Unwanted bell advice

Peter B said:

Everybody we came across, walkers and cyclists, on an off-road ride in the peaks on Sunday was
cheerful except one old git (old gits, please don't take offence, I'm one as well) who I slowly
approached from behind, slowed to near stationary and then called out "good afternoon" in a polite
manner. He moved aside but as we passed by the comment was heard: "What's wrong with an good old
fashioned bell?".

Probably nothing, apart from them occasionally packing up, IMO but what's wrong with a good old
fashioned "Good afternoon"?

Would the old git be happier if I went tear-arsing up to him manically ringing a bell? Should I
greet everybody in all walks of life with a ringing bell?

Yes you should, and that includes when you're cycling! ;-)

Personally, I am finding my bell very useful when passing through Cambridge city centre. Many
visitors are not expecting cycles, and a quick ring on the bell is a remarkably effective way of
converting a dopey and stochastic pedestrian into something more alert and deterministic.

I don't think there's anything wrong with what you did. Sometimes old men are just plain grumpy. :-)
If you hadn't said good afternoon it would have been "don't people know the time of day anymore?"

Don't worry about it too much.

--
Daniel Auger - [email hidden] (Please remove Granta to get a valid address.)

In "]news:[email hidden], Peter B <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

Ring-a-ding to all.

Everybody we came across, walkers and cyclists, on an off-road ride in the peaks on Sunday was
cheerful except one old git (old gits, please don't take offence, I'm one as well) who I slowly
approached from behind, slowed to near stationary and then called out "good afternoon" in a polite
manner. He moved aside but as we passed by the comment was heard: "What's wrong with an good old
fashioned bell?".

Lots, in my opinion. Owners of bells tend to come up behind people ringing them in the same manner
that Mr Toad parps his horn. It might be OK if they're straying across a path designated for the use
of cyclists, or if you're overtaking another cyclist, but what normally happens is that it's a
shared path, and the cyclist doesn't slow down at all, but expects the pedestrian to jump out of
their way. Myself, I just slow down to walking pace until I'm noticed, or go around them at a slow
pace. Either way it's still a pain, but it's better than being rude.

A

Along the busy with cyclists Chesterfield canal on Saturday one couple remarked, as I rang my bell, "at last. Someone with a bell."

Usually though, the idiots stand in the way ging, "what's that ringing," if they pay any heed at all!

In message <[email hidden]>, Ambrose Nankivell
<[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Myself, I just slow down to walking pace until I'm noticed, or go around them at a slow pace.
Either way it's still a pain, but it's better than being rude.

I find having something that rattles on the bike works well at getting you noticed.
--
Chris French, Leeds

"Ambrose Nankivell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lots, in my opinion. Owners of bells tend to come up behind people ringing them in the same manner
that Mr Toad parps his horn. It might be OK if they're straying across a path designated for the
use of cyclists, or if you're overtaking another cyclist, but what normally happens is that it's

a

Quoted message said:

shared path, and the cyclist doesn't slow down at all, but expects the pedestrian to jump out of
their way. Myself, I just slow down to walking pace until I'm noticed, or go around them at a slow
pace. Either way it's still a pain, but it's better than being rude.

I find a polite ding-ding is by far the most effective method of moving pedestrians out of the way
without giving offence. It says bike -- especially to the old gits. The sound seems to carry
further than 'good afternoon' and the pedestrian is less likely to turn into your path and try to
engage you in conversation -- normally of the 'yes but this weather makes my piles ache something
awful' variety.

Of course it doesn't work if the pedestrian has a dog -- especially one on an extending lead --
because all pedestrians with dogs leave any brain they may have at home when walking their
beloved mut.

T

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ambrose Nankivell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lots, in my opinion. Owners of bells tend to come up behind people

ringing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

them in the same manner that Mr Toad parps his horn. It might be OK if they're straying across a
path designated for the use of cyclists, or if you're overtaking another cyclist, but what
normally happens is that

it's

Quoted message said:

a

Quoted message said:

shared path, and the cyclist doesn't slow down at all, but expects the pedestrian to jump out of
their way. Myself, I just slow down to walking pace until I'm noticed, or go around them at a
slow pace. Either way

it's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

still a pain, but it's better than being rude.

I find a polite ding-ding is by far the most effective method of moving pedestrians out of the way
without giving offence. It says bike -- especially to the old gits. The sound seems to carry
further than 'good afternoon' and the pedestrian is less likely to turn into your path and

try

Quoted message said:

to engage you in conversation -- normally of the 'yes but this weather

makes

Quoted message said:

my piles ache something awful' variety.

Of course it doesn't work if the pedestrian has a dog -- especially one on an extending lead --
because all pedestrians with dogs leave any brain

they

Quoted message said:

may have at home when walking their beloved mut.

I had a good one the other day. Three people walking down by the river, a polite ding-ding which
they heard but didn't register. A last ding-ding, cover the brakes, and stand on the pedals. Sure
enough, they started to move. Unfortunately, one into my route, other two all over the shop. So I
came to a stop, and a trackstand. No idea what the woman was shouting at me, as I had my headphones
on. Smile, continue journey. Anyone who says headphones are dangerous, well, they kept me out of a
slanging match. 🙂

Quoted message said:

He moved aside but as we passed by the comment was heard: "What's wrong with an good old
fashioned bell?".

He's probably just a bad-tempered old fart with his piles giving him a bit of agony and you happened
to be about at the wrong time ;-)

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
This is sent from a redundant email Mail sent to it is dumped My correct one can be gleaned from
h$**$*$el$**e$n$**$d$**$o$*$t**$$s$**$im$mo$ns*@a$**o$l.c$$*o$*m*$ by getting rid of the
overdependence on money and fame
~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel Auger said:

Personally, I am finding my bell very useful when passing through Cambridge city centre. Many
visitors are not expecting cycles, and a quick ring on the bell is a remarkably effective way of
converting a dopey and stochastic pedestrian into something more alert and deterministic.

I've tried that, most notably in the streets around Borough Market, where the accepted method of
pedestrian perambulation is:

o down the centre of a one-way street sporting a perfectly adequate pavement, with o ones back to
the oncoming traffic, and o with a Walkman or hands-free phone earpiece blocking out the sordid
reality of SE1 at 8:30 in the morning

'tis the latter which conspires against the efficacy of The Bell as an Audible Warning Of Approach,
and after three polite "dings", I usually have to shout "Earth Calling" at Sergeant-Major level. At
which point you can see the words "lycra lout" forming behind their dull, glazed eyes and hear the
mental cogs grinding slowly as they strive to file the event in memory so that the "Daily Mail" can
be duly notified. I hate them.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
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"chris French" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In message <[email hidden]>, Ambrose Nankivell
<[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Myself, I just slow down to walking pace until I'm noticed, or go around them at a slow pace.
Either way it's still a pain, but it's better than being rude.

I find having something that rattles on the bike works well at getting you noticed.
--
Chris French, Leeds

Seriously squeaky brakes (leather lined brake pads) on my road bike work really really well. Peds
will jump off shared use paths into THE ROAD, to avoid the squeaky brake monster. Quite amusing
really. Doesn't need to be done aggresively either !! However, my hand operated horn (honk-honk) on
my MTB is effective up to the point where it's being used on canal towpaths. Then folks just seem to
think it's geese or somesuch behind them and totally ignore it :-(...this is where the 'bike coming
up left/right' shout works well and they look embarrassed about misunderstanding the signal
(hee-hee!!) Dave.

"chris French" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I find having something that rattles on the bike works well at getting you noticed.

Yebbut, I was on me bike rattling ;-)

Pete

Dave Larrington said:

... I hate them.

Individually, I trust. I mean, hating them as a class would be little better than hating, say,
cyclists as a class.

Geraint Jones said:

Individually, I trust. I mean, hating them as a class would be little better than hating, say,
cyclists as a class.

Oh, absolutely. It's the same with Americans. I've had both pedestrians and Americans inside
Larrington Towers and I didn't even bother to cover the furniture first...

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 08:07:29 +0000 (UTC) someone who may be "Peter B" <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

one old git (old gits, please don't take offence, I'm one as well) who I slowly approached from
behind, slowed to near stationary and then called out "good afternoon" in a polite manner. He moved
aside but as we passed by the comment was heard: "What's wrong with an good old fashioned bell?".

They tend to produce one of four reactions, in declining percentage.

1) No reaction.

1a) How dare that lycra lout ring their bell at me.
1b) Thank you nice cyclist for ringing your bell.

2) A cyclist! Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic.

Quoted message said:

Would the old git be happier if I went tear-arsing up to him manically ringing a bell?

Possibly. More likely he would have moaned just as much.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

Quoted message said:

He's probably just a bad-tempered old fart with his piles giving him a bit

of

Quoted message said:

agony and you happened to be about at the wrong time ;-)

And he's got a sister in Derby! I had a similar occurrence, when I was practically at a
standstill waiting to get past a number of crumblies. I was going so slowly I was able to point
out that with hands, bar bag, computer, HRM, brakes and gear shifters, there wasn't actually any
room left for a bell!

Regards,

Pete.

"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

They tend to produce one of four reactions, in declining percentage.

1) No reaction.

2a) How dare that lycra lout ring their bell at me.
2b) Thank you nice cyclist for ringing your bell.

3) A cyclist! Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic.

Quoted message said:

Would the old git be happier if I went tear-arsing up to him manically ringing a bell?

At last -- a rational reason for a bent. You could slice through pedestrians with the front mounted
meat cleaving device 🙂

Tony W said:

At last -- a rational reason for a bent. You could slice through pedestrians with the front
mounted meat cleaving device 🙂

HP Velotechnik are No Fun At All and put a guard over the crank :-( The Orbit didn't have one,
though, so I always felt happy in the knowledge that if some fool tried to door me they'd be left
with an interesting line of puncture marks in the steel if they timed it wrong...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Peter Clinch said:

HP Velotechnik are No Fun At All and put a guard over the crank :-(

True, though it takes nobbut a few minutes to remove it...

The Mgt wishes to make it quite clear that it does not condone the practice of removing chainguards
from recumbents merely to allow the rider the satisfaction of leaving a neat line of half-inch pitch
holes in an errant ped, accompanied by the sort of undignified noises more commonly heard emanating
from unhappy Spaniards lying at the roadside with an assortment of snapped limbs. Or in the door of
a tin box. No Sir, not us.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
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Peter Connolly said:

Quoted message said:

He's probably just a bad-tempered old fart with his piles giving him a bit

of

Quoted message said:

agony and you happened to be about at the wrong time ;-)

Quoted message said:

And he's got a sister in Derby! I had a similar occurrence, when I was practically at a
standstill waiting to get past a number of crumblies. I was going so slowly I was able to point
out that with hands, bar bag, computer, HRM, brakes and gear shifters, there wasn't actually any
room left for a bell!

You need one of those extra bar things. Then you could add not only bell but air horn, GPS, and
paint ball gun, and have room left for an illegal stunflash for those dark dazzling winter evenings.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 650 3085 DoD #205 School of Informatics, Edinburgh
University, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2QL, UK. [dai.ed.ac.ukcamOpen ↗ ]

elyob said:

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I find a polite ding-ding is by far the most effective method of moving pedestrians out of the
way without giving offence. It says bike -- especially to the old gits. The sound seems to carry
further than 'good afternoon' and the pedestrian is less likely to turn into your path and

try

Quoted message said:

to engage you in conversation -- normally of the 'yes but this weather

makes

Quoted message said:

my piles ache something awful' variety.

Agreed.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Of course it doesn't work if the pedestrian has a dog -- especially one on an extending lead --
because all pedestrians with dogs leave any brain

they

Quoted message said:

may have at home when walking their beloved mut.

In many cases its the dog that's taking the reluctant owner for a walk. It's the only way to get the
slobs to take any exercise.

Quoted message said:

I had a good one the other day. Three people walking down by the river, a polite ding-ding which
they heard but didn't register. A last ding-ding, cover the brakes, and stand on the pedals. Sure
enough, they started to move. Unfortunately, one into my route, other two all over the shop. So I
came to a stop, and a trackstand. No idea what the woman was shouting at me, as I had my headphones
on. Smile, continue journey. Anyone who says headphones are dangerous, well, they kept me out of a
slanging match. 🙂

My favourite, now some years ago, was when approaching a very large burly chap, probably on gorilla
hormones, and a little old lady. Walking abreast in the middle of the cycle path they left no room
to pass. Ding! Ding! The gorilla turned round, glared at me, and started inflating himself
aggessively in size. While he was slowly working out something to growl like "Are YOU telling ME to
move?!?", the old lady clouted him across the side of his head with her handbag. He shambled
obediently over to the side of the path.

Phew!

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 650 3085 DoD #205 School of Informatics, Edinburgh
University, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2QL, UK. [dai.ed.ac.ukcamOpen ↗ ]