A Calibrated Chime

I descended the two wooden steps of the porch toward the bicycle leaned against the handrail. A brass bell was clamped to the curved metal handlebar. I stopped. Three seconds of silent observation. Then, using my left thumb, I pressed the spring-loaded lever downward until the internal cog engaged. Chime. A single, crisp pitch vibrated through the metal casing and dissipated into the afternoon air. I released the lever, letting the spring snap back to its origin. The mechanism was surprisingly taut, perfectly calibrated for auditory signaling. I tapped the bell dome once more with my knuckle to measure the decay of the resonance.