Ordnance Survey launch cycling-specific GPS devices

It might seem like an unlikely rival to the likes of Garmin and Wahoo, but the national mapping agency Ordnance Survey have launched a line of GPS devices promising advanced navigation and high-resolution touchscreen, with the Velo and Horizon models aimed specifically at off-road cycling. 

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The computers mark a new era in Ordnance Survey's storied 227-year history, being the first handheld units they've ever produced. There are four in total: Velo (£369.99), Horizon (£424.99), Trail (£434.99) and Aventura (£499.99). We'll focus on the first two which have the most cycle-friendly credentials... 

OS Velo

The Velo is the most compact and least expensive device in the range, weighing just 110g. It comes with both the OS 'QuickLock' out-front and stem mounts for a streamlined appearance, and has a rugged body for weather protection with an IP67 water resistance rating. You can connect to all your usual apps and pair with heart rate monitors and cadence sensors with Bluetooth, ANT+ and WiFi, and you also get a six-month subscription to the SeeMee service. This lets you broadcast your location to others, and also send email and/or SMS alerts to chosen contacts if you get lost in the woods. 

Being from the Ordance Survey mapping is going to be the big sell, and you get OS 1:250k base mapping for the whole of the UK included in the Velo plus a three-year subscription to OS Maps. You can use the inbuilt WiFi to sync routes to OS Maps, and the screen is 3" with a 240 x 400px screen. You can operate it via touchscreen or by using the buttons. Here is the full spec list: 

3" transflective touchscreen (240 x 400px) with backlight
Touchscreen and button control
10-hour battery life - 1650 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery
16GB internal memory
Water & dust resistant (IP67)
Extreme temperature resistant: -10° to 60°C
3-axis compass
Accelerometer
Barometric altimeter
FullConnect™: ANT+™, Bluetooth® Smart, GPRS, Wi-Fi
Physical dimensions: 60mm W x 105mm H x 20mm D
Weight: 110g
QuickLock attachment
Operating memory: 2GB (RAM)
USB 2.0 port

OS Horizon

The Horizon model is £424.99, slightly larger and weighing in at 125g. This one has unlimited routes and tracks, and you can also swap out the battery easily and add a micro SD card to increase the memory. You can switch between the QuickLock mount for cycling and also a flat back cover if you're using it for hiking. 

For some, the battery life on both the Velo and Horizon models could be a deal-breaker: it's quoted at 10 hours, and while we're assuming that's with all the powerful mapping functions turned on we're unsure as of yet if you can get more juice out of it just running the GPS (check back for updates soon). 

All of the computers are available to buy now directly from Ordnance Survey's online leisure shop with delivery UK-only,  and you can also get 10% off your order by signing up to their newsletter. If you want to wait for a recommendation first, we're looking to get a test unit or two in very soon between ourselves and our sister title off.road.cc...