Bike Bells 🔔🔔🔔

I never liked bike bells. They're the sort of thing you might associate with a fat guy riding a cruiser bike in flip-flops as he wobbles between the children playing along the sidewalk at the beach. Back in the old days, I put one of those lever-actuated bells on my MTB as a joke, and it got a lot of laughs. But then it broke. That joke had run its course, so I didn't replace it.

Fast forward a few years, and real mountain bike riders started putting them on their bikes to warn hikers and other riders. I could see the point, but was resistant because I prefer to ride in silence, and the constant ringing annoys me. One day there was an old lady hiking on the trail, so I stopped to chat her up. She was a docent for land management folks and was nice, even for a hiker. She offered me a bell, and I accepted as to not offend her. It was the sort of bell that attached with a nylon strap, and it had a magnet to hold the clapper when you wanted silence. The bell was ok, but the silencing part wasn't perfect. The bell always made a little noise, so I didn't like it.

Next, I got a cheapie bell that had a feature where you could mechanically hold back the clapper, and it would be perfectly silent. The problem was that when it was turned "on," the bell wasn't very loud at all. My bike was louder than the bell. It seemed pointless.

As is often the case, the third time is a charm. I got a Timber Bell. The thing is SOLID. It's made very well. It clamps firmly to the bars. When the lever is set to "off," the bell is SILENT. When the lever is set to "on," the bell is loud. There is no doubt that both hikers and riders can hear me shredding downhill LONG before we meet. Not only is it polite, but it substantially improves safety. When the trail is tight and I'm climbing uphill, I'll often turn the bell on to warn fast-approaching downhillers.

My advice: Be safe. Add peace of mind. Get a Timber.

RustyIron said:

I never liked bike bells. They're the sort of thing you might associate with a fat guy riding a cruiser bike in flip-flops as he wobbles between the children playing along the sidewalk at the beach. Back in the old days, I put one of those lever-actuated bells on my MTB as a joke, and it got a lot of laughs. But then it broke. That joke had run its course, so I didn't replace it.

Fast forward a few years, and real mountain bike riders started putting them on their bikes to warn hikers and other riders. I could see the point, but was resistant because I prefer to ride in silence, and the constant ringing annoys me. One day there was an old lady hiking on the trail, so I stopped to chat her up. She was a docent for land management folks and was nice, even for a hiker. She offered me a bell, and I accepted as to not offend her. It was the sort of bell that attached with a nylon strap, and it had a magnet to hold the clapper when you wanted silence. The bell was ok, but the silencing part wasn't perfect. The bell always made a little noise, so I didn't like it.

Next, I got a cheapie bell that had a feature where you could mechanically hold back the clapper, and it would be perfectly silent. The problem was that when it was turned "on," the bell wasn't very loud at all. My bike was louder than the bell. It seemed pointless.

As is often the case, the third time is a charm. I got a Timber Bell. The thing is SOLID. It's made very well. It clamps firmly to the bars. When the lever is set to "off," the bell is SILENT. When the lever is set to "on," the bell is loud. There is no doubt that both hikers and riders can hear me shredding downhill LONG before we meet. Not only is it polite, but it substantially improves safety. When the trail is tight and I'm climbing uphill, I'll often turn the bell on to warn fast-approaching downhillers.

My advice: Be safe. Add peace of mind. Get a Timber.


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I’ve got a Timber bell, and used to find it pretty effective… although it fails miserably when the walkers / hikers / dog walkers have earphones in and can’t hear you!

I should have bought the removable one, as I only used it on certain routes where I know there will be people. The majority of my riding is too early for most dog walkers… and subsequently I rarely see another human! I bought the fixed clamp one, and I’ve never fitted it again since replacing my bars.

Definitely the best bell I’ve had though. Works as it should. Perhaps I should order the clip on / off one for spring!

I got a timber for Christmas. My partner likes it because I’m a noob and he knows to slow/stop when he no longer hears the bell

I have never used the Timber bell, but I have used a variety of other bells, even a small bulb-horn once. The problem with a bell is of course that walkers (including runners) spin round in astonishment when they hear it or leap to one side and give me "the look". The look that says "you entitled hooligan!" I was once addressed as "you young hooligan!" When I stopped from my walking pace to wish them a good day they started stammering as they realised that I was actually older than the pair of them put together!

It is worth mentioning at this point that I always, always, slow down before passing.

When my new bike had a VERY LOUD hub buzz (more like a machine gun) I gave up on the bell and announced my presence by just not pedalling. The trouble was that if I left it late enough for them to hear it, it was too late and they would spin round in astonishment, or leap to one side and give me "the look". The look that says "you entitled hooligan!" Even when I was at walking pace.

I tried discrete coughing, whistling a tune, calling out, you name it. There was a time when my rear brake howled like a car horn (another story) and with most of them they would spin round in astonishment, or leap to one side and give me "the look". The look that says "you entitled hooligan!"

The majority of walkers (not all of them- some are absolute darlings) are either deaf, wearing earbuds or are so totally involved in their conversation about world matters that they are immune to outside noises. No matter what I do I am a man on a bike riding on their "footpath" (whether it is or not) and are therefore themselves feeling entitled. So therefore... they spin round in astonishment, or leap to one side and give me "the look". The look that says "you entitled hooligan!" Some of them even voice what they are feeling.

Horse riders are of course the most entitled of all, having 2000 years of legal history in England on their side (it gives the name to Bridle Ways). Being in charge of a one-ton, steel toe-capped nervous psychopath that skitters at crisp packets in a slight breeze makes them nervous, I understand that, it makes me nervous. Which is why I give horses a wide berth and give as much notice as possible, but still the rider(s) spin round in astonishment, or leap to one side and give me "the look". The look that says "you entitled hooligan!" Their verbal invective can be quite astonishing, especially from the women. The fact that they should not be on a dedicated mtb trail is of course irrelevant.

My generic approach currently is to start making noise a good way off, keep making noise (but never, ever a bell!!) and call out "bike on your left" (or right - whatever). That seems to give me the best overall result.

The absolute best of all walkers to come up behind are dog walkers (with dog on lead). The dog always hears me coming and lets their owners know. Well before I get to within calling distance, they are aware and have pulled over. I still slow down and wish them a good day. Sometimes I stop and ask about their interesting dog.

Generally ring a simple bell to announce that I'm behind, but as a son demonstrated to me the noise made from locking the rear wheel gets instant attention!!!

I use my timber bell on mutil use multi directional trails and all hikers love it some bikers hate it. Every hiker is off the trail way before I get to them and thank me for it.

steve_sordy said:

My generic approach currently is to start making noise a good way off, keep making noise (but never, ever a bell!!) and call out "bike on your left" (or right - whatever). That seems to give me the best overall result.

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That’s what the Timber Bell does. It just rings all the time with each bump you go over. The closer you are, the louder it gets. It saves that ‘astonishment’ and jumping when you ring a bell.

When I have no bell, I usually go for the lockup method from about 100ft back. A sharp little skid usually makes people turn round!

p3eps said:

That’s what the Timber Bell does. It just rings all the time with each bump you go over. The closer you are, the louder it gets. It saves that ‘astonishment’ and jumping when you ring a bell.

When I have no bell, I usually go for the lockup method from about 100ft back. A sharp little skid usually makes people turn round!

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Yes I have a timber bell and really should use it more often but it’s on the bars of a bike I least ride. I use the sharp little skid method mostly but hikers on the dales / moors’ paths tend to give me the death stare after almost dying from a heart attack whereas the timber bell is a far more polite long distance announcement of an incoming mtb that isn’t going to slow down

EmtbChar said:

I got a timber for Christmas. My partner likes it because I’m a noob and he knows to slow/stop when he no longer hears the bell

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This time next year you'll be using the bell to put pressure on him. The bell will be a signal that he needs to bring his A-Game cuz your on his åśś.

I just shout loudly………Coming through. 🫣

a bear bell does the job for me. Where i ride, there is usually cattle around, so people tend to be happy that its only a biker not the bull chasing them

I personally use a Timber Bell, which I refer to as my mountain lion dinner bell. In my area of few trails and many users I see it as a mandatory safety item, like a helmet. Anyone have a statistic on the percentage of biker vs hiker or equestrian accidents involving rider with vs without bells?

Yes, there are plenty of hikers wearing ear buds but unfortunately in this day and age if one ended up in a civil or even criminal case involving an accident, I'm sure you'd fair much better in court if you were using a bell.

I use one on every ride and I can't remember the last time I wasn't thanked by another trail user. I'm always shocked when I ride in an area and no one is using them. I feel, maybe a false sense of security, but that I can ride faster when using one because others know when I'm approaching and have time to react. I also make every attempt to be courteous and yield to others.

My hope is for more single use trails in the future - horseback only trails, hiker only trails, and of course bike only trails!

I think that the bells are a good compromise for mountain bikes to be able to ride shared trails. When it comes to urban paths, I find that the bell pretty useless as @steve_sordy said, a bell becomes what I call a "pedestrian randomiser" where they could stop dead, jump left, jump right or not hear you at all. In this situation, I just slow down if there is only a small space to pass, say "morning/G'day/afternoon, just passing on your left/right". I often get a "thank you" for doing this.
I'm very fortunate that most of the trails I ride are MTB specific trails so there's little interaction with hikers.

Yep I am with you there. I have been riding my new Cube on trails with walkers and I have to 'keep apologising for having a bike without a bell' as my way of letting them know I am behind them. Never heard of a Timber Bell, will go and look it up right now.

8bit Barry said:

Yep I am with you there. I have been riding my new Cube on trails with walkers and I have to 'keep apologising for having a bike without a bell' as my way of letting them know I am behind them. Never heard of a Timber Bell, will go and look it up right now.

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They’re difficult to get hold of in the UK now as the distributor went in to admin a few months back

Tubby G said:

They’re difficult to get hold of in the UK now as the distributor went in to admin a few months back

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I just bought this one as it looked nothing like a bell and wasnt too expensive.

Every bike needs a bell.

I use a bear bell: Coghlan's Bear Bell

But more for my own protection from hunters, there are a dozen or so deadly "accidents", i.e. shootings, in France every year from hunters, and I cross a lot of them during the winter.

Mabman said:

Every bike needs a bell.

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I have had one on my old MTB for a long time. Wouldn’t be without it as I still ride urban.

Rando_12345 said:

I use a bear bell: Coghlan's Bear Bell

But more for my own protection from hunters, there are a dozen or so deadly "accidents", i.e. shootings, in France every year from hunters, and I cross a lot of them during the winter.

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Blimey! That surprised me I have to say

UncleB said:

I see it as a mandatory safety item, like a helmet.

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Right on, brother. Many of our trails here are fast, technical, with brush that limits visibility. The bell is like the horn on a train as its approaching a crossing: it lets others know of its approach. Even on climbs I sometimes use the bell because I want to let the downhill shredders know that I'm there.

I have had knogs on the last few bikes, the only one that has lasted is the bigger luxe version. all the others lose their knockers (oooh errr Mrs)

VWsurfbum said:

I have had knogs on the last few bikes, the only one that has lasted is the bigger luxe version. all the others lose their knockers (oooh errr Mrs)
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I've a cheap knockoff version of that on my Stumpy. It cost about £4 for 2 (bought one for my mate too). A surprisingly loud 'ding' from it, and it's almost invisible on the bars squeezed in between the grips and brakes.

The downside (as mentioned by a few above) is that it makes the dog walkers / hikers jump a mile.

You can't win... you either creep past them and they jump suddenly... or you ding a bell, and they jump.
I guess this is where the Timber Bell wins... because it gradually approaches them getting louder and louder. The downside is that you have to listen to it the whole ride (or at least in amoungst the populated bits)!

I've actually cycled up behind a walker (with headphones on) on a narrow bit of path with my Timber bell dinging away. He didn't notice, so I did a few little wheelies to make it ding louder. Still didn't notice. "Excuse me please" at a reasonable volume, then louder and louder until I was shouting at the top of my voice - and he still didn't turn round. I followed him slowly until it got marginally wider so that I could almost get side by side... and THEN he noticed me!!
Sorry mate...
Not sure how loud his music was, or how good the noise cancelling was?!

What would I do if I didn’t have the daily drama of hikers. We don’t have horses here but rather bears and cougars and the occasional crazy squirrel. I sometimes feel that my bell is a dinner call for cougars.




These bells are cheap but probably not as effective as the Timber Bell. They’re always on, have a magnet for quiet mode, but don’t have the universal “ding-ding” sound.

When I have it activated it just becomes white-noise to me. However, my jingle bell and my verbal warning and skidding the rear tire and reducing my speed , never worked once. A group of 14-16 hikers were using the entire width of the fire-road. I decided to safely pass them by going off road.

Some vegetation was camouflaging a large rock which abruptly stopped my bike. I went OTB in front of my audience and landed on my backpack and head. They all gasped …I dusted off myself and checked my bike. I rode off.

Mr. Nice Guy was okay (me). lol

The big problem with bells is that few people understand why they are in use or can't hear them because their ears are stuffed with music.....if it was universally understood by trail users that upon hearing a bell from behind you would just move to the right, or left in the UK I suppose, and not start jumping around like startled sheep or totally ignoring it it would be a help.

I suppose that if they made a 150db horn that was powered by the bikes battery that might get peoples attention better than a bell. Ahhhoooooogaaaaa!

Mabman said:

Ahhhoooooogaaaaa!

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Well…that’s just mean , but that would be so funny .

I like when I have to “part the sea” or when the loner in the group decides to join the group at the last second and runs infront you. Or when a little yappie off-leash dog latches onto your shoe and does a few revolution which matches your cadence.

Good times

Stihldog said:

Well…that’s just mean , but that would be so funny .

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This story ended up funny, but it could have easily gone in another direction.

It was mid-week on a somewhat remote, narrow singletrack on the side of a hill with a steep edge. My buddy and I were booking along and spotted a lone hiker, so I slowed the pace. About 20 feet out, I gave him a "Good morning." No response. So I closed the distance to about ten feet and gave a little louder, "Good morning!" Still no response. Clearly, the guy is wearing earbuds.

I closed the distance so I was on his heels, and gave him a "Hey.... HEY... HEYYYYY!!!!" Before it was done, I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I really WAS screaming as loud as possible, but at that point it wasn't as much to get his attention as it was for my own amusement. Still no response, so when the trail widened enough, I rolled forward so my front wheel was ahead of his feet. It was a bit dangerous, but WTF? He STILL didn't notice me. The guy was totally oblivious.

With nothing else working, and barely enough room for me to keep from going over the edge, I put my hand on his shoulder. The bloke nearly shat his knickers. He stopped and turned, at first appearing furious and ready to throw down. But just as quickly he realized what had happened, he gave a sheepish grin and began apologizing profusely. He assumed that he would be the only one out there that day, so thought it was ok to wear his earbuds. He learned otherwise. We all had a good laugh and parted ways.

I use BLEvo and a remote o synce device, which also changes motor power. Short press ring ring and long press general lee

Rotwilder said:

I use BLEvo and a remote o synce device, which also changes motor power. Short press ring ring and long press general lee

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General Lee? If you’re thinking of crossing the Delaware …you’re gonna get wet.

Stihldog said:

General Lee? If you’re thinking of crossing the Delaware …you’re gonna get wet.

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Yeah, more Dukes of Hazzard

IMO, Ear buds are dangerous to the hearing when played too loud plus hikers should know that there are cyclists so what are they thinking? Anyway, I always slow down to a walking pace unless they see me, have a bell that always dings and say "rider rider" on your left if I am approaching. Most of the time they turn to the left thus the reason for slowing down. For horses I stop if they are coming to me and trail behind if I see them ahead until I get a wave to roll by. Who knows, I maybe found liable if someone got ejected from a horse and got hurt or I crashed into a hiker. Good thing this post came up because I just checked my bell and the bell dinger was gone. Good thing I had a spare.