[Closed] "might I suggest a bell gentleman" says the angry rambler...

I'm going to put the bell back on my bars. It seems to be a better option than yelling at folk and frightening the life out of them.

The rambler "leap of certain death" always raises a smile.

The way the old biddy at the back of a line of Rambling old biddies (it's always old biddies, have they escaped from somewhere?) will grab her friend (lets call her Biddy#2) yelling "bikes" at the top of her voice, grab hold of biddy#2 and throw her into the brambles, then throw her self to the side in the style of a WW2 Tommy throwing himself on a grenade.

While you totter past at 2, maybe even the dizzy heights of 3 mph....

bells don't work in my opinion, too much other noise and you always get the runners using ipods who cant hear a thing.

You cant win either way.I have a bell of my work commuter for the cyclepath and have use it in the past to be told i heard you coming you dont need the bloody bell.

What i answer to ramblers in the countryside when they say that to me i thought you didnt want noise in the countryside.You seem to try and ban anything that makes noises.Funny they never reply 😀

Yeah a foot in the ass works much better, one day they'll learn to move before my foot connects with their sphincter, bit like negative reinforcement!

Bells...
You can't win, it's either

"why don't you have a bell"

or

[Tinkle tinkle]

"why don't you just say hello, it's much friendlier..."

See? Can't win. May as well just run them down...

They are worse on really narrow lanes, instead of staying on one side they split onto groups on either side making it almost impossible to pass, if they have dogs they usually leave them in the middle of the road, maybe they don;t like their dogs.

I had a bell and got some real ear bendings for ringing it, I now have a nice loud comedy horn,

@nickc

"While you totter past at 2, maybe even the dizzy heights of 3 mph...."

This is the most hilarious thing, your stuck behind them at track stand speed, they look round and give you the look of death, like your out of control and about to mow there kid/pet down in a 70mph motorway collision. Some even crying out "slow down!!"

@rogerthecat I had a comedy horn on the manc to blackpool and left it on for normal trail riding for a few weeks, I have to admit the reaction was quite positive 😳 8)

Tommorrow I get to be lead bike on a local running race that makes use of a variety of footpaths and bridleways. My job being to alert ramblers to the impending stampede of runners.
I've a whistle and an old school honk honk horn on the handlebars.
Should be fun. 😈

I've never had anyone be negative when I ring my bell. While I feel it's friendly to say hi, it appears people prefer the bell. I don't mind having it on the bike so I use it regularly.

Strictly speaking, you are supposed to give way to walkers and you do get some bloody minded rambler who makes sure that you do. They are usually in a minority of one though.

The random abuse that sometimes gets shouted at can be annoying, such as "it's a bridleway, it's for horses". It's taken many years to learn to not get angry and ignore it.

This country needs to chill out. Hugely. Way too much aggro about what are basically first world problems...

"The ramblers need to chill out. Hugely. Way too much aggro about what are basically first world problems..."

Fixed 😆

I came up behind a couple riding along a canal path today, so slowed right down and said 'excuse me guys' or something similar to let them know I was there. The girl turns round and sees me, then instead of moving to the side she slams on the brakes meaning I have to swerve to avoid her. Luckily I was going about 3 mph.

Then the cheeky git says 'maybe you should get a bell'. I resisted the temptation to tell her she should perhaps get some semblance of control over her bike. Besides, I have as bell, but as above given i'm not using the canal as a race track surely slowing down and a cheery 'excuse me' is far more sociable.

I wanted to find a way of strapping this onto the bars in the Peak at times: proper WW2 air raid siren...It would get most diving for cover before the [s]Me109[/s] 29er arrived.
[img] [/img]

Ive never had anyone be negative when I ring my bell. While I feel it's friendly to say hi, it appears people prefer the bell. I don't mind having it on the bike so I use it regularly.

This for me. Most of the walkers around my way are very complimentary about my bell 8)

I had a bell on the bike once, years ago, & was on a BW near Rosedale coming up behind some walkers, I wasn't going quick as it was it a bit soggy underneath. Dings my bell & the nearest old biddy (can't always be biddy's shirley?) jumped about 3ft off the ground & says 'ooh, you gave me such a fright'
Took the sodding bell off when I got home & haven't had one since.

I'm a bell convert after our recent C2C ride, worked a treat and certainly speeded up progress. Yes you still get the odd knob - especially those with stupid long leads!!!! But on the whole give and take is the way to go. I also hate aggro and feel more chilled out with my new bell attachment 😀

I'm going to concur with nuke above.. I've also found that simply not being a **** is by far the best way to deal with other folk that are out enjoying the countryside, then even if you encounter a ****, you can cheerfully rise above it and continue your day happy..

As others have said, you can't win, i fitted a bell and had the same response of old ramblers jumping when i rang it to warn them i was approaching, then having them whinge about it, take the bell off and slow down, then politely give a warning of me approaching and it's the same response.

The sad fact is that it's more down to a lot of cyclists who fly past people without much warning, as well as most walkers just not wanting cyclists to use 'their' routes.

Bells on trolleys in Waitrose?

Why? Oldie, on a Saturday, in middle of not very wide aisle texting, two-handed. I opened mouth before engaging brain and told him to 'wake up'. 😆

Gawd, I'm a grumpy bugger sometimes.

Ooh, you mean old bag!

Ramblers. ....
As agreed the ones who you know heard you ding but purposely refuse to move. Just don't get it.

What's the deal with these ramblers who walk with ski poles? I never realised the leeds Liverpool canal is partof the ascent of mt everest

I tend to give them three separate dings as I approach. Usually can tell from far off at the first ding what sort they are by what there reaction is.

The ones who really annoy me (as happened today is giving them three separate dings and they ignore it and as you pass grumble about not giving them any notice I was coming. Yeah right. ....

I hate the families who, when you approach, head-on, and even though you slow down to a crawl, because you are considerate, grab their children and hold them close, with panic stricken faces as if you were a rampaging bull. Bizarre.

Ooh, you mean old bag!

yunki - if that's aimed at me then yes, that as well! 😀

Another vote for the comedy clown horn- makes me feel like Harpo Marx and amuses the kids.

I get this all the time. One particular chap told me to "Get a f**ing bell" to which I stopped and politely explained to him that I'd lose all street cred from my riding mates if I had one. It turns out that his dog was hit by a cyclist a few months ago and had to be taken to the vet with a broken rib. Nice chap in the end and I hope that my amicability changed his perception of mtbers.

One particular chap told me to "Get a f**ing bell" to which I stopped and politely explained to him that I'd lose all street cred from my riding mates if I had one. It turns out that his dog was hit by a cyclist a few months ago and had to be taken to the vet with a broken rib. Nice chap

I just tend to shout 'ding ding' And as I'm going past ....say "share the trail please there's enough for everyone "

One of our group rides nearly ended with a hospital visit due to manic dog bounding in front of our bikes on an official bike trail. A bell would not have made a difference. The owner was watching well before we got there and we'd past her before anyway. Stupid woman was just laughing at her manic untrained dog, joking that it would teach the dog if we ran into it!. Later bumped into her again and had a polite word and she suddenly took offence and went off on one ranting about how mountain bikers are destroying the area.

Anyway... on the subject of bells, if I have a bell it's usually on a tow path or places I'm likely to find a lot of walkers and I'm always prepared to slow down and stop & wait for them. If they're coming towards me I'll make room and when following I'm prepared to wait, but ringing a bell and even stopping some will jump out of their skin and stand well back as if I'm about to charge through with a bus, often giving me a dirty look. Others look at me and continue walking ignoring me.

Not all though. The majority tend to be friendly.

Out in the Surrey Hills it's far friendlier also, and rarely find anyone moaning. Most are happy and have a joke or two with riders especially seeing them exhausted on a climb. Except for crazy woman with manic dog, as found in the Surrey Hills 😉

If it's a trail ride though, I don't have a bell. They fall off, get broken off, and are an extra thing to dig into you when you fall off. Generally the trails are separate from walking paths too.

"Dumb ass walkers"

Generally rude and unhelpful even when you try and be as polite as possible. I ride horse riders much more biker friendly.

Not getting this really - I have a little ting bell on any bikes which are likely to be on towpaths, bridleways, old railway paths etc. If you start ringing from a good way back, then put in some more as you get closer IME, no bother (aside from the odd wazzock).

poonprice - Member

I ride horse riders much more biker friendly.

I shout "ting a ling!". It usually raises a smile.

horse riders much more [s]biker friendly [/s] fitter .

I always say hello to horse riders as I was told until the horse hears a human voice some do not know what a bike is and get worried.

And going back to my orginal point are usually nice looking young ladies 8)

singlecrack - Member
I just tend to shout 'ding ding' And as I'm going past ....say "share the trail please there's enough for everyone

Old people don't hear so well. Old people cannot leap out of the way quickly. Old people have brittle bones and are afraid of getting injured as they know the recovery time is long. Old people are used to the paths and bridleways being free of mountain bikes.

The rambler was polite enough, you can just say "excellent idea" and ride on.

Gears_suck ...its ment to .....its for ignorant rambler's who refuse to move even when they know you're there and continue to walk 5 abreast across the trail

I had a walker deliberately block the tow path on one ride. I had slowed to walking pace and followed up past a lock because we had about 10-12 riders in the group. I was a little ahead and when the path widened where he could not stop me from passing I pulled up along side and said as politely as I could muster. "There are a lot more riders following behind me." His response was. "This is a footpath. Note the word footpath!" I replied calmly. "No, it's a towpath, you retard." Seemed to do the trick.
Sometimes it's just easier to get down to their level.
99% of the time there are no problems, but when there are, I've found that politeness will have no positive effect on the situation. You might as we'll be an ass because no matter what you say, they will think you're one anyway and I always aim to please.

singlecrack - Member
Gears_suck ...its ment to .....its for ignorant rambler's who refuse to move even when they know you're there and continue to walk 5 abreast across the trail

^ Technically a tow path is no right of way for riding, but depends on the tow path. There are many in the UK where you're actually supposed to have a permit to ride. Many the right to ride depends on the land it's going through also. Even the Thames is like this, though they've marked a cycle path through many parts now.

One of my locals, the Wey Navigation is a permissive access for bikes. They're allowed, but the attitude is one of tolerance and walkers, and of course those using the tow path for its actual purpose, have priority.

user-removed - Member
(aside from the odd [b]wazzock[/b]).

Haven't heard the word wazzock in years! 😀

I get way more people apologising to me when their dog/child wanders in front of my bike than I do complaining or being awkward. But I'm always going slow enough to stop by that point so it's not a problem and usually ends up with a bit of a competition to see who can be most apologetic and/or friendly.

The rare times that someone does complain (usually just a 'tut') I just reply with a cheery greeting.

I wonder if there is a correlation between the aggressiveness of drivers and walkers by area...

Spawny-eyed, parrot-faced wazzock..

those using the tow path for its actual purpose

You could try singing hymns? Or doing a full-throated evil laugh "Mu-ha-ha-ha"

I'd pay good money for an electric bell that played Brian Blessed at people...

The way some scuttle out the way I'd consider an MP3 player small speaker and some Benny hill music for your approach as they scurry out the way as if you were a freight train.

I mtb, road bike and run on all sorts of paths and trails. There have been lots of occasions when running at Glentress when groups of mtbers slowly pedalling up the road won't move for a runner heading down the road on the right side of the forest road. I think they like playing chicken. I always acknowledge if on a bike or running but you get idiots all the time! One morning after a hard run heading home and feeling the worse a group didn't move while I was running, neither did I or my elbows..... It's easier to keep moving down a hill fast 😀

Towing my little girl on the local cycle path annoys dog owners! This really pisses me off! I'm sure the buggy is sound proof

We are all out for enjoyment.....it's nice to be nice 😆

I just use a long tickle stick.

we are British; get a bell and take the moral high ground. Ding it like a mofo and when they don't move over loudly proclaim about their ignorance and rudeness.

we are British; get a bell and take the moral high ground. Ding it like a mofo and when they don't move over loudly proclaim about their ignorance and rudeness.

+1000

even if you think it's rude, the average rambler welcomes it

Bell on my commuter. A BBB Bellspace that mounts to a stem spacer. It is very discrete, takes up no space and gives a pleasant moral-higround ting!

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or

[img] [/img]

?

Ramblers purposely ignoring the Hope Pro 2's silence shattering buzz, until pretty much running them over. Its like the only frequency they part the trail to, is the open sesame password of a bell ring!

I tend to ignore numpties who have some sort of self-centred belief that their annoying hubs give them some sort of right of way - whether I'm on foot or on my bike. Stop being a chod in the countryside and try treating other users of the countryside with a little respect. You coming along at a faster pace and just expecting them to get out of YOUR important way is ignorance. You are no more or less important than they are. However, make assumptions that they should clear the way for you and you become a complete idiot.

^^ and for the same reason I don't use a bell. Ringing a bell can be construed as a demand for walkers to hop out of the way.

Everytime I meet someone, a polite "excuse me" has always worked, and if they have already moved, or seen me, a "hello" and a "thank you" go a long way to keeping both "sides" amicable.

I've only once had someone tell me to 'get a bell'... I just smiled at her as she and her group were walking [i]in the middle of the road[/i] at the time and we'd just come up behind then.

Heh.

I once had a couple of teenagey girls say 'what are you doing on the FOOT path??' I got to point at the white painted bike-path sign they were [i] standing on[/i] 😀

edit - fair play to them, they said 'oh' and got out the way!

A friendly approach almost always works. however that doesn't seem to be the fashion for many here.
Modern ting bells don't register with older people as a bell. Its the wrong noise, very quick and by the time they work out what it is the speeding cyclist is upon them.
Older double ring ones work better but it is not the cool thing to do. I ride almost daily around the gravel in the FoD. Millions of walkers out. Why they use the cycle track when there are miles of other I dunno but they do. A friendly "Morning" works. Slow down , expect those surprised to react in unpredictable ways,(you wouldn't pass a small child on a bike without much warning and care.) Give way as is courtesy when you are the faster mover, .
Expecting a walker to move at the sound of a hub is dim-witted. I assume that's sarcastic. How are they supposed to know what it is and I for one don't react to an unusual sound. The again I assume that anyone with a noisy hub hasn't made a sensible choice anyway. 😆
Of course anyone with head phones is a complete F wit and deserves a fright.
Just what is wrong with a touch of courtesy, respect for ones elders, and taking things slowly. Cyclist are the first to complain when some dimwit in a car passes them at speed.

Everytime I meet someone, a polite "excuse me" has always worked, and if they have already moved, or seen me, a "hello" and a "thank you" go a long way to keeping both "sides" amicable.

This is what I do to. Don't have a bell, and only ever had one person tell me to get one, although they had heard me coming and gotten out of the way before I would have started ringing one anyway. They certainly weren't close enough when they shouted it to see if I had one or not.

On the whole people are very acceptant (I find) if I just ride up behind them slowly and say "excuse me".

If you do want people to move quickly though, squeaky brakes work a charm. Everyone assumes they're broken and you can't stop.

I got called a very rude word for informing a gentleman who stepped across me on a 15ft wide cyclepath he should make observations before crossing the path (to the side of a busy dual carriageway, maybe his intention was to remove himself from the gene pool?) and the following rant included "you're a ****ing psychopath" whilst astride the large painted bicycle symbol. Cue my moment to shine, smug doesn't come close.

a whistle tends to attract attention from about 15feet away (just mid-pitch without an actual whistle).Then when nearer if haven't moved open a sentence like - "please could I make my way round or is it ok I make progress? Thanks" If you whistle just have to watch out for dogs coming in from the undergrowth or up ahead and be prepared!

Came up behind a girl on the towpath t'other day who had a wondering dog on a long lead. Called out several times to no response. Finally realized she had earphones in. When I came along side her and past the dog (carefully) she about shat herself. I just don't get it. Why come outside into our lovely countryside and then create a barrier between you and it?

devils advocate

a rambler blocking a cyclist on a path is no different from a cyclist "taking the lane" on a road.

in both cases 2 people are doing risk assessments of whether or not it's safe to pass/be passed...the overtaker and the overtakee - whose risk assessment is most valid?

One of the big problems in this country is the way the small-minded are apt to take are offence whenever it suits. It doesn't matter what method you warn people of your approach, it is always possible to complain about it. I don't think your own attitude makes much difference ( unless you ate being really anti-social to start with.) if someone has decided that you are on [i]their[/i] territory.

Last week i passed a walker on a shared path who actually understood what to do when i said 'On your left'. I was shocked when he simply stepped a little further to the right without even looking.

I approach, reduce speed, at about 15-20ft away, announce my presence "excuse me please, cyclist to your right". Probably 50% of the time it works, the rest of the time ending in chaos - if people can't understand this though, should they really be let out?

I always try to be polite, slow down and say thanks.... Ignore any comments and focus on the next bit of my ride.
The chances are I'm having a better journey than they are.
Joggers with headphones in are fair game to be honest.

No bell here, always just slow right down and say hello/thank you on way past. Save the "hard stare" for the occasional idiots.

Old dear yesterday made me laugh. She was at the back of a group of elderly ramblers and noticed me, shouted "BIKE!" several time to the rest of the group. Not one of them heard her or made a move.

"Just run 'em over" she told me as I went by.

Most people are fine if you slow down, hold back and keep the Pro 2 rumbling 😆

I got stuck behind a Jogger with Earphones in for 15 Mins a while ago. I could have got past but the young lady was a lovely sight at the end of a long ride 8)

Tbh .....it's very rare to get an ignorant rambler where I ride ...... Most of them are very friendly and are happy to chat as you pass ........it's like life in general .... just the odd idiot that ruins it

Went through this sort of BS for years on the towpath commute. Eventually stopped using the bell and adopted the warning phrase of 'look out behind'. I wanted something that would prick up ears 'look out!' and give a direction for the warning 'behind'. Sounds idiotically simplistic but I've never had a bad experience since adopting it several years ago. The tone you deliver it with, and the following Hugh Grant-esque 'Awfully sorry. Thank you so much' is crucial to success.

Technically a tow path is no right of way for riding, but depends on the tow path. There are many in the UK where you're actually supposed to have a permit to ride. Many the right to ride depends on the land it's going through also. Even the Thames is like this, though they've marked a cycle path through many parts now.

Not so now, the Canal and River Trust seem to be taking a responsible access approach like Scotland [url= http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/see-and-do/cycling ]as detailed here.[/url] A bit odd to restrict bike access on a towpath as their designation would make them a de facto bridleway due to historic horse use on them for a 100 plus years.

Too many selfish, intolerant people on a small, overpopulated island.

Welcome to Britain. 😀

I use a bell and as has been suggested before, start ringing it well away from my target, if that doesn't work, I say loudly "excuse me", if that doesn't work, I try to edge past until they notice me and jump out of the way, and I say "thank you" and I mean it 😀

Never had any negative comments, even when I've been travelling at speed 😆

and I say "thank you" and I mean it

I think this is pretty much the most important comment so far..

Anyone who doesn't respond well to heartfelt common courtesy is a wally and will get what's coming to them..
And the same goes for them that can't apply it.. 8)

The more remote you are often the more friendly the rambler. The ones who have just walked a hundred metres from the car can be the most awkward especially as they seem to be the ones with herds of dogs and toddlers.

A bit odd to restrict bike access on a towpath as their designation would make them a de facto bridleway due to historic horse use on them for a 100 plus years

Not as odd as horses not being allowed on them, but there is some argument that they would need a load more maintenance with big beasties trampling around.

Too many selfish, intolerant people on a small, overpopulated island.

Most of them posting on STW

Interesting point Rob. I wonder how much, if any, extra maintenance would be required given that there would be less horses than when the navigations were in use and the load would be smaller too as they wouldn't be dragging 50tons of load.

[quote=FOG]The more remote you are often the more friendly the rambler.

It is worth bearing in mind that that rambler you passed 15 miles from nowhere may be the person to pull you off a rock and administer first aid and call for help... and vice-versa if they got into difficulty.

Petty "who's trail is it anyway" middle class first word problems nonsense pales into insignificance when one human is giving lifesaving help to another miles from nowhere.

Worth bearing in mind.

Doesn't work quite the same on towpaths in the middle of town though.