Beeline Velo 2 | Tester: Christoph | Price: 109.99 | Weight: 25 g | Intended use: navigation, route tracking | Manufacturers WebsiteUser friendly, easy to mount, and a handy display, thats what the Beeline Velo 2 promises. For just under 110, its attractively priced too. But can the Velo 2 deliver on that promise, and who is it for? Read on to find out.If youre interested in a compact, minimalistic bike computer that can navigate, youve come to the right place! The Beeline Velo 2 isnt designed to track your performance metrics, but rather to guide you to your destination as quickly as possible on pleasant routes. Were excited about the Velo 2 read on to find out why and what you should keep in mind.Show me the wayHonestly, who doesnt want simple route planning that adapts to your preferences and is based on the experiences of other riders? We certainly do, and maybe you do, too. Thats exactly what Beeline promise with the Velo 2. But first things first.For 109.99, you can have the Velo 2 delivered free of charge to your address in the UK, USA, Italy, or Germany. Included in this are a charging cable, universal mount, and user manual. However, you probably wont need the manual because the Beeline is intuitive to set up and use. The first time you power it up, youll be greeted by a QR code, which redirects you to your phones app store via the Beeline website. Setting up the app is quick and it pairs with the Velo 2 without hiccups.Secure.The Beeline Velo 2 attaches to the mount via a twist lock interface.Youll have the universal bracket attached to the handlebar in no time thanks to the sturdy rubber bands. For sleeker integration, you can attach the Velo 2 to the stem cap with the optional 19.99 stem cap mount. The mount interface looks similar to Garmins and Wahoos versions, though its a bit smaller.The Beeline Velo 2 has four buttons top, bottom, left, and right. You can hardly do anything wrong here because youve got small symbols displaying the input options on the clear 32 mm LCD IPS screen. It doesnt have a touch screen, but it isnt necessary either. The feedback of the RockerTop() buttons could be more defined, though you wont be using them much while riding anyway.Where to?Beeline provide browser-based route planning, but its still in the beta testing phase. Route planning is mostly intended to be done via the app on your smartphone. Just enter the destination and youre ready to go. You can choose between three routing options: fast, balanced, and quiet. This is a great feature in itself, and it makes especially good sense when planning routes on your phone because adjusting the route on the app is very fiddly. This can get quite annoying, which makes the three different routing suggestions all the more helpful.Show me the wayIn navigation mode, the Velo 2 visually highlights the route.Adventure Time!In compass mode, you can find your own way and explore your surrounds.You must initiate the navigation and/or tracking on your phone. In fact, you cant leave home without it, because the Beeline Velo 2 uses your phones sensors, combined with the sensors in the Velo 2. So remember to check your smartphone battery before heading off. Comparing the navigation with a Wahoo bike computer confirms the accuracy of the Velo 2. The two devices differ only slightly from each other over a distance of about 70 km. The recorded travelling time was shorter than that of the Wahoo on all comparison rides, which our experiences confirm. The Velo 2 consistently detected stops earlier. Tip: if your phone battery is running low, you can also ride with it in flight mode, though in that case the re-routing will no longer work.The compass navigation mode is an exciting option. In this mode, the Beeline Velo 2 only indicates the direction of your target destination with an arrow, allowing you to find your own route there. This is especially fun in unfamiliar places, if you arent in a hurry and want to explore the area. And not to worry if you get lost, the battery is said to last up to 10 hours with the backlight on high, which seems realistic.I likeYou can rate the route while riding just be careful!Better together!Probably the most exciting feature of the Beeline Velo 2 is the incorporation of the Beeline community feedback in the form of road ratings. Beeline use this feedback to constantly improve routing suggestions, which they call Beeline Smart Routing(). How does road rating work? The left RockerTop() button on the Velo 2 is marked with a red line, and the right button is marked with a green line. If you like a particular part of a route, you can save it by briefly holding down the green button. If you dont like it, you press the red button. Of course, it all depends on the community to get involved and the personal preferences of the other Velo 2 users. We think its a useful feature. Nevertheless, we didnt always choose Beelines suggested route in our home country, because we know the routes and know which ones we do and dont like.Existing routes must be imported unless you use Strava. In that case, theres an interface to directly access routes. Importing .gpx files is very easy via the app and the browser. If necessary, you may have to adjust the route slightly, as you might be familiar with from other tools.Self-explanatorySmall icons show you the function of the RockerTop() buttons.Our conclusion on the Beeline Velo 2 bike computerThanks to its intuitive operation and the help of the community, the Beeline Velo 2 might be the perfect solution for those who want no-fuss bike navigation. Its inexpensive, has a decent battery life, is beautifully designed, and offers easy handling. What cant the Beeline Velo 2 do? Performance metrics. For all those who want a performance tracking device with a navigation function, wed recommend models from the likes of Wahoo and Garmin.Topsintuitive to useunobtrusive, simple designprecise routinglong battery lifeFlopslimited data for performance analysisDer Beitrag The Lab Beeline Velo 2 in review erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

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