In aus.bicycle on Fri, 21 Mar 2014 21:08:03 +1000
Stuart Longland wrote:
So ringing a bell was perfectly adequate. One only ever used the
handlebars for hanging on or steering -- to operate the brake you
backpedalled. That meant you had a hand free to muck around with a
woefully inadequate bell. The lack of distractions meant there was a
good chance the pedestrian concerned would hear you and react.

If you can't manage to brake and bell at the same time, then you are
riding a bike you can't manage.

I have no issue on either of mine.

Seems to me you have two brakes, do you need two hands to use a bell?

Pedestrians are big enough to see, you can't manage to anticipate the
need to change down? You are going fast enough on shared paths you
aren't leaving enough room?

Lord what a bunch of hopeless bloody whingers. If your bike is head
down bum up (and 50 years ago no head down bum up bike had coaster
brakes) then get another one until your riding skills are enough that
you can manage brakes and bell on something less challenging.

And if it isn't then go find a car park and learn to ride the frigging
thing before coming on here and showing off your inability to handle
your bike.

If you still can't manage the horribly difficult and dangerous shared
paths[1] then get off them and onto the road. Easy.

But for God's sake, don't display your utter inadequacy as riders and
then blame pedestrians for it.

Zebee

[1] SARCASM ALERT! because that is obviously needed.