Thunder Roads Colorado Magazine Volume 11 - issue 1 | Page 15

“The bell with the cross came from an old friend, the other was a gift from my wife.“ “Flames on a skull never hurt.” SYMBOLISM For the full effect against road gremlins, a bell should be given as a gift from one rider to another rider, rather than purchased for your own bike. A bell is a token of good will and as a way to show friendship and camaraderie between bikers. It stays with the bike, and a new bell is given when a rider gets a new bike. Many bikers ride with more than one bell. Some who have crashed keep the bell as a reminder of their surviving the crash. And of course, if you steal another biker’s bell you are cursed forever! “This is the bell friends gave me for my first bike, and I have ridden with it on both of the two bikes I have had since.” TAKING A CHANCE One rider was bothered by the sound of the bell:” I sounded like Santa Claus in his sleigh coming down the road. For my sanity, I took a pair of metal cutters to it and removed the clapper. I hope the road gremlins won’t get me, but I’m prepared to take the risk.” (Sounds l