Handlebars wear a bell as your wrist sports a watch – non essential perhaps, but certainly useful and it can look good, too. The bells fitted by law to all new bicycles are cheap and nasty looking – and almost always quickly removed once the bike leaves the shop. This is unfortunate because if you cycle on tracks and paths shared with others, they are a polite way of announcing your approach, especially if followed with a verbal greeting and request to pass.
When it comes to sound, it’s all in the choice of metal. While the alloy used in the most basic models might be cheap to produce, the flimsy plastic used to strike the dome produces a tinny sound. The Oi bicycle bell uses a spring-loaded actuator to strike firm and fast, resulting in a good balance of volume and longevity of sound. The bell actually has several pitch tones – one core and several supportive higher tones.
The Oi bicycle bell reimagines a much-underrated accessory that has remained largely unchanged since it was invented in 1877
Unlike the traditional bicycle bell, the Oi is not a dome. The design wraps discreetly around the handlebar is a way that looks as good on a vintage ride as it does on a road bike.
There are five styles. The standard aluminium model comes in four finishes: brushed aluminium; brass-plated; copper-plated; and black.
Win the Oi bicycle bell
We have five Oi bicycle bells to give away. Leave us a message at the bottom of this page letting us know what bike you’d be fitting it to and we’ll pick winners next week.
Protection for you and your bike
A true test of a cycle insurance company is what happens when you make a claim – it’s why we don’t farm out the process to a third party like other providers. Your claim is dealt with by one of us here and you’re always welcome to call us directly. It’s also the reason we will never devalue your bicycle, no matter how old it is.
We don’t claim to be the cheapest cover on the market, but should you ever need to make a claim, you’ll understand why we consider ourselves to be the best. After all, we are judged by The Good Shopping Guide to be Britain’s most ethical provider.
Darren C
Would be fitted to my 1980’s mountain bike used for daily commuting – I always find that using a bell generally helps to keep the cycle lane clear of pedestrians who think it’s a pavement extension! Though not very useful when you’re behind a jogger wearing earphones with a deafening volume of music playing oblivious to anyone behind them.
Andrew Harmsworth
I have a lovely shiny blue road bike that one of these would be perfect on! All the bike lanes in Cambridge are full of parked cars and vans, so I need something loud! 🙂
Russ Taylor
Now I like that. Have you got one in blue to match my handlebar tape?
Tommy Knowland
A copper bell for the highways and byways of Yorkshire
Paul S
Oi that black on black sleek design would look great on my newly built ebike i can get rid of the 2ft high cheap and nasty looking one then Ding Ding Bell me please .
Keith
It would rejuvenate my elderly touring bike which now sees daily service for commuting.
Steve
Oi! I want one!
Ding, ding!
Lucy
For a Genesis croix de fer tourer in red. Needs a bit of ding to make it go!
Damian Connaughton
It would be fitted to my commuting bike, hopefully keeping me safe on my way to and from work!
Al
I have just bought a 5 year old Brompton Brazen from eBay. It is in superb condition having been very carefully looked after. It is absolutely beautiful, one of these bells would finish it off perfectly.
John Thys
Got to say it .Ding Dong
Jim W
This would be for my Pashley U plus 2 so when the kids want my attention they can ring for it!
Fran Peck
I will be fitting to my Tramper Mobility Scooter
Mark B
I’d fit it to my main bike, a Racelight frame with other bits too numerous to mention built for me by my local bike shop.
Paul Magnall
Oi, I’d like one those! It would certainly brighten up my daytime commute.
David Gray
Yes, gimme one. Please.
Judith Soulsby
I don’t have a bike (too old and arthritic) but would love one of these to give to a young friend of mine, a keen cyclist, who helped me so much after I had a fire in my house last year – she would really enjoy it when cycling round the Welsh mountain roads!
Stavria Achilleos
I would love one for my road bike!
Paul Baron
I would be fitting this bell to my Ridgeback Panorama which I am using daily as my commuter.
I cycle through a shared park section on my commute and I think a bell is more polite and acceptable to pedestrians than just shouting “excuse me”.
Brian Bond
I would be having the bell on my trusty Marin mtb I’ve had donkey’s years and now use as a run around in the Totnes area. The clapper has broken on my present bell and so would be a timely replacement.
Al Napp
Ding Dong
I’d like one
Bryn Gwyndaf Jones
I’m always want to tell cyclists they should have a bell, particularly as I back onto an old railway from Welwyn Garden City to Luton, now Sustrans N12.
Vils
The Oi bell would be fitted to my Dawes Galaxy. Pedestrians need a gentle reminder every now and then.
Peter Clark
I’d fit it to my trusty Specialized hybrid. It’s nearly old enough to vote and could do with a bit of bling
Steve K
I would fit it to my Swiss Country Bike – basically a town bike with mountain bike wheels, as rented out by the Swiss railways in 1994. It will replace an old bell advertising an insurance company which sponsored the bikes.
Pamela
The bell would go on my hybrid tourer which I take cycle touring in the UK and Europe.
Mike Croker
Roland (the Road Rat) would like a black one, please, to match his paintwork.
Lesley Walton
Oi! I got a new touring bike last week – without a bell. It’s ace to ride… and the plan is to take it up some Scottish mountains! Handlebars look quite fat to me…
Peter Chisnall
Ringing!
Jane B
I would love one of these bells for my Brompton M type which currently sports a rather cheap and nasty bell which I constantly snag on the doorway as I go into my house. One of these rather lovely and unobtrusive bells would solve my problem!
Alastair Seagroatt
It would be a delight to warn others wit this sonic wonder.
Stephen
I’d fit this classy piece to my equally classy classic Raleigh Clubman 531.
Jamie J
Ding dong… would fit snugly on the Giant City Escape commuting workhorse…
Gavin
Ding-dong! I’ll fit it to my Giant town bike.
Aye, aye,
Gavin.
Paul Miller
My trusty hybrid commuter bike would appreciate one of these on the shared use cycle paths in Oxford. Better than shouting.
Oonagh Staerck
I’m hadn’t ridden a bike since I was 14, but I picked up a second-hand olive green Giant mountain bike recently and I’m loving it. At the moment I’m starting out on the local cycle paths which are full of walkers. It would be great to give them some warning before I come zooming by!
Laurence Hill
My super Keran electric mountain bike!
Steve L
The bell would be fitted to my partner’s Etnnic trike (made in northern Spain), a fantastic machine for someone who’s never got to grips with a ‘standard’ bike.
Robert Lewis
I would fit the bell to my Roy Thame Road bike, which I had resprayed in dark red a few years ago.
Huw Thomas
Genesis Croix de Fer
Rod Hewson
My little ding a ling
wesley
Oi, it’s a thorn raven!
Matthew Blackmore
Oi!
Thanks for the chance to win a new bell on my road bike, like you said the flimsy one provided by the shop fell off after a few weeks!
Craig
This would be most suitable on my commuting bike to politely alert pedestrians of my presence on shared paths, therefore my Boardman flat bar racer would love to be adorned by one of these please.
Raf
ah, it’s my birthday next week! one of these would be a gorgeous gift for my purple GT gravel bike!
Sarah
I would fit the bell to my wonderful Dawes
Sam Fleming
A lovely black bell would take pride of place on my black Merida Spresso.
Peta Sandison
To go on my lovely old steel-framed 1997 Marin – the handlebars are so cluttered with Stuff now, I need a small, neat bell – with elegance the added benefit!
Chris L
My singlespeed commuting bike would be the ideal recipient of an Oi bell, then maybe even the Phone Zombies will be aware that they’re walking in front of me!
Kathy Cowbrough
This bell would be a real bonus for regular cycling I do, intro local town, 20 or so miles once a week plus cycling with a group (only 6 at the moment) about 4 times a month.
Alan Donnelly
I would put it on my recumbent trike – the flag on a pole makes it easily visible to other road users and drivers almost without exception give me a wide berth – but pedestrians haven’t got eyes in the back of their heads, nor (mostly) rear view mirrors, so a classy audible alert would come in handy!
Karl Wallendszus
These look very cool. Hopefully they sound good too.
Susan Lancaster
The bell that came with my Giant hybrid bike recently broke so need something to replace it with. Find a bike bell really useful and always try and use it with courtesy (more’s the pity that other cyclists don’t do the same!). A copper or brass one would be lovely.
Lawrence B
Ding dong.
Steve
One of these would certainly ring my bell on my much loved Ribble Audax, which I use for commuting.
Charles
Ding Dong! My commute/leisure/only bike. My last bell got “removed” by a kind soul in the bike rack at the hospital I work at. This would be great. Any colour as long as its black please.
Gillian
My lovely Dawes Flair from the early 80s.