Bike mirrors and bells: city, road and MTB

Is a bike bell compulsory?

Rules vary from one country to another. In the UK, most new bikes supplied ready assembled must be fitted with a bell, and the Highway Code recommends having one: it asks cyclists to let pedestrians, particularly blind and partially sighted people, and horse riders know they are there when necessary, for example by calling out or ringing their bell. In Ireland, the United States or elsewhere, check the rules that apply where you ride. An electronic horn or an air horn can be added to the bell for riding in traffic.

Which bike bell should you choose for your bike?

• Classic lever bell: a mechanism spins discs against the dome and produces a sustained ring, effective in town.
• Spring bell: a small hammer pulled back with a finger strikes the dome, for a short, clear sound; rain can dampen its resonance.
• Ding-dong: a large dome struck twice, with a deep tone, popular on classic-style city bikes.
• Mini bell: discreet and light, for road and MTB handlebars where space is tight; some fix to the headset top cap or with a strap.
• Kids' bell: easy to operate, with colours and shapes that make children want to use it.

Check the handlebar diameter where you want to fit it: 22.2 mm near the grips of a flat bar, often 31.8 mm near the stem. Many bells come with shims to fit several diameters.

Bike mirror: bar end, clamp-on or grip mount

A bar-end mirror slots into the end of the handlebar: it stays discreet, often folds and suffers less in a fall. A clamp-on mirror tightens around the handlebar and places the mirror higher, at the cost of a wider profile; the length of the arm determines what it shows, a long arm giving a view beyond your shoulder. Others fix to the grip. On an e-bike or a cargo bike, which are wider and faster, a larger mirror or a longer arm improves your view. Fit the mirror on the side from which traffic overtakes you: the right in the UK, where the Highway Code asks road users to keep to the left, and in Ireland, which also drives on the left; the left in the United States.

Setting up and fixing your accessories

Adjust the mirror while sitting on the bike, hands on the grips: it should show the road behind you, with your shoulder taking up only a corner of the image. Tighten the mount enough that it does not move on cobbles, without crushing a carbon handlebar. Place the bell so that you can ring it with your thumb without letting go of the grip, and without getting in the way of the brake levers or gear shifters. On a road bike, the area near the stem is often the only free space.

Kickstands, mudguards and other bike protection

To park your bike without laying it down, see kickstands; to ride in the rain without getting splashed, mudguards. All this equipment can be found on the bike protection page.

Which bike mirror and bell brands to choose?

Crazy Safety offers animal-themed kids' bells, Tiger, Leopard, Shark, Dino or Dragon, to encourage the youngest riders to announce their arrival.

XLC covers most handlebars: the DD-M37 mini bell for 28.6 to 31.8 mm bars, the oversize DD-M19 supplied with a spacer, the DD-R01 ring bell or the retro DD-M04, and an adjustable left-hand mirror, the MR-K28.

Knog, an Australian brand from Melbourne, designed the Oi to wrap around the handlebar instead of sticking out from it; its mount keeps the cables together, and it comes in two sizes, for 22.2 mm bars or for 23.8 to 31.8 mm bars.

Ergotec offers its M-77, M-88 and M-99 mirrors with a short or long arm, in steel or aluminium, to place the mirror at the right distance from the handlebar.

Zefal, a historic French cycling brand, offers its Espion E80 and E100 mirrors, including a Cargo version, the Cyclop that fixes to the grip and the folding Spin, which fits in the bar end.

Crane offers its Suzu mini bell with several mounts, including Headset and Ahead Cap versions that sit on the headset top cap, as well as the E-NE, notably in a Revolver version.

Bike mirrors and bells on sale

End-of-line models are grouped with bike protection clearance; recent arrivals appear in new arrivals. A distinctive bell makes a welcome little gift for the festive season, and Black Friday is a good time to complete the equipment of an e-bike.

Frequently asked questions

Does a horn replace a bell?

Rules vary from one country to another: check those that apply where you ride. In the UK, the Highway Code recommends fitting a bell, and most new bikes sold ready assembled must have one. In practice, the two do different jobs: a bell gives pedestrians and cyclists a friendly warning, whereas a louder horn makes itself heard in traffic, so it is best seen as an addition to the bell.

Which bell for a road bike?

A light mini bell, fixed near the stem or on the headset top cap, or a bell that wraps around the handlebar. It must stay within reach from the hoods without changing position, and be loud enough to be heard clearly.

Which side should a bike mirror go on?

On the side from which vehicles overtake you and towards which you move out to turn: the right in the UK and Ireland, where traffic keeps to the left, the left in the United States. A second mirror on the other side helps you watch cycle lanes and bikes coming up on the inside, especially on a wide bike.

Is a mirror useful on a mountain bike?

Rarely on trails, where branches and crashes soon damage it. It comes into its own on road sections between trails, particularly on an electric mountain bike: a folding bar-end model is tougher and tucks away in narrow passages.

Why does my bike bell sound poor?

A dome that touches a cable, a lever or your hand muffles the sound: move it a few millimetres. Also check that the clamp is tight and the mechanism clean. In the rain, water on the dome dampens the resonance, especially on spring bells.