When I saw the premise for this video I was sure that the bell was going to be used to scare off Geese or Ducks but love the idea on not having to constantly shout out when passing people on a narrow path.
I’d not thought about the idea for moving ducks or geese. I’m not sure they’d take much notice but I’d be interested to give it a try. Ducks and geese I’m ok with but I’ve come across a few angry swans on the canal paths before 😱
I sometimes think when running on the trail that I could make a fortune selling bells to silent cyclists and dog leads to careless owners 🙂 So good on you for taking it one stage further!
Cyclist can be the worst for not letting you know they’re there. I follow bikes on busy sections and they try and weave past pedestrians. I think ‘why don’t you just use a bell’ 🔔…. Then there’s the ones who ring it 100 times even though you’re right on the verge 🤣…. Can’t win
Well I think that is a brilliant idea Rachel. I reckon you get the almost immediate response because people don't want to be mown down by what they assume will be a bike, creating a very effective result for you as they rapidly move out of the way. I think it's a psychological solution which will work for years, until more runners have bells than bicycles have bells and people then don't bother so much to jump out of the way. Great demo video and all the best with all your running. Best regards to you and Rory. Graham 🏃♂️👍😀
Hi Graham. I didn’t catch it on camera but just before I used the bell for the first time we had 2 guys squeeze through and overtake us on a narrow section. I said to the first guy, ‘oh, you could do with one of these’ I rang the bell and smiled. His mate then passes and said to us ‘oh, there’s a bike coming through’ not realising it was my bell. Rory and I couldn’t stop laughing 🤣 It showed just how strong that bell sound is to our instincts. Hear a bell = must be a bike 🚲🏃🏻
Superb! Yes for sure. I wonder if the 'runners bell' is patented? Imagine the sales if it catches on! A cheap and very effective solution to pedestrian traffic congestion. Enjoy your running. Regards. Graham 🏃♂️👍😅
@@grahamsample4679 - if I knew how to get this off the ground I’d love to create something for runners. I’ll have to stick with a £5 Amazon bell for now 😊
There's an old lady around here that has a huge horn on her bike and she blasts me with it at least one a week while I'm out on the paths. It scares the crap out of me 😂. I find this type of content refreshing Rachael!
I’ve tried all different combinations for getting past walkers when I’m out on my bike. Best is to ring quite a way out so it seems more subtle and gives them a good chance to know I’m there. If the first ring doesn’t work, I’ll wait till I’m closer and that then usually works. Can’t say I’d like being startled by an huge horn though 🤣🤣
Hi Rachel, I also saw the video which Tonyr2 is referring to (Anna on The Running Channel) and I bought one it's called a Runbell. I'd forgotten about this, thanks for reminding me I haven't used it that much but they do come in handy. Don't feel too bad about getting people to move out of the way, it is annoying when some walkers just completely block it off so nobody can get past!
I googled running bells a long time ago and that was the only bell that came up. It did look a bit uncomfortable to wear. I don’t know if it is? It’s hard to pass walkers who are engrossed in conversation. Even if I cough, make my footsteps louder, say excuse me, it’s literally impossible sometimes to get their attention. Most people recognise the sound of a bell so it gets their attention almost straight away 😁
Actually a really cool idea... I know we have to share paths with everyone, and I'm happy to weave about to get past people where I can, but it does get a little frustrating at times. I often intentionally scuff my feet while running, just to let people know I'm coming up behind them.... a little bell would work wonders on the more crowded paths!
Hi Dan, most of the time it’s not a problem to get past but there’s that one or two occasions on a run where having a bell would make all the difference. Worst is when I pass someone who had no idea I was there, then they jump out of their skin like I was about to attack them (often wearing headphones). I’ve tried the scuff feet method too 😁
😂 I like how excited you were when you tried it out! I get fed up of having to shout greetings to people as I approach. The bell is a great idea. Pity you end up having to explain the bell to people as you run past though 😅
It was pretty funny seeing the different reactions I got. I wasn’t sure how people would take it but it turned out positive 😁 I’d waited a long time to put it to the test….i couldn’t contain my excitement 🤣
Thanks Paul. I’ve always thought it would be good to try but never got round to buying one. Most of the time I run on wide paths but there’s some runs for me that this would be perfect. Hope you get to try it out too 😁
Ironically if I knew how to market this I would 😁 I have a few ideas to make it more ‘wearable’ but as I’m not in contact with any Chinese designers, it’s on the back burner for now 🤣
Great idea, Rachel. I don't run on canal towpaths, but if I did, I would invest in one of those bells. It certainly saves having to keep asking or warning people. I'd get really frustrated doing that. People's surprise when they see it's a runner behind them, not a cyclist. 😁
Hi Stevie, there’s been times when I could have done with a bell even on some of the wider paths I use 🤦🏻♀️ But yeah, canal towpaths are definitely one of the hardest to navigate through if it’s busy… especially past those with headphones on and have no idea you’re there 🎧
@@racheld1844 Hi Rachel. I can imagine. I hate it if I am running on a narrow path in a park, and someone is walking smack-bang in the middle of it! 🙄 They're usually quite obliging, but they should keep to one side so others can easily pass. I've noticed that a couple of your canal videos are in Birmingham. I'm a Brummie, and I did the Black Country Half Marathon way back in 2018. That was along one of the canal towpaths, I think I recognised that tunnel. 👍 x
@@stevieroger7478 - I’ve had people who are quite clearly hard of hearing do exactly the same thing. Walk right in the middle of a narrow path and look shocked that you want to pass. It would all be so much easier if people just stuck to one side or another 😁 Yes, I’m in Redditch so almost Brummie. I’ve not done the Black Country Half but I’d imagine having a bell on that route would be a god send 😁
@racheld1844 I don't think I had much trouble on the Black Country half, concerning passing people. And it was a pleasant run. I've done a couple of runs in Redditch, and have worked there quite a lot, though not in the town itself, but close to it. I've run at Arrow Valley Park a couple of times. 🏃♂️ x
You could have done with one for your 100k 😁 I saw the little skip past a guy near Gas Street, that would have been the perfect opportunity 🤣 We watched your video last night… Amazing work Mack. Rory has ideas for giving this one a go sometime 🤦🏻♀️
@@racheld1844 Haha, a bell really would help with that 5 miles into (and then out of) Birmingham, to be fair. And thanks! I'm sure Rory would love it! 👊
Actually a pretty good idea especially for a crowded trail. I run on a bike trail that is large enough and most cyclists will ding you when they pass, even if just to let you know they are there. We get quite a few people that walk 2 or 3 abreast (with a dog) and you have to let them know you are coming. I'll be honest, though, the cyclists can be a bit presumptuous and sometimes "not cool" thinking they own the entire thing -- I've had too many close calls over the years. Cool idea though especially on a crowded trail like that.
We have signs round our local park that remind you to ‘share with care’. It’s a designated cycle path but also a very busy park. They widened some of the footpaths a few years ago but even so, there’s still those that don’t understand how to share the same space. I ride, run and walk there all the time and have seen some pretty crazy situations where people don’t have a clue 🙄 I got ‘told off’ once for not using my bell when cycling behind someone because I was waiting behind them as there wasn’t room to get past anyway. People walking in the other direction meant it would have been rude to expect everyone to part off the path. I put my side across but she wasn’t having it.
Great idea but those little bells don't always work on old people as they can't hear the 'ting'. I used to cycle to work every day and often on a shared path there were pedestrians. One day I rode up behind an old chap vigorously tinging my little bell and he was completely oblivious to my presence. I got up closer behind him with a loud but polite "excuse me please". He jumped and shouted at me "why don't you get a bloody bell?". I refrained from "why don't you get a bloody hearing aid?" and just passed him. Guess it works with most people though.
I always wonder why people who don’t hear too well would walk in the middle of the path. It’s not the best place anyway but knowing someone might be wanting to pass makes it so much harder. I’ve had the usual ‘why didn’t you use your bell’. 99% of the time I do but if there’s plenty of room I sometimes don’t, then get tuts moaning about how I tackled the overtake. Sometimes we can never win 🤣
I definitely prefer quiet routes too but I knew I’d probably be hitting some pinch points on this one. It was a nice change to get past without having to squeeze through 😁
A few years ago Anna on the running channel did a list of 'accessories' that you may, or may not, need as a runner. The only one I can recall was a runners finger bell which is pretty much what you have here. I think the one Anna was showing had been adapted to comfortably fit on a person's finger. It works doesn't it? Even though maybe you need to ring it more than a couple of times. As a fellow cyclists sure you know what l mean.
Hi Tony. I don’t remember the video but I know the bell you mean. I looked more like a knuckle duster to me 🤣 Yes, sometimes, even on a bike I have to ring it several times to be heard. I cycle on a shared path to work and that can be really busy sometimes. Hope the marathon training is going well 😊
Totally get the Bell 🔔 I'm forever saying out loud 'Just coming through' 'Thank You'. Great idea Rachel 👍
Hi Martin, thanks. I never know what the best phrase to say is. Sometimes even if I ask to come through, they still have no idea I’m there 🙄
Brilliant! I must use that next time. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked the idea David. Hope it works as good as it did for me 😁
Rachel - you are a genius!
Great running too by the way! You can tell you are just having the best time!
Thank you 🙏 We had a great time seeing the different reactions 🤣
Extremely cool lady, thank you for sharing your great idea!
Thanks Fabian 😁
When I saw the premise for this video I was sure that the bell was going to be used to scare off Geese or Ducks but love the idea on not having to constantly shout out when passing people on a narrow path.
I’d not thought about the idea for moving ducks or geese. I’m not sure they’d take much notice but I’d be interested to give it a try. Ducks and geese I’m ok with but I’ve come across a few angry swans on the canal paths before 😱
I sometimes think when running on the trail that I could make a fortune selling bells to silent cyclists and dog leads to careless owners 🙂 So good on you for taking it one stage further!
Cyclist can be the worst for not letting you know they’re there. I follow bikes on busy sections and they try and weave past pedestrians. I think ‘why don’t you just use a bell’ 🔔…. Then there’s the ones who ring it 100 times even though you’re right on the verge 🤣…. Can’t win
@racheld1844 rule 1. Runners are always in the right 😉
@@tworunningbrooms 😁 definitely 🤣
Well I think that is a brilliant idea Rachel. I reckon you get the almost immediate response because people don't want to be mown down by what they assume will be a bike, creating a very effective result for you as they rapidly move out of the way. I think it's a psychological solution which will work for years, until more runners have bells than bicycles have bells and people then don't bother so much to jump out of the way. Great demo video and all the best with all your running. Best regards to you and Rory. Graham 🏃♂️👍😀
Hi Graham. I didn’t catch it on camera but just before I used the bell for the first time we had 2 guys squeeze through and overtake us on a narrow section. I said to the first guy, ‘oh, you could do with one of these’ I rang the bell and smiled. His mate then passes and said to us ‘oh, there’s a bike coming through’ not realising it was my bell. Rory and I couldn’t stop laughing 🤣 It showed just how strong that bell sound is to our instincts. Hear a bell = must be a bike 🚲🏃🏻
Superb! Yes for sure. I wonder if the 'runners bell' is patented? Imagine the sales if it catches on! A cheap and very effective solution to pedestrian traffic congestion. Enjoy your running. Regards. Graham 🏃♂️👍😅
@@grahamsample4679 - if I knew how to get this off the ground I’d love to create something for runners. I’ll have to stick with a £5 Amazon bell for now 😊
There's an old lady around here that has a huge horn on her bike and she blasts me with it at least one a week while I'm out on the paths. It scares the crap out of me 😂. I find this type of content refreshing Rachael!
I’ve tried all different combinations for getting past walkers when I’m out on my bike. Best is to ring quite a way out so it seems more subtle and gives them a good chance to know I’m there. If the first ring doesn’t work, I’ll wait till I’m closer and that then usually works. Can’t say I’d like being startled by an huge horn though 🤣🤣
You mentioned this idea when we ran down the canal together. It certainly looks like it worked 🤓
12 months later I finally got round to buying one and trying it out… better late than never 🤣
Great idea & so simple!
Thank you. There’s been many a time where I wish I’d been carrying one 😁
Hi Rachel, I also saw the video which Tonyr2 is referring to (Anna on The Running Channel) and I bought one it's called a Runbell. I'd forgotten about this, thanks for reminding me I haven't used it that much but they do come in handy. Don't feel too bad about getting people to move out of the way, it is annoying when some walkers just completely block it off so nobody can get past!
I googled running bells a long time ago and that was the only bell that came up. It did look a bit uncomfortable to wear. I don’t know if it is? It’s hard to pass walkers who are engrossed in conversation. Even if I cough, make my footsteps louder, say excuse me, it’s literally impossible sometimes to get their attention. Most people recognise the sound of a bell so it gets their attention almost straight away 😁
Brilliant idea!
Thank you 🙏
Actually a really cool idea... I know we have to share paths with everyone, and I'm happy to weave about to get past people where I can, but it does get a little frustrating at times. I often intentionally scuff my feet while running, just to let people know I'm coming up behind them.... a little bell would work wonders on the more crowded paths!
Hi Dan, most of the time it’s not a problem to get past but there’s that one or two occasions on a run where having a bell would make all the difference. Worst is when I pass someone who had no idea I was there, then they jump out of their skin like I was about to attack them (often wearing headphones). I’ve tried the scuff feet method too 😁
That bell idea made me laugh .😂
It was fun giving the idea it’s first try 😁
That is brilliant I’m totally doing that!!!
Hope it works just as well 😁
Genius!
Thanks Shara 😁
😂 I like how excited you were when you tried it out! I get fed up of having to shout greetings to people as I approach. The bell is a great idea. Pity you end up having to explain the bell to people as you run past though 😅
It was pretty funny seeing the different reactions I got. I wasn’t sure how people would take it but it turned out positive 😁 I’d waited a long time to put it to the test….i couldn’t contain my excitement 🤣
That's brilliant. I once had some walkers jokingly tell me I should have a bell. Maybe I'll get the one off my bike that I haven't ridden for 5 years!
Thanks Paul. I’ve always thought it would be good to try but never got round to buying one. Most of the time I run on wide paths but there’s some runs for me that this would be perfect. Hope you get to try it out too 😁
When will we be expecting the Rachel D Runner bell merch 😍😍🤣🤣 Great idea, i need that for parkrun
Ironically if I knew how to market this I would 😁 I have a few ideas to make it more ‘wearable’ but as I’m not in contact with any Chinese designers, it’s on the back burner for now 🤣
Great idea, Rachel. I don't run on canal towpaths, but if I did, I would invest in one of those bells.
It certainly saves having to keep asking or warning people. I'd get really frustrated doing that.
People's surprise when they see it's a runner behind them, not a cyclist. 😁
Hi Stevie, there’s been times when I could have done with a bell even on some of the wider paths I use 🤦🏻♀️ But yeah, canal towpaths are definitely one of the hardest to navigate through if it’s busy… especially past those with headphones on and have no idea you’re there 🎧
@@racheld1844 Hi Rachel. I can imagine. I hate it if I am running on a narrow path in a park, and someone is walking smack-bang in the middle of it! 🙄
They're usually quite obliging, but they should keep to one side so others can easily pass.
I've noticed that a couple of your canal videos are in Birmingham. I'm a Brummie, and I did the Black Country Half Marathon way back in 2018. That was along one of the canal towpaths, I think I recognised that tunnel. 👍 x
@@stevieroger7478 - I’ve had people who are quite clearly hard of hearing do exactly the same thing. Walk right in the middle of a narrow path and look shocked that you want to pass. It would all be so much easier if people just stuck to one side or another 😁
Yes, I’m in Redditch so almost Brummie. I’ve not done the Black Country Half but I’d imagine having a bell on that route would be a god send 😁
@racheld1844 I don't think I had much trouble on the Black Country half, concerning passing people. And it was a pleasant run.
I've done a couple of runs in Redditch, and have worked there quite a lot, though not in the town itself, but close to it.
I've run at Arrow Valley Park a couple of times. 🏃♂️ x
@@stevieroger7478 - I’ve run around arrow valley probably nearly 1000 times now 🤣
I scuff my foot on the floor usually just to make a noise but this certainly worked well!
I give that a go sometimes but not always with much success. If I do it too close, I think they think I’m going to chase them 🤦🏻♀️
Rachel, I've legitimately been considering carrying one for months. Love it!
You could have done with one for your 100k 😁 I saw the little skip past a guy near Gas Street, that would have been the perfect opportunity 🤣 We watched your video last night… Amazing work Mack. Rory has ideas for giving this one a go sometime 🤦🏻♀️
@@racheld1844 Haha, a bell really would help with that 5 miles into (and then out of) Birmingham, to be fair.
And thanks! I'm sure Rory would love it!
👊
Brilliant!
Thanks Paul 😁
Actually a pretty good idea especially for a crowded trail. I run on a bike trail that is large enough and most cyclists will ding you when they pass, even if just to let you know they are there. We get quite a few people that walk 2 or 3 abreast (with a dog) and you have to let them know you are coming. I'll be honest, though, the cyclists can be a bit presumptuous and sometimes "not cool" thinking they own the entire thing -- I've had too many close calls over the years. Cool idea though especially on a crowded trail like that.
We have signs round our local park that remind you to ‘share with care’. It’s a designated cycle path but also a very busy park. They widened some of the footpaths a few years ago but even so, there’s still those that don’t understand how to share the same space. I ride, run and walk there all the time and have seen some pretty crazy situations where people don’t have a clue 🙄 I got ‘told off’ once for not using my bell when cycling behind someone because I was waiting behind them as there wasn’t room to get past anyway. People walking in the other direction meant it would have been rude to expect everyone to part off the path. I put my side across but she wasn’t having it.
Great idea but those little bells don't always work on old people as they can't hear the 'ting'. I used to cycle to work every day and often on a shared path there were pedestrians. One day I rode up behind an old chap vigorously tinging my little bell and he was completely oblivious to my presence. I got up closer behind him with a loud but polite "excuse me please". He jumped and shouted at me "why don't you get a bloody bell?". I refrained from "why don't you get a bloody hearing aid?" and just passed him. Guess it works with most people though.
I always wonder why people who don’t hear too well would walk in the middle of the path. It’s not the best place anyway but knowing someone might be wanting to pass makes it so much harder. I’ve had the usual ‘why didn’t you use your bell’. 99% of the time I do but if there’s plenty of room I sometimes don’t, then get tuts moaning about how I tackled the overtake. Sometimes we can never win 🤣
I am the bike! 😂 too many jokes! 😂
I quickly learnt that I needed to mention that vital information 🤣
Great idea but if it were me I'd avoid that route like the plague. I don't do well with people. Especially when I'm running.
I definitely prefer quiet routes too but I knew I’d probably be hitting some pinch points on this one. It was a nice change to get past without having to squeeze through 😁
@@racheld1844 great vid and great idea!
A few years ago Anna on the running channel did a list of 'accessories' that you may, or may not, need as a runner. The only one I can recall was a runners finger bell which is pretty much what you have here. I think the one Anna was showing had been adapted to comfortably fit on a person's finger. It works doesn't it? Even though maybe you need to ring it more than a couple of times. As a fellow cyclists sure you know what l mean.
Hi Tony. I don’t remember the video but I know the bell you mean. I looked more like a knuckle duster to me 🤣 Yes, sometimes, even on a bike I have to ring it several times to be heard. I cycle on a shared path to work and that can be really busy sometimes.
Hope the marathon training is going well 😊
Thanks but hip injury has scuppered training 70/3 i can make Valencia marathon start line.
@Tonyr2 - 😔 injuries are just rubbish. Hope there’s still a chance you get to run Tony 🤞