Quite apart from the fact that £30 seems a bit steep for a bike bell, even classy ones like these, could we have an mp3 file or something to let us know what they sound like?

I ask because since returning to the UK last year I have discovered that neither the microwave-oven “ping-ping” bell of my wife's Batavus bike (Dutch) nor the thumbwheel-operated “der-ring-der-ring-der-ring” bell of my own Helkama tank-bike (Finnish) appear to register with British pedestrians and fellow-cyclists, whose ears seem to catch only the cheerful cash-register “ting-a-ling” of the traditional British bike bell. This has led to several near-accidents on winding cycle tracks through woodland and I've wondered whether I oughtn't to buy new indigenous-style bells which people in this country actually notice.

Have other readers experienced this, or is it just me?

PS. Zakkaliciousness: have you got any further with the Slow Bicycle Movement? Though it doesn't look much like it today, the spring will be upon us before long and I'd like to start organising some weekend slow-bike outings here where I live in eastern England. The countryside here is very well-suited to it: gently undulating terrain (a bit like Denmark) and lots of narrow winding country lanes too narrow and winding for people to charge along them in 4x4s. A leisurely Sunday-morning trundle from Shellow Bowells to Wormingford by way of Helion's Bumpstead should be very pleasant; especially with frequent stops for refereshment or to admire the view. In fact some of our Danish and Dutch friends might like to join us: the pound's very low at present.

[...] He was accompanied by dapper Gary Fisher, proud owner of a Dashing Tweeds suit, and now of a brass Sogreni bell. He left with us his new Dashing gilet and his latest creation: reflective leg warmers. I have been [...]

Hi, interesting post. I have been thinking about this topic,so thanks for posting. I'll probably be coming back to your posts.