bikers know we are coming is just polite common sense.
I bought a Timber Bell about 3 months ago and it works like a charm. Much better than yelling “On your left” and startling hikers.
Sounds like you need to work on your social skills
I’ve been using a bell for a long time living in Los Angeles, and it seems to be the most effective sound to warn someone you’re coming up behind them. I’m talking street riding specifically. I’ve tried yelling “on your left!” Which gets sometimes gets them to acknowledge I’m riding on the left of them, or I get the opposite and they go right, sometimes. They even move left, right to the path I just called out, so instead of dealing with my fellow Angelenos Shakey navigation skills, I tried a bell. It works. The bell doesn’t give any confusing words like left or right it just rings, heads up bike coming.
I have this bell and their more expensive model which is way too expensive for a bell BUT it is very well made And designed. The lesser model uses a very poorly designed hammer using plastic and a spring. It likes to move around and put itself out of striking range or maybe just a muted hit. When it’s aligned it’s ok, but the higher model uses a much better hammer, it’s all metal, as long as the screw is tight, it will ring and it has a surprising amount of volume and sustain for a bike bell. My only complaint is the price.
Where I live, calling out “on your left!” or “bike back!” has been way more effective at warning hikers and joggers than any bell I’ve used.
I have a SpurCycle (1st bell) and recently purchased the Timber. I have enough space on my bars that I just kept both. The Timber is great for when I’m near the trailhead and it’s crowded with hikers. Once I’m further out and interactions are fewer and far between, I use the SpurCycle. When I’m twisting through blind corners, I turn the Timber back on. Since I bought the Timber, I’ve received a lot of compliments and thank yous from hikers for using it. Sometimes I’m just too tired (or my throat is too dry, because Arizona) after a climb to yell with any volume that I’m coming up.
Is it really your responsibility to avoid spooking hikers?
Or perhaps they hear me coming from farther away and are already off the trail by the time we intersect? I give a thank you and continue on my way without having to grind to a halt while they try to find a cactus-free area to step to…easy for everyone. Try it sometime….
Yup.
My Knog Oi lasted a couple of weeks. If the trails are crowded I have a swag goat bell I got for free from a swag giveaway at the USA pro challenge road bike race in Colorado 12 years ago. I hang it from the handlebars with a Fat Tire swag velcro strap for keeping pants cuffs from the chainring.
Bike races have the best usable swag.
I completely agree with moctav. Calling out and using your words is, IMHO, much more effective and friendly.
As someone who both bikes, hikes and runs on my local trails nothing is more annoying than the incessant ringing of a bike bell that somehow precludes the user from following the right of way triangle. I don’t know how many times I’ve have to remind riders that ringing a bell does not give them the right of way.
Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. Sometimes a bell is just quicker, in my experience, and more instinctual. Sometimes, nothing pleases a grumpy hiker too. I don’t think it’s a matter of claiming the right of way, but more easily letting someone know that you’re approaching and often, even though hikers have the right of way, they still want you to ride by.
I get feedback from hikers often because I slow or stop and exchange a few pleasant words. Some bell ringers are passive aggressive and expect the trail to part like the Red Sea did for Moses.
I’ve had one of these for years on my gravel bike and my MTB. Definitely helps alleviate the stress of coming up behind people on shared trails. What it doesn’t help with is the small minority who insist on wearing headphones while they’re out enjoying the peace and quiet…😂
They also come in different colours. Stealth black on my MTB, you’d have to look closely to see it.
Is it really that outrageous of an idea to just verbally communicate with these people?
I have mounted one of those Knog Oi Classic bells back in 2019. I have not took it off since and do not plan to. My only regret is that they did not have a black one in the LBS back then…
I tried 2 Knog Oi’s and both failed after the spring overstretched, once as a result of a crash. But very useful on crowded, shared trails where I ride. The Knog’s tone isn’t obnoxious and carries better than my voice, especially when I’m gasping for air.
You should always be riding in control and ready to stop for other trail users. If they are off in la la land and aren’t paying attention, and you startle them as you approach, that’s their problem. End of story
Apparently you’ve never shared a trail with horseback riders. Startling a horse usually goes bad for the rider. The sooner they hear you, the better they can prepare for you rolling up on them.
I agree we need to be ready especially if vision down the trail is obscured. Descending we are supposed to stop for hikers. In my experience in north Idaho when they see me coming they politely move off. A couple weeks ago a nice guy was trail running up the trail as I was descending and he moved off as I was braking getting ready to stop. I was able to continue and told him I knew the etiquette was the other way around and how much I appreciated his simple courtesy of letting me by. Bottom line is we all need to be courteous, polite and grateful when someone moves for us no matter the mode of travel. If a bell or simple communication works then use what is effective. We all have different experiences depending where we ride.
Why is it so hard to slow down and speak to the person in front of you and ask to allow you to pass when they get to a wider and safer place on the trail?
BTW, if someone is behind you on singletrack, bell or no bell, don’t dive off the trail to get out of their way. Keep riding and find a good wider and safer section to move over and let them pass.