Seems we’ve had a ‘near-miss’* with some walkers recently.
One way for mountain bikers to make their presence known to other trail users would be use this movement-activated app…

Even More Cowbell by Tom’s Apps, LLC
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/even-more-cowbell/id315908878

Or, you could simply attach an actual cow-bell to your handlebars!

Might make an interesting conversation point…

“Nice bike. so are you on your own, or will there be any udders?”

*as Ben Elton remarked, “a near miss would be a hit”

Post-collision, the trailsides littered with woolly hats, jodhpurs and hydraulic fluid…
“Well, we NEARLY missed them!”

Or get one of these https://www.mtbbell.com/

Been thinking about a ‘Timber’ cowbell – I train on lots of shared paths and getting a little tired of the half deaf folk – might just help a little more with getting through headphones, as my voice doesn’t.

They’re fairly effective, annoying to listen to constantly as the rider.

If the trail or path is too flat it doesn’t do a lot but give the handle bars a little wiggle and it sparks into action. Most people I go past seem more confused about the noise than anything else, they notice it though.

They’re fairly effective, annoying to listen to constantly as the rider.

You can turn the Timber Bell off so you don’t have to listen to it constantly. That’s the point of it. Works well ime.

kelron

Subscriber
They’re fairly effective, annoying to listen to constantly as the ride

the whole point of the timberbell is that you can switch them to silent or have it ringing while keeping both hands on the bars

I tend to take the view that I don’t “train” on shared paths, but it depends on the exact nature of the path. Long straight sections with clear line of sight are fair enough.

bells are great if
A)the person you are ringing it at is of a certain age, most people under 50 have no clue what a bell ringing signifies
B) the person you are ringing it at isn’t wearing headphones and can’t hear your bell. i find tapping them on the shoulder hilarious, they jump quite high.
C)the person you are ringing it at isn’t a belligerent **** who ignores it on purpose

If only we had the ability to raise our voice a little louder, with a disarmingly cheery greeting, when approaching another trail user…. 🙂

If only we had the ability to raise our voice a little louder, with a disarmingly cheery greeting, when approaching another trail user

see 2 & 3

@tocketdog

Then raise your heads to the heavens and sing, sing, sing..

Udders?

Bit late to the game 😆

We get a lot of positive comments from other trail users when we’re using our Timber Bells.

Thanks for the input:)

I decidedly to offer my opinion after viewing ‘that’ Cairngorms descent.

The timber bell looks like a great product.
TBH, I thought something like that would be years down the line!

In the meantime, I’ll see how I get on with my app.

More bovine nonsense…

“Chanson le mooooooo!”

Timber bell works fantastically never had anyone moan

The timber bell looks like a great product.
TBH, I thought something like that would be years down the line!

They’re good. The first version wore gradually to the point where the clapper wouldn’t stay in place on rough terrain – I fixed mine with a sharp knife and some bodgery with a zip-tie end to increase the friction – but the latest version is supposed to be fixed with a spring detente to hold things in place.

The only other issue I’ve had is with mud on the inside of the bell muffling it slightly.

Sure, some people won’t hear it / will employ the selective deafness technique learned from their dog, but ime it’s as good as it gets and doesn’t have the slightly demanding, high-pitched ping of many bells. It’s more politely melodic. Walkers seem to like it.

If only we had the ability to raise our voice a little louder, with a disarmingly cheery greeting, when approaching another trail user…. 🙂

You can do both. Or either. And rock a loud as hell free-hub too.

Randomness of the Timber Bell seems to get noticed more than a normal ding-ding bell!

Quite liking the idea of hanging a cowbell from a tree near blind bends, to be tapped by riders coming down the trail. and a sign on the way up saying listen for the cowbell!

Older walkers sometimes can’t hear high-pitched bells.

Timber bell now being sold by STW

Discount for members or STW branding perhaps? 😉

Not sold on them yet though. I can appreciate out with hill walkers and horse riders where the cowbell sound is pleasant and they tend to be less hostile to riders anyway.

The miserable gits on the canal though are deaf, selectively deaf, headphones in, or otherwise looking for a reason to kick off. The approaching gentle cowbell sound might not get their attention. I find it difficult enough to get attention with a loud bell I’m ringing constantly.

Though as I’ve often said, in the morning it’s a different matter. Happy friendly bunch. Seem to be fitter more active types out and they often spot me without even ringing a bell and greet me with a cheery hello before I’ve had a chance to say anything.

Anyway, how are Timber bells in a crash? My regular crappy cheap bell got smashed up other week in a crash, and that’s with it mounted under the bar. So I’m after a replacement. It’s mainly for the towpath though and as I say I’m not sure this type will keep them from ranting.

2x

Some of this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlsfM2BmsJU

It would drive me insane to have a bell dinging all the time. My bikes must run silent!

Anyway, how are Timber bells in a crash? My regular crappy cheap bell got smashed up other week in a crash, and that’s with it mounted under the bar. So I’m after a replacement. It’s mainly for the towpath though and as I say I’m not sure this type will keep them from ranting.

Mine have been fine. I use the ones that are held in place with an o-ring type thing and they simply rotate on the bar, plus I tend to have it quite centrally mounted where it’s not particularly exposed.

They’re not an infallible means of vaporising walkers, but then nothing is. There are selectively deaf folk and folk with headphones in, but they’re a good, non-aggressive option that works well without getting people’s backs up.

It would drive me insane to have a bell dinging all the time. My bikes must run silent!

The whole point of the Timber Bell is that you can switch it on and off, so its not ‘dinging all the time’.