Bell Boy!

I picked up the Incredibell Omnibell:

- it has a stretchy band that fits 22mm-31.8mm handlebar widths and a moveable dinger. I was able to mount it out of the way on the stem and rotate the dinger to an easy to reach position. Incredibell also makes a couple headset mounted bells, but the shop didn't have any.

After a bike ride one Saturday morning I met my wife and her running group at a coffee spot. Before I could make a polite exit to ride home, the talk turned to bikers passing runners without announcing their presence on the Centennial and Fish Lake Trails. It's a bit of a sore point with them. A couple are bikers also so it wasn't all anti-bike. I mentioned how many walkers/runners take up the whole trail, and have earbuds on. Or move to the left when you say "left" or ring the bell. I'm not one to say something every time I pass runners, usually only when they need to move over so I have room to pass.

They see it differently.  A biker should say "on your left" or ring the bell every time they pass runners/walkers.  One of their friends was telling every biker that passed silently by, "you're supposed to say on your left".  To which she got flipped off by one biker. But do you really need to say something every time you're passing somebody? I guess that's the rule, but it gets old. They know they're on a multi-use path with bikers and should be expecting them to pass by.  That's how I see it when I'm walking on one of the trails. But Debbie said she's been startled by bikes passing by when she didn't realize any were near.

So I broke down and thought I'd give the bell another try. Haven't had much chance to use it yet - only been on the Centennial Trail a couple times this week, and I try to avoid it during busy times.  So far  I've forgotten to ring it when I've had the opportunity to use it as a warning or a "hello" to fellow bikers. Might have to go practice it by riding around Riverfront Park.