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review
Accessories - misc
HideMyBell HideMyBell
Hidemybell handlebar mount

HideMyBell

6
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Fri, Sep 29, 2017 09:40

First Published Jun 23, 2017

7
£30.70

VERDICT:

6
10
Neat solution for fitting a bell to your road bike, but not the easiest to use
Weight: 
47g
Contact: 
hidemybell.cc
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If you'd like to fit a bell to your posh road bike for the purposes of announcing your presence on the local shared used path, but can't stomach the look of one on your bars, the HideMyBell out-front mount might be the thing for you. Simply put, it's a mount for Garmin, Mio, Bryton, Polar, Sigma and Wahoo computers that incorporates a bell hidden under the computer mount. You can also fit an optional GoPro or light mount underneath to make it even more useful.

The mount itself is a fairly standard plastic moulding, and the different plates for the various computers fit into a circular mount at the front. The Garmin model I tested is asymmetric so you can move the computer in or out a little bit depending on which model you have. The mount screws up from below which is a bit of a faff but does make the whole thing look neater. The build quality of the unit is okay, but it's not up to the high standards of some other aftermarket options such as K-Edge.

Hidemybell handlebar mount .jpg

The bell is mounted to the underside, and it's a bog-standard metal dome with a plastic ringer. Because it's mounted upside down you need to pull the ringer up to ding it, which isn't as intuitive as pushing it down, and because it's out front it means taking a hand off the bar to ring it, or at least moving your hand to near the stem and flicking it with your finger. You get used to it after a bit but it's not the easiest thing to use.

Underneath there's another mounting hole to which you can attach a GoPro mount (€8), which is a handy addition as it keeps your camera out of the way and central. Some lights also use the same fitting as a GoPro, so they can be added underneath as well.

So, should you buy it? Well, if you want a bell, and you're worried about your look, then it's certainly an option. I personally think the Knog Oi bell does a better job of being a useful bell without affecting the look of your road bike too much, but this is worth looking at too. It's a bit expensive given the build quality, but it does what it says it will.

Verdict

Neat solution for fitting a bell to your road bike, but not the easiest to use

road.cc test report

Make and model: Hidemybell computer mount

Size tested: 31.8mm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

HideMyBell says: "Every proper city bike has a bell, but for a lot of sportive cyclists that thing is a no-go: it looks stupid, it ruins the aerodynamics and hey, the pros don't ring either! Sounds familiar? Then the HideMyBell is made for you. It integrates the bell discretely in an out-front handlebar mount for your bike computer. You don't see it, but your fellow road users will definitely hear you coming!"

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From HideMyBell:

The HideMyBell models for Garmin, Mio and Bryton have an adjustable distance between the bike computer and stem. This way the bike computer integrates beautifully with the rest of the cockpit.

The HideMyBell models for Polar and Wahoo are adjustable sideward. This makes it possible to centre your bike computer perfectly, even if you have a wide stem.

To keep the looks of the HideMyBell nice and clean, the bolts of the handlebar clamp are placed at the bottom side of the mount.

The optional adapter for your action camera and lamp is firmly attached to the mount with an allen bolt. All bolts are made of stainless steel.

With its 48 grams the HideMyBell is an absolute lightweight.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Decently made, if not up to the standards of some aftermarket options.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Holds computer, is a bell. So does all the things it claims to do. Additional GoPro mount is handy.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

A bit plasticky but should last okay.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
9/10

47g isn't going to slow you down much.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

€35 seems a bit on the high side for the build quality.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It does the things. The bell isn't particularly easy to use but it works okay.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Neat solution to putting a bell on your posh bike.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Build quality isn't the best, bell can be tricky to use.

Did you enjoy using the product? It's okay.

Would you consider buying the product? Maybe

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe

Use this box to explain your score

It does a job, this, and it's one of the neater solutions for putting a bell on your bike. It's not the easest to use, though, and it's quite expensive.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 189cm  Weight: 92kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Hidemybell computer mount 2017
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Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

Add new comment

7 comments

Avatar
nortonp | 7 years ago
0 likes

April 1st again

Avatar
SoBinary | 7 years ago
2 likes

... plus I can activate my system "hands free" leaving my hands firmly on the brakes since if there is an obstruction that requires issuing a warning thats probably where they need to be... not searching under my GPS taking my eyes off the road as well.

A solution seraching for a problem.

Avatar
SoBinary | 7 years ago
1 like

I have a great gadget that I take with me everywhere that can issue a customized loud warning, often with instructive information embedded..

"I will be passing to your right"

"... not that right the OTHER right"

"I am cycling behind you"

"Don't worry plenty of space"

etc.

It usually also issues other customised messages acknowledging cooperation and working toward the goal of people not hating cyclists.

"Thank you"

"What a lovely dog / child etc."

"Thanks - what a lovely morning"

My Voice.

Generally the only time I have found it to be ineffective is when the people on the shared use path are plugged into headphones and listening to music so loud a claxon wouldn't warn them.

I'd say I got 1 complaint on average per 4000Km of commute by shared use path (canal)... I meet other people on average at the rate of 1 per km most reciprocate with in the same manner as I do as pedestrians are rarely equipped with a bell.

 

 

Avatar
Deeferdonk | 7 years ago
6 likes

"If you'd like to fit a bell to your posh road bike for the purposes of announcing your presence on the local shared used path, but can't stomach the look of one on your bars"

I know right? I personally have no problem riding around dressed as a gimp wearing an adult nappy, but if there was even the possibility of you being seen out with,like, a small dome of metal on my handlebars about the same size as a ten pence piece, which was not really even visible because it's the same colour as my handlebars, but nevertheless was quite useful cos it made a ding sound, i would literally die and might as well give up cycling and get my bike crushed so I wouldn't have to live with the shame of another gimp in an adult nappy saying something like "hey dude is that, like, a bell on your bars?". Nightmare.

Avatar
dave atkinson replied to Deeferdonk | 7 years ago
3 likes

Deeferdonk wrote:

"If you'd like to fit a bell to your posh road bike for the purposes of announcing your presence on the local shared used path, but can't stomach the look of one on your bars" I know right? I personally have no problem riding around dressed as a gimp wearing an adult nappy, but if there was even the possibility of you being seen out with,like, a small dome of metal on my handlebars about the same size as a ten pence piece, which was not really even visible because it's the same colour as my handlebars, but nevertheless was quite useful cos it made a ding sound, i would literally die and might as well give up cycling and get my bike crushed so I wouldn't have to live with the shame of another gimp in an adult nappy saying something like "hey dude is that, like, a bell on your bars?". Nightmare.

dressing up like a gimp in an adult nappy is part of the look. a bell isn't part of the look. we both know that.

Avatar
cqexbesd | 7 years ago
1 like

It may be useful for ppl living in countires where they are legally required to have a bell. They probably have no plans to use it so it only needs to be accesible enough to pass muster with a police officer - not to be easily rung.

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 7 years ago
0 likes

Given it takes GBP 180 to shave off 50g from a pair of Shimano pedals, I can see anyone rushing to spend GBP 30 putting it back on 1 .... Crowdfunded by any chance?

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