There are few choices in relation to mounting a bell on a bicycle with dropped handlebars. The Incredibell Highway Bell by the Mirrycle Company in Boulder Colorado, nevertheless, is one bell particularly designed to suit on Shimano STI street ranges.
This tiny, dinging bell has a dome diameter of simply 28mm and a price ticket of simply $11.00 USD.
The bell comes mounted within the right-hand place, however in case you are left-handed rider and would favor to have the bell on the left aspect of your bike, you’ll be able to flip the thumb lever round with only a small adjustment previous to set up.
To put in the bell, you first have to find out what sort of shifters you will have in your bicycle. Then, utilizing the small chart that’s included with the bell itself, decide whether or not or not it’s essential to set up any of the additional shims or screws (included with the product) which can be wanted to match the bell with the particular sort of levers you will have in your bike. Fortunately, my Fuji Touring bicycle, which has Tiagra levers, didn’t want any additional components previous to set up, so I used to be in a position to skip this step.
After you’ve checked the compatibility chart and adopted the directions for putting in any additional items that may have to be utilized, pull off the highest of your lever’s rubber hood. Then, slide the bell onto the uncovered brake lever clip (see images belows). When you’ve slid the bell into postion on the lever clip, rigorously slide in and tighten the small cap screw with the included 2.5mm hex wrench. This cover screw will work to maintain the bell held in place whilst you trip.
Lastly, pull the rubber hood of your levers up over the clip on the again of the bell base till it’s tight and safe.
Putting in this mirror generally is a bit difficult, however upon getting it in place it’s able to go and also you gained’t must mess with it… to a lot.
Greatest Issues About This Bell
In the long run, one of the best factor in regards to the Incredibell Highway Bell is that it’s so extremely distinctive. I’ve by no means seen one other bell prefer it in all my life. The truth that there may be even a bell in the marketplace for individuals who trip with dropped handlebars is fairly spectacular. In contrast to conventional bike bells, that are mounted onto the handlebars themselves, this bell is mounted in such a place that it’s utterly out of the way in which as you trip, so it doesn’t compromise any of your varied hand positions. It is a large plus for any street or touring bike owner.
The design of the mount for the bell is exclusive as properly. If I had been the designer of such a bell I don’t assume I ever would have thought to position the mount underneath the rubber hood of my levers. Very cool!
Worst Issues About This Bell
That stated, I do have some reservations about this bell total.
To begin with, the bell is considerably tough to put in. There are set up instructions that include the product itself and all of the neessary components are additionally included, however determining how one can mount the bell with all of the totally different shims and screws generally is a little bit of a ache. However that is to be anticipated when a product comparable to this tries to be appropriate with numerous several types of levers made by totally different corporations in several sizes and shapes, and so on. The truth that the bell works with so many several types of levers must be counseled.
My different huge criticism about this bell is that even as soon as it’s put in it doesn’t appear to suit on the bike all that properly. As soon as put in, the rubber hood (now propped up over the bell base) sticks up and appears a bit unusual. Occasionally, whereas testing this bell, the rubber hood would slip out of place and I’d must cease the bike and wrestle it again excessive of the bell base. Even after I noticed this bell eventually yr’s Interbike commerce present in Las Vegas, Nevada, the rubber hood on the again of the levers was misplaced – and this was on the product because it was on show at an enormous business occasion. This tells me that whereas the design is definitely distinctive, there may be nonetheless some work to be executed earlier than it’s fully good.
My General Impression:
After utilizing this bell on my touring bike for numerous weeks I really feel protected to say that the bell works and the design is definitely distinctive. Nevertheless, I believe the place of the bell itself and the design of the bottom clip want some additional thought. And extra importantly, I’m wondering in regards to the want for a bell of any sort on bikes with dropped handlebars. Most individuals using with drops are most likely extra involved with velocity and aerodynamics than they’re about ringing a bell on the folks in entrance of them. For the touring market, a product like this could be very a lot appreciated, however I don’t know what number of bells I’m going to see within the street biking crowd.
My Score: 7 Out Of 10
Extra data could be discovered at: www.mirrycle.com
Further images beneath:
The product featured right here was despatched to Bicycle Touring Professional at no expense for the aim of this evaluate.
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