Beeline Velo 2

£79.99 Commuter-friendly bike computer

THIS SECOND VERSION of the Velo features an LCD screen with rocker buttons and a larger display than the previous iteration. The original Velo relied on ‘as-the-crow-flies’ navigation, then was updated to offer a compass mode and turnby-turn navigation.

Once you've paired the 25g Velo 2 with the Beeline app (available for iOS and Android), you can decide to either be routed to a specific destination or ride a loop with various waypoints. Once you've inputted a destination (easily done via the app, with GPX files also uploaded trouble-free), the app will suggest three routes: a fast route, a quiet route for enjoying the scenery or a balance of the two.

For commuting into Bristol city centre, for example, the Velo 2 generally suggested a suitable route that was similar to my preferred route along the Bath to Bristol railway path. The device offers turn-byturn navigation when en route and I liked that it tells you how far you have until the next direction cue. The Beeline app is also intuitive to use and clearly laid out.

Less positively, it’s not the easiest navigation to follow and it can lose its way sometimes. There were a few instances where the device suggested turning off on paths or roads that didn’t exist. I also found its navigation wasn’t the clearest on large roundabouts or junctions with an unconventional structure.

I’d prefer it if the device showed more of the surrounding roads on the screen rather than highlighting the route you're taking. This would make negotiating large roundabouts or junctions easier. At £79.99, however, and even with its quirks, the Velo 2 is good value for money. And it should only get better with more updates.