Pleasant ride, sunshine but something missing?

[Montybaber]

Had a nice ride today on our new bikes, amazed how easy these bikes are to ride and only had to pop it into 'std' once for a very big hill

We stopped off at a nice pub and enjoyed the weather for a little while

One small thing though, I didn't even realise that the bikes have been supplied without a bell, not a huge issue although it would have been very helpful a few times today with people in the way, is it standard to have them fitted when new (like I assume)

Is it being cheeky asking the bike shop for a couple?

 

[gray198]

I think that a bell should be fitted by law when you buy the bike

 

[Montybaber]

I think that a bell should be fitted by law when you buy the bike

I thought the same, I'm sure it won't be an issue at all

 

[flecc]

Is it being cheeky asking the bike shop for a couple?

Not cheeky at all, by law they have to supply them with every new bike sold, but contrary to popular belief, they don't have to be fitted. That legal requirement was removed by the government in 1983 as part of pruning unnecessary legislation.

The law only specifies supply and it's completely legal to ride without one.

Since sport bikes dominated the UK market for many years and roadies never want bells, bike shops got out of the habit of offering bells to customers, hence their common omission.
.

 

[Montybaber]

Not cheeky at all, by law they have to supply them with every new bike sold, but contrary to popular belief, they don't have to be fitted. That legal requirement was removed by the government in 1983 as part of pruning unnecessary legislation.

The law only specifies supply and it's completely legal to ride without one.

Since sport bikes dominated the UK market for many years and roadies never want bells, bike shops got out of the habit of offering bells to customers, hence their common omission.
.

Thankyou for that, much appreciated

 

[oyster]

Is it being cheeky asking the bike shop for a couple?

Perfectly reasonable but quite possibly not worth doing?

I got a bell that was very poor. If you got everything just right, it makes a somewhat feeble ding. But rotate the dome a few degrees and it becomes almost inaudible. Probably as well to bite the bullet and buy one that sounds and looks as you want. Or two.

 

[Montybaber]

Perfectly reasonable but quite possibly not worth doing?

I got a bell that was very poor. If you got everything just right, it makes a somewhat feeble ding. But rotate the dome a few degrees and it becomes almost inaudible. Probably as well to bite the bullet and buy one that sounds and looks as you want. Or two.

I will see what he has in stock, of course I am happy to pay for one that works

 

[Deleted member 22539]

A new bike Should come with
pedal reflectors
front and rear reflectors
and of course a bell
on the bikes ive had new they have anyway and are generally in a bag unfitted and stay that way

 

[soundwave]

cant see the point of a bell as everyone is wired up to headphones these days n not bother to look where there even going anyway.

this should shift there ass tho
https://www.gunstar.co.uk/kimar-92-auto-blank-firer-8mm-blank-firing/Replica/950229

 

[egroover]

Looks like the Harvester on Bowleaze hill, over looking Weymouth Bay and Portland. Nice spot.
Did I happen to spy you guys a couple of weeks ago in the beer garden of the Black Bear at Wool ? I see a trend here if so lol

 

[flecc]

on the bikes ive had new they have anyway and are generally in a bag unfitted and stay that way

Internationally the position is different, the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic ruled that all bicycles have to have bells fitted. Whether that applies depends on whether each country is a signatory. Being a visitor with a bike is no excuse, their bikes have to be so equipped in applicable countries.

As usual the UK has the awkward rules, in most of the UK no bell has to be fitted, but Northern Ireland in the UK which has devolved transport law is signed up to the Vienna Convention so bells are compulsory there.
.

 

[Montybaber]

Looks like the Harvester on Bowleaze hill, over looking Weymouth Bay and Portland. Nice spot.
Did I happen to spy you guys a couple of weeks ago in the beer garden of the Black Bear at Wool ? I see a trend here if so lol

Well spotted, yes that's the place (spyglass) at overcome corner/bowleaze a well earned Pepsi max and nothing more I promise

It wasn't us at Wool I'm afraid, we only bought the bikes on Tuesday afternoon but we haven't been off them since, my girlfriend is getting more and more confident and although we are moving quite slow it is great to get out and about

I am sat planning tomorrows route, thinking Purbecks/Studland

 

[anotherkiwi]

Don't get into an accident on French or Spanish rides without one would be my advice. I have a bell like thing on the trike but am going to fit one of these:

They make a noise that gets though headphones. I often come up behind senior holiday maker pedestrians and very often after a polite bell ring the woman turns around and says "he is deaf as a post!" and drags hubby out of the way...

 

[egroover]

Well spotted, yes that's the place (spyglass) at overcome corner/bowleaze a well earned Pepsi max and nothing more I promise

It wasn't us at Wool I'm afraid, we only bought the bikes on Tuesday afternoon but we haven't been off them since, my girlfriend is getting more and more confident and although we are moving quite slow it is great to get out and about

I am sat planning tomorrows route, thinking Purbecks/Studland

Yep, some great riding down there, watch out for the big hills ! It's a ball ache coming from the west (weymouth) to get there, having to ride on the busy main road eastwards from Weymouth. I tend to go up to Dorchester, pick up the national cycle route no.2 to wool, and then down to the purbecks from there, much nicer quieter roads.
Been out and about around there on the (non powered) road bike a lot recently, trying to get fitter for a cycle break in Italy in a few weeks time

 

[Benjahmin]

All you'll get from the bike shop is one of those useless little 'ting ting' bells.
I got one of these, it's big, it's loud and alwaya raises a smile (could look out of place on an mtb I guess).
https://www.evanscycles.com/pashley-ding-dong-bell-00103089?lsft=esvt:54872-GOUKE2287764,esvq:,esvadt:999999-0-1219432-1,esvcrea:189703373516,esvplace:,esvd:c,esvtg:aud-431406423342:pla-306451959302,esvo:00103089-NA-NA,esvaid:50080&esvt=54872-GOUKE2287764&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-1219432-1&esvcrea=189703373516&esvplace=&esvd=c&esvtg=aud-431406423342:pla-306451959302&esvo=00103089-NA-NA&esvaid=50080&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrLXXBRCXARIsAIttmROScFahyvPxPS4iYmwLuQXUqpEN2hGVlowDWXJePk1EupZD9-S-hu4aAmg-EALw_wcB

 

[Deleted member 22539]

Half the time it doesn’t matter if you have a bell or 2000 plus lumens of daytime flashing lights people see you they will still stand in your way mainly on purpose because how dare you ride on the piece of ground they occupy ,
And as for dog walkers with them stupid and dare I say dangerous extension leads which most dog owners have no control over dogs on at all there beyond stupid
And yes I have used the word stupid a lot

 

[oyster]

Half the time it doesn’t matter if you have a bell or 2000 plus lumens of daytime flashing lights people see you they will still stand in your way mainly on purpose because how dare you ride on the piece of ground they occupy ,
And as for dog walkers with them stupid and dare I say dangerous extension leads which most dog owners have no control over dogs on at all there beyond stupid
And yes I have used the word stupid a lot

Most of the dog walkers I come across are pretty reasonable - hopefully we are mutually accommodating. The real animal issue I had recently was a dog walker, and a couple of children. They carefully moved to make space, the dog leash was held properly. They smiled - and warned me that their cat was also on the walk, not on any form of lead, and about two metres ahead of my front wheel....

 

[Deleted member 22539]

Most of the dog walkers I come across are pretty reasonable - hopefully we are mutually accommodating. The real animal issue I had recently was a dog walker, and a couple of children. They carefully moved to make space, the dog leash was held properly. They smiled - and warned me that their cat was also on the walk, not on any form of lead, and about two metres ahead of my front wheel....

There cat lol
I take you missed it

 

[oyster]

There cat lol
I take you missed it

Yes - I did, but was a bit worried as I know how suddenly and quickly cats can react and move. Sometimes choosing the wrong direction.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Half the time it doesn’t matter if you have a bell or 2000 plus lumens of daytime flashing lights people see you they will still stand in your way mainly on purpose because how dare you ride on the piece of ground they occupy ,
And as for dog walkers with them stupid and dare I say dangerous extension leads which most dog owners have no control over dogs on at all there beyond stupid
And yes I have used the word stupid a lot

that pretty well mirrors my sentiments. I don't mind so much when they're on a shared footpath, but we have a lot of separated paths here in Telford, but the dog-walkers are always on the cycle path, and so are the people with headphones on. It drives me nuts, especially when the cycle path is narrow and has a kerb up to the footpath, so it's difficult to get past. One time, I had to get of my bike and shake the guy to get him off the cycle path so that I could carry on my journey.

Without question, the best bells are the bring bring type, but the modern ones have plastic thumb-levers that always break, so look out for a metal one. It seems that pedestrians are tuned to that particular sound for some reason. Second best are the big ding dong bells, and a very poor last are the ping ping type. Very loud horns and sirens are more or less completely ineffective for some reason. nobody reacts until too late, then they jump in your way instead of stepping aside.

This is one area, where the Germans have it sorted. If you put one foot on a cycle path there, someone will grab you and drag you back onto the footpath so that you don't get arrested. In China, you soon learn that you'll get mown down the moment you stray onto a cycle path.