You can talk about torque, watt-hours, and drivetrain technology until you’re blue in the face (oh, and I will!), but there is a simple, low-tech upgrade that every e-bike needs. Whether you’re out on trails riding an e-MTB, around town on the paths and bike lanes, or anywhere else, your bike is probably missing this key component.
Okay, enough riddles. It’s a bike bell. I’ll give you a minute to get the Pee-Wee Herman jokes out of your system … Now, here’s why this matters.
Whatever your tone of voice, it never seems quite right to call out to a slower rider or pedestrian ahead of you. You can come off too aggressive, or if you’re a low-talker, you might not be heard, let alone get the point across. A bell eliminates the guesswork and subjectivity. No one ever heard a bike bell and then said, “Why are you yelling at me?!”
A bell also is a piercing noise that is unique in most any setting. Whether around town or in the trees, it is rare to hear a couple of short, bright “dings.” It is ear-catching, and I can assure you that, from my experience, it snaps people out of distractions and compels them to turn around to see who’s making that noise.
Finally, and perhaps best of all, a bike bell has an innocent and playful feel to it. I’ve seen it countless times: Hikers, dog-walkers, and most anyone who isn’t on two wheels tends to be intimidated by a mountain biker approaching on a trail (e-bike or otherwise). Ringing a bell cuts the tension, and I think this is because it evokes childish memories of joy on a bike. I’ve even seen hikers who were delighted by the fact that I had a bell on my bike — yep, this is some real scientific research, but trust me, it happens.
Bike bells are inexpensive and easy to install. There are a variety of options, depending on how big or small you want it to be, what sort of trigger you prefer, and how it mounts to your handlebars. So what are you waiting for?