I'm thinking of fitting a bell

Like all good riders I take all the crap off my new bike when I get it home. The wheel and frame reflectors 'naturally' and of course, the bell.

For a retailer, all bikes have to be fitted with a bell before they are sold. But for riders, there's no legal requirement to have one fitted. I'm not making an argument for the law to be changed here, just proffering a personal opinion.

Locally, I only ride quiet country lanes, interspersed by some busier A and B roads. I'm not the speediest on a bike by any means, but I still overtake other road users, be they walkers, horseriders and cyclists. Sometimes I feel it would be worthwhile letting them know I am coming. I've even taken to sounding a short, hard whistle, which is ridiculous when you think about it. I usually say to them something like: "just letting you know I was there" or some other nonsense as I go past.

So the thinking goes, if I'm going to continue making this much effort I might as well fit a bell.

But there's something 'wrong' about having a bell on a bike these days isn't there. When did it become so uncool? And why?

Nevertheless, I think I'm going to give it a go - if I can find a cool enough bell (road.cc buyers' guide dept take note).

No way I'm putting the wheel and frame reflectors back on though. They may be the cheapest, most-effective life saving bits of plastic you can stick on your bike, but that's a step too far!