Cyclist bells question

[Lhollo]

I wondered whether anything has been said here as regards people who can’t hear cyclist bells. They’re at the exact frequency of my partner’s hearing loss, and I know of other people with the same type of high pitch loss.

For my own part, I’m glad of the bells and find them helpful. We did have a few awkward moments when I yelled at my partner to get out of the way, though. He’d turn to figure out which way to move, which was usually quite a slow process. So I tried to start just shouting LEFT!!! We joked that he needed a ‘Deaf’ T-shirt, even though his hearing isn’t generally too bad. That said, he often didn’t hear cyclists until they were close anyway, even when they didn’t use bells.

I don’t envy bicigrinos who must have a hard job avoiding mowing people down, given how unpredictable foot pilgrim responses probably are.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[LavanyaLea]

Maybe try walking a few steps behind your partner so you will be able to give him a heads up? We did this last time, my friend walking behind, and she would shout and inform me and I could get myself and my dog off the incoming bikes. There was never just 1 bike, so if we only saw 1 bike, we would just wait a little bit longer and the rest of the crew would catch up.

Most bicigrinos I encountered didn’t really use bells anyway (ooopstt please don’t start another debate here) so we had to go by subtle signs/6th sense/spidey sense of…. The change in the wind, the crackling noise of gravel spitting out of their wheels or leaves being squashed…

 

[Anniesantiago]

I wondered whether anything has been said here as regards people who can’t hear cyclist bells. They’re at the exact frequency of my partner’s hearing loss, and I know of other people with the same type of high pitch loss.

For my own part, I’m glad of the bells and find them helpful. We did have a few awkward moments when I yelled at my partner to get out of the way, though. He’d turn to figure out which way to move, which was usually quite a slow process. So I tried to start just shouting LEFT!!! We joked that he needed a ‘Deaf’ T-shirt, even though his hearing isn’t generally too bad. That said, he often didn’t hear cyclists until they were close anyway, even when they didn’t use bells.

I don’t envy bicigrinos who must have a hard job avoiding mowing people down, given how unpredictable foot pilgrim responses probably are.

Any thoughts on this?

My thoughts are that bicigrinos need to be on the ROAD, not on the walking path.
They continue to be a danger, especially on steep sections where people can't get out of the way in time, and when they fail to notify pilgrims walking ahead. But it probably won't happen until they begin handing out tickets. And THAT probably won't happen. So in the meantime, someone with hearing loss might be smart to wear a big sign on their back!

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola - some interesting comments.
So as one who has been both a walking pilgrim and cycling pilgrim allow me to comment (with knowledge).
I cycled the Frances (from Pamplona) in 2015. I attempted to follow the walking camino but eventually abandon this practice around Cirauqui. From there I followed the N111 (major road - not motorway). In general where the Camino Frances travels a "local public road" then I rode on it. I have a very loud bell and used it regularly - usually 20/30 metres before a pilgrim. I would often call out the side I was passing on. I have to say that the majority of pilgrims cooperated. Some didn't. I also "cooperated"- coming down of the Alto de Mostelares (after Castrojeriz) I walked - there were just too many walking pilgrims.
I passed one pilgrim whose music was so loud I could hear it even though he/she had ear buds inserted.
So what is my opinion - both groups are "pilgrims" and there needs to be an understanding by both groups and share the Camino.

 

[wayfarer]

See this thread on everything you ever wanted to know about bicycles and bells and how to deal with the situation.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/rude-bicyclists.75435/#post-1042219