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Bike bells are good
It’s a bit late to recommend Christmas presents, but if you know anyone having a birthday in 2012 I have a most excellent gift idea for you.
Sweetpea Bicycles (“the bike that will love you back”) stock Crane brass temple bells and not only are they reasonably priced, they will ship to NZ for about NZ$9 shipping costs for two. Just make sure you check whether they have the lever strike (pictured on the website) or the hammer strike in stock. I thought I was getting the lever strike but it was the hammer strike that arrived.
Crane temple bells are renowned for their lovely tones, with the brass being the deepest (relatively speaking). They’re also pretty and shiny – incredibly shiny as you can see from the reflection in the image of me taking the photograph.
I find my bell exceedingly useful. I live in Miramar so my ride to work is on shared paths for a good deal of the way. If I want to pass someone or just let them know I’m there, or if I’m coming up to a blind corner on the waterfront, the bell says it all for me. I’ve noticed lately that pedestrians (aka ‘people walking along’) are getting more responsive to bells, which I call progress.
So if you’ve got a spare $25 or so to spend on someone – including yourself – this is a lovely bell that combines form and function. I highly recommend it.
*Sweetpea gets extra cred for being comprised of Natalie the bike builder, and her husband and super cute bebbeh.
Crane temple bell
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About LisaLisa Black started riding bikes again in 2010 after a 15 year hiatus. She’s still getting the hang of it and rides mainly along the waterfront and (carefully) through the city. Lisa has a new appreciation of shortcuts and alleyways, and rides a mixte frame because she can do it in a frock.
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Malcolm
December 20, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Is there anywhere you can get bicycle bells in Wellington? Do bike stores normally have them?
Lisa
December 20, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Rocket Bikes in Rongotai and Burke’s in Kilbirnie definitely have them. Rocket carry several sizes to fit different handlebar diameters, and Burke’s have some quite nice ‘ring-ring’ bells like the kind that was around when I was a kid.
Rob Appleton
December 20, 2011 at 10:04 pm
A must if you’re a regular commuter through the Mt Vic Tunnel, or the waterfront for that matter.
Patrick Morgan, Cycling Advocates Network
December 21, 2011 at 10:42 am
The Crane is the ne plus ultra of bike bells. You can hear one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2mGDUULIkQ
It puts me in such a meditative mood that I fear one day I’ll fall asleep while dinging.
I recently combed the world for these, including a trip to Japan, where they are made. But I did not find them there. Denmark, Netherlands, Uk – no luck. Tracked one down in Davis California, but as Lisa suggests, much the easier way is to go online.
It is so effective that it even alerts ipodded walkers as I pedal through the Basin Reserve.
All hail to the Crane and it’s 100% non-plastic construction.
Shiny
December 23, 2011 at 8:29 am
What the profile like? Would the interfere with the fold on my Dahon?
I’m struggling to find a bell that won’t get smashed off during fold.
Lisa
December 23, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Good question. I’ve seen folding bikes with the bell on the stem instead of the handlebars. Would that work for you?
Shiny
January 29, 2012 at 5:18 pm
good news — profile was small enough to fit on my dahon, and not interfere with folding.
shiny
December 30, 2011 at 5:36 pm
I’m gonna go ahead and order and see.
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