When I cycled across Europe I bought one major bit of new kit I'd never used before. Previous trans-UK cycles had taught me that google maps was unreliable - it had taken me over stiles, through cornfields, into rivers - and that having it up on your phone at all times was not only distracting, but meant you had to stop several times a day to charge. The solution: Beeline Velo (2).
I used this bike navigation accessory all the way to Patras. After that I lost confidence in it. In this post I'll lay out the good things about Beeline, as well as its downsides, so you can decide for yourself whether to invest in it for your own long cycles.
What is Beeline Velo?
Beeline Velo (2) is the bicycle version of the Beeline navigation computer. Don't go buying Beeline Moto by accident. I had a friend who did this and it took him onto endless dual carriageways. It's a small, circular device you clip onto your bike, and connect to the app on your phone.
Positives of Beeline Velo
Affordable(ish)
At only £99.99 (holder included) this is one of the more affordable bike computers on the market. A high end Garmin Edge can be over £600, and even the cheap version still comes in at £130. Many other computers hover around this mid £100 mark. Beeline was the only one I could find for under £100 - albeit only just.
Intuitive - Easy interface, Set-up and App
Easy initial route planning, with options
Route ratings
Good Battery
No need for constant internet connection
Water/weather proof - hardy
Heat-map
Re-routes if lost
Records route for you
Gives you stats on go - speed, how far from destination
Good quality and satisfying holder
Ability to import GPX
Negatives of Beeline Velo
Unreliable Routing, especially outside of Western Europe
Despite all the positives listed above there are some major issues with Beeline's routing software. Beeline's navigation uses google maps data, so in regions where google maps doesn't have cycling options, like in the Balkans, the fast, balanced and quiet settings disappear and the routing can go haywire. When I was in the Balkans I quickly took to relying on GPX routes of Eurovelo 8 which I could import into the app. But when these ran out in Greece I very quickly stopped using Beeline at all, except to record my cycles, and turned to other offline options like maps.me.
Even within supported areas I came across major issues. Beeline's software isn't great at distinguishing between cycle paths, walking paths, mountain bike trails, staircases and even non existent routes. It can also cause issues at borders, as I found to my cost. To give some examples:
In France I set it to take me to a fort - it took me into the woods and up a gravel path to a near vertical climb up a woodland hill crisscrossed by only narrow hiking trails. I had to lock my bike to a tree and come back for it later.
In Germany it directed me to a campsite by leading me into the woods and then telling me to simply cycle directly over a river.
In Austria/Switzerland I spent half a day cycling up steep incredible paths over a mountain in the alps. I reached a pub near the top, went behind and the path ended. A narrow bridge led to a vertical set of foot-worn stairs up the mountainside. After struggling up it for a while I was met by a local who informed me I was climbing a downhill mountain bike track, and it would take me an hour to reach the top. Around I turned, half a day wasted.
Also in the alps I was taken on hiking trails no wider than a foot, made of mud and full of steep step-filled climbs and scrambles over fallen trees.
In Lake Garda I tried to ask it to take me to a famous section where you can cycle above the water. It took me up a winding steep series of hills, and at the top it told me to turn left, where there was a wood followed by a steep cliff dropping down into the lake below. No path at all. This was partly my fault for trying to force the navigation, but it simply made up a route, rather than told me my intended route was impossible.
In Italy and Croatia it took me off route into small towns where the only way out was a steep staircase.
In Croatia I was taken up over a huge mountain to the Bosnian border. This was an unofficial, unmarked, unmanned crossing - very illegal. I used it anyway because I did not want to make the three hour detour which turning back would have cost me. I got through Bosnia without incident, but once back in Croatia I was caught by police, searched and fined 179 euros. Thanks Beeline.
In Greece I was taken away from cycle-able coastal roads up into empty mountains where the only tracks were steep dirt and loose stone trails. Here is where I decided to abandon Beeline completely.
Quiet mode Issues
Satellite location reliability
Changing plans on the go
Glitches in GPX
Accidental road ranking
The heatmap complete with accidental route rankings
Verdict
If I had to grade Beeline I would give it, suitably, a B-. This device has many great features; It's affordable, tough, intuitive, satisfying, easy to set up, has good battery and decent route planning options. All of this makes it a fantastic investment for a quick jaunt around the Lake district or the South of France. But...
The issues it does have, while not as numerous, are significant. You want to be able to trust your mapper implicitly. I grew to be very suspicious of mine. It caused me mental, physical and financial pain. Investing the extra £30 into a Garmin would have been worth it if it didn't take me over illegal border crossings. The route planning is not flexible and is full of glitches. If you're using it in any kind of remote or unusual area, where maps aren't perfect, double check your route.
I would still recommend it. In fact I have. I know of at least two people cycling Europe right now with Beeline because of my recommendation. But it does come with caveats. Having not tried any other cycling computers I can't say for sure if there are better options out there. Beeline is accessible, affordable, and somewhat reliable. If that's what you're looking for go for it. But don't blame me if the Croatian Police catch you.
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