Review: Knog Bike Bell

"On your left!" If you're sick of screaming that over and over as you pedal down our pedestrian-laden trails, often getting dirty looks because your tone wasn't just right, then you need a bike bell—it's a more effective, polite way to alert walkers, and makes the bike-ped encounter that much safer and more pleasant for everyone.

But not all bells are created equal. Take the Knog Oi Prima Bike Bell, a sleek, low-profile ring that takes up very little space on the handlebars and emits a loud chime. It's a far cry better than my classic pan-shaped bell, with its clunky striker and tendency to slide around—it's invariably upside-down when I make a desperate reach for it. Not so with the Oi Prima, which holds tight beside my handgrip, so with the slightest thumb movement, I announce my impending arrival. The streamlined striker allows for rapid repeat rings, should the walker be distracted or, as is all too often the case, rendered insensate by earphones. When that happens, the dirty look is directed the other way.

Available at us.knog.com; $33.