Beeline - the bike computer with better navigation

I really want to be able to give this 5 stars; it is such a good idea, but it’s not quite there yet.Pros:Unobtrusive (I really don’t want to advertise my smartphone on the handlebars of my bike!)LightweightHolds charge (but see below)Doesn’t take up much space on the handlebarsWhen the routes are good, they are very good (but see below)App works wellQuick answers from customer servicesSeems to be water resistantGood value for moneyCons:Battery drained very quickly after first charge - i.e. before it could be strapped to the bike to be used! Customer services advised to fully drain and then fully recharge. It seems to be working ok now, but worth leaving time after the first charge before using it just in case.Some routes direct you to go eg the wrong way up a one way street and various other things that are not right. In some cases this is because of changes in road layout due to coronavirus - but most times this has happened it is not at a place where there have been recent changes.It doesn’t seem possible to edit the routes in the app eg to avoid certain junctions.Sometimes, especially in built up areas with many small streets (eg Soho, Rotherhithe, Greenwich), it suddenly doesn’t know where it is. The arrow goes black and spins, and it can take a long time to reset itself; this is frustrating when cycling in heavy traffic as you have to keep moving and can end up quite lost.It is sometimes very difficult to work out where the arrow intends you to go - eg where there are multiple exits from a roundabout. It isn’t clear you are on the wrong route until you have exited and are stuck on that road. If you are not in a rush this is a good way of seeing new places, but it is infuriating when you are trying to get somewhere! This ambiguity of the directions also seems to happen in built up areas - especially Soho, where I have got stuck trying to find my way back to the route many times.Other thoughts...I got caught in heavy downpour and the device seems not to have been affected. Water does pool in the silicone case, so it is important to take the device out and then dry it and the case.Despite the problems listed above, I now take this with me everywhere and I’m much more confident to try and ride somewhere new. I really hope that the issues I’ve described will be fixed in future software updates!

In its default 'compass' mode the Beeline is fantastic. It's made cycling to new places enjoyable where it used to be a chore. Its simple interface is a joy and I never need to think much about the route. Battery life is fantastic and I've not seen any concerning impact on my phone battery.The product loses a star for me because turn-by-turn navigation is somewhat frustrating. It does work, although it initially took me half the journey to understand the turn-by-turn interface. My main complaint is the route suggestions—turn-by-turn tends to avoid main roads and will often take you through strange back roads with an excessive number of turns. I think Beeline suggests the shortest route possible rather than the more sensible/simpler route, resulting in confusing directions and navel-gazing. Yes, I can change the route by making edits but I'd rather it just suggest a simple route in the first place. These problems could be easily fixed through software updates, so I hope the company reads these reviews.Bottom line—If you plan to rely on turn-by-turn directions I don't think the Beeline is the best interface in its current state, although it's nice that it's there I suppose. If you plan on using a mixture of turn-by-turn and compass mode then it's a 4-star product. However, if you were drawn in by advertised compass mode, and use that exclusively then Beeline is an excellent 5-star product.

I’m useless at finding my way around without relying on ride leaders on my usual Sunday club rides (which have been on hold due to COVID-19), so I looked into something relatively cheap and simple for a way to go for longer rides without getting lost.The Beeline Velo fit the bill, and once received, got it set up (quick firmware update and charge), downloaded the app to my android phone, and went out for a 50 mile ride based on an existing Strava route (Beeline/Strava integration is fantastic, easy to set up and seamless).I was worried about my phone’s battery life, as other reviewers said that it drained theirs quickly, but I simply set the Beeline route to ‘Go’, put my phone in ‘Airplane mode’ and turned Bluetooth back on – simple.Following the arrow between waypoints was great – I always knew where I was and if I missed a waypoint I just skipped to the next one to get me back on track.The next day I wanted to try out Beeline’s route mode, where is calculates a ride based on start/end points. Unfortunately, this mode didn’t work at all on my phone (‘Routing Unavailable’ error). A quick email to Beeline support with a screenshot of the error message was sent. I was sceptical, but received a reply very quickly to say their tech team would look into it. Within 2 days the issue was fixed and a new release of the app was made – what brilliant service!Seeing the mixed reviews, I was very unsure about buying this, but am very glad that I did. The design and function of the device, plus the support have really been great.For the poor reviews out there, I’m sorry your experience wasn’t the same as mine, but to anyone else having difficulties – do some Googling to look into solutions. Beeline has good explanatory videos on how to use the device, and get in touch with the support team if you’re still stuck.

Brought to go on 800 miles trip to around France. Went on a couple of trail trips 1st & once you get use to the differences between using the Bee compared to a traditional Sat nav it is very good, but at times the time lag when approaching a turn with several others close by you could easily take the wrong one. Did not find the compass mode much use as can take you on a road with no options to get back on track. Also learnt hard way best to download all legs of the journey before starting off as on arrival in France could not get the route download ( phone trouble) till got wifi at a service stop. Overall a very handy limited Satnav that I actually enjoy more than a traditional one