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TECH NEWS

Meet Nello, the stylish magnetic bicycle bell

Polomar launches the €20 Nello magnetic bell

Small enough to take up hardly any space on your handlebars, but loud enough to be heard, the Nello is a €20 magnetic bicycle bell created by a Milan-based designer for Palomar, a long-running company that branched out into the cycling world in 2013 with its Lucetta magnetic bike light.

How loud is the Nello? The company claims it’s capable of producing up to 90 decibels of sound with every ring. That’s equivalent to a Boeing 737 taking off or a motorcycle at 25 ft. So reasonably loud then. Loud enough for other road users to hear on the busy city streets is another thing though, that's something we would have to test ourselves. Operating the bell is a simple matter of lightly tapping the top. 

The Nello is mounted to the handlebars using a magnet that attaches to a plastic bracket fixed to the handlebar That means it’s easily removed, so when you arrive at your destination you can remove it. Nello provides three different ring tones, and changes every time you mount the bell to the handlebars. It’s powered by two CR2032 batteries and the bell is weather resistant.

“A “sounding” little ball that fastens easily to the  bike’s handlebar by means of a simple support – supplied with the bell. Once arrived at destination, Nello may be pulled off and slipped into a pocket. To ring Nello all you need to do is touch the bell’s head,” explains the company.

The Nello costs €20 and is available, in a choice of three colours, from www.palomarweb.com/product/nello/

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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12 comments

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jacknorell | 8 years ago
0 likes

So it's as loud as well-silenced motorcycle... good luck having anyone noticing you along Bishopsgate with that.

Why is this even mentioned on road.cc?

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leqin | 9 years ago
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but I don't own a single bicycle with steel handlebars - does this mean I have to buy yet another bike so that I can use my Nello?

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pmanc | 9 years ago
1 like

So it's a bit like a bell, except you have to carry it around with you, and replace batteries every so often?

Like a bell but less convenient?

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42coppi8 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Do the road regs still say "an audible means of approach" ?
So a friendly "bike on the right" is acceptable ?

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philtregear | 9 years ago
0 likes

a stupid idea trying to solve a non existent problem

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wellcoordinated | 9 years ago
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My handlebars are carbon. What will I do when I'm racing? Do you think Blutak is an option?

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shay cycles | 9 years ago
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Sorry, for a minute I thought it was a bell....

But no instead of a simple pressed metal device with a spring we can now add extra plastic, a magnet, some circuitry and some batteries - it must be stuff like this that makes cycling so environmentally friendly mustn't it?

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Sanderstorm | 9 years ago
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"To ring Nello all you need to do is touch the bell’s head”. Oh do behave.

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PhillBrown | 9 years ago
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Quote:

How loud is the Nello? The company claims it’s capable of producing up to 90 decibels of sound with every ring. That’s equivalent to a Boeing 737 taking off or a motorcycle at 25 ft.

I just opened the garage and stood 25ft away from my motorcycle... This bell isn't very loud at all if that's what we have to judge it on.

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StantheVoice replied to PhillBrown | 9 years ago
1 like

I think the motorbike needs to be switched on....;-)

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Wookie | 9 years ago
0 likes

And will be off bouncing down the street at the first pot hole.  41

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LarryDavidJr | 9 years ago
0 likes

I use one of these:

//i.imgur.com/KKDTYCX.jpg)

Far cheaper, and far more fun. A shit ton louder too.

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