Spurcycle makes beautiful bicycle bells from a combination of stainless steel and brass.
Win a Spurcycle bicycle bell
The Spurcycle produces a ‘powerful sound from a trim, precision form. A bell for any bike: Modern road, mountain, or vintage townie.’ We have one to give away. Ping us a comment at the bottom of this page and we’ll pick one lucky winner next week.
What makes good bicycle bells?
A bicycle handlebars wear a bell as your wrist sports a watch – not essential, but useful and can look good, too. The bells fitted by law to all new bicycles are cheap and nasty looking.
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, it’s sound is tinny and inferior. By comparison, traditional bell metal comprises mainly copper and has been used to produce the best bells (and on occasion cannon) for over 3,000 years. The Spurcycle uses stainless steel to produce a crisp and distinctive sound.
The bicycle bell is a much under-valued accessory; although it is a legal requirement that bicycle start their lives with one fitted, the fashion is for them to be quickly removed. 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.
Beyond bicycle bells
Frustrated and angered by the disproportionate danger posed to cyclists by lorries, the ETA designed and built the world’s loudest bicycle horn. At close quarters the Hornster bicycle emits 138 decibels; a level of sound so powerful that if used in anger it could deafen any motorist who veered too close.
The triple air horn fitted to the bicycle is an Airchime KH3A from an American locomotive, which has been adapted to run off a scuba diving cylinder. Watch the Hornster on Youtube
The Hornster is so powerful that at a distance of 100ft it is far louder than a standard truck horn and more than noisy enough for a cyclist to make themselves heard above the din of the urban jungle.
Cycle insurance to make noise about
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it. Read our insider guide to cycle insurance.
ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model. Furthermore, every cycle insurance policy you buy from us helps support the work of the ETA Trust, our charity campaigning for a cleaner, safer transport future.
For 25 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalue bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and handle claims in-house.
The Good Shopping Guide voted us ethical in Britain.
TheCyclist
What wouldn’t I give for one of these bells on my Roberts Roughstuff bicycle. That would really enhance the appearance of my bike. 🙂
Mooch
Beauty is that bell !
Clare Chick
This beautiful bell would sound an end to my warning shouts of ‘Ring ring!” to warn texting pedestrians about to step out in front of me!
Sue
I’ve wanted one of these bells for ages, they are so stylish. Please can I have one?
Donald Payne
I currently have a bulb horn from an auto-rickshaw on my bike, which emits a lovely deep lorry horn note. A Spurcycle bell would complement it perfectly for those less confrontational meetings. Don.
Thomas
Ode to the bell…
Chime, chime, chime away
Ring a-new another day
Bells and bikes belong together
Even on cycles with seats of leather
The chime of bells is particlarly nice
When the universe rolls the right dice
So that a dinger can be one with my bike
My roady, Fixy, or even my Trike
W A Hughes
Especially useful when pedestrians block the cycle track.
Alex
That’s a nice looking bell. It would be a welcome addition to my bicycle!
Cheryl Buxton-Sait
These look great.
lumogas
My tastes chime with the design of that bell! See what I did there?
Nick
My new bike wasn’t fitted with a bell when I bought it so this would be ideal.
Stuart Lamb
Stylish! This would come in handy when on my daily commute along canal paths
James B
That is a lovely bell.
Gavin Sharp
Remember Terry Thomas as the doctor asking the nurse her name: “Nurse Bell doctor” came the reply – “Oh really really nurse – dingggg dongggg”
Vic Kearley
If the prize is awarded to the wittiest comment, I’m doomed.
Let’s hope it’s all down to luck.
Clive Morphet
Not available in Britain? Why not? I would buy one.
Alex
A great pieceof engineering…..
Vivien Sproule
Bella, belle, belissimo… you get the idea.
Alastair Seagroatt
Looks the just the job to stylishly warn folk of your presence.
Doug Milsom
I’d almost given up looking for an effective bell, especially for use on our ridiculous cycle lanes shared with pedestrians. One of these splendid bells would be “just the job”.
Tim Earl
Lovely bell, but I can’t help thinking the Hornster stunt was a waste of money. How much did it cost and how can you quantify any results it might have achieved?
Dick Willis
Ping!
John
That is a little beauty and rings a bell with me!
Elizabeth Kirkham
Brilliant bells, brilliant idea
Peter Crook
Ding a ling!
Eric Ludlow
Ding dong!
Peter Clark
Always reminds me of cyclists in Amsterdam who have no bells – they say “tring” when they come up behind you. Love it!
Yul Emirali
My last bell broke but I am always disappointed at the timbre of all my past bells. Sounds like this bell is just the ticket. Thanks
Liza Rodgers
Being polite costs nothing. All I need is the ring of that beautiful bell coupled with a smile. That is all it takes to promote polite cyclists happy to share a road or path in harmony.
Sarah
My bell broke and so I am without bell
Rory
Need something to stop the early morning zombies roaming under my wheels.
James Russell
Ding-Dong!
Anthony Johnson
I’m coming your way!
Peter Chisnall
Ding dong!!
Deedee
What a beautiful thing…..!
James
Look an excellent ‘ding a ling’
OKAYDAVE
The way they drive here in California I need a bell for my bike
edmund white
A well made and lovely bit of kit, I’d love to have one
Alex
Would be great for drawing attention to my presence in the morning when the pedestrians are still half asleep.
Steve Padmore
Might use it as when running..finger ring
Mick Thain
At last a bell that I would actually put on my wonderfull enduro 29er. Might keep stroppy walkers up the surrey hills a bit sweeter
Rob Lewis
A great looking bell!
Nancy Townsend
PING!! Count me in, please.
Caitlin Bent
What a beautifully designed bell! I would love one of these 🙂
Phil
Ting ting
giuseppe
Ding dong here i come!!
Janine Walker
Ah, a bell that would actually look as well as sound good and complement my bike perfectly!
Judy Aplin
As a church bell ringer, I really appreciate a decent sounding bell. Just love it!
diana
Brass and steel in style
Mark B
I’d love one please.
Sylviane
wow… Somebody has thought about a good useful and pretty bell. I want one!
Kathy C
Just what I need a new lovely looking bell. My current bell was cheap given to me by local cycle shop but its not working well, so a new one like this would be perfect.
Mike Croker
Better than a Cateye!
Alan
We bike a lot in Florida where we have family & I would love to bell them dog in a stroller walkers every morning, let the dog walk people it has 4 legs!
John soames
Ring a ding ding
Darren C
What a smashing bell, it would be the best part of my bike!
Raf
sounds like a great idea!
richard C
not sure I have a bike to do it justice but,,,,
Jamie
You can get these at Brick Lane Bikes in London but they’re pricey so I’d love a freebie!
Stuart Pegg
Wanted one of these for ages, have been waiting for them to be available over here through a distributor. If they’re good, I’ll probably get a couple more for all my bikes! 😀
Becky
Ding a ling! The sheep on the road may pay attention to this one!
Philip
Availabell(!) from Brick Lane Bikes: http://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/bells?pagenumber=2
Dafydd Bebb
On our local shared paths pedestrians and their dogs really appreciate a clear and musical bell to give them ample warning. Riders are crazy not to have a good bell!
GIVE THEM A HAPPY DING, DING!
Stephen White
It looks like you should import and sell a load of these!
Chris Johnson
A Spurcycle bell on my Longstaffe Racing Tricycle would make it the belle of velocipedes.
Nick
I would like to win, because I love free stuff. I have a bell on one bike but no bell on the second. So that makes me sound hard up, but I’ve got two bikes right? So things can’t be that bad 🙂
Andy Blance
Bling with a Ping
Mikko
I need one