Bicycle tracking system

[SpotMyBike]

Hey guys

 

Does anybody know of a bicycle tracker/tracking system that is accurate and cost effective in SA?

[johanpre44]

It depends on why you need the Tracking? I assume that you will need "live" tracking, like tracker in a car?

 

I use Endomondo on my Adroid powered phone with GPS (works on lots of other phones as well). Endomondo then allows live tracking via their website to "friends" of your profile. This gives my wife some peace of mind when I'm out cycling on my own. My phones battery lasts quite well (5 hours drains about 40%). Strava have a similar feature (but only for the premium memberships which is very expensive).

 

I have also read an article in the June 2013 Ride Magazine "The Fun Way Down" (p76) about someone (Eelco Meyjes aged 63) that cycled from Jhb to CT for the 2013 Cape Argus. He did mention using Tracetec for satellite tracking (http://www.tracetec.net). Let me know if you need a copy of the Article.

[scuzzy]

If it is about safety while you ride, you can use Google+, it allows you to give permission to your frineds to see where you are located, not fitness wise, like Endmondo, just location. There is also a free app, called GPS pro, tat works on the same principal as Google+.

 

If it is for when your bike gets stolen, nothing that I know of. I did speak to a friend of mine about something like that, but battery life is a problem.

[SpotMyBike]

@johannpre44 thanks for the response, I need it more for my bike than for me . Looking to install a tracking system to be able to track my bike if I get jacked.

 

@scuzzy what would you think is the optimal battery life for such a device?

[Jaco Steyn]

You can perhaps look at something like this: http://www.integratedtrackers.com/GPSTrack/Spybike.jsp

Taken form the website:

 

SPYBIKE Spybike covert bicycle GPS tracker

Notifies you by SMS if your bicycle moves

Online tracking

Securely fastened

Spybike_Instructions_2.pdf

[HenryS]

Tracetec have one at R65 per month. http://www.tracetec.net/news-get-your-bicycle-back-tracetec-launches-tracking-and-recovery-product-for-bicycles.php

[SpotMyBike]

@Jaco Steyn thanks for the link! I looked at their website previously, but was a bit unsure about their pricing. It seems you purchase the unit from them in the UK and then insert a global SIM? Not sure how that works. Also not to fond of the immobilizer idea, seems a bit obvious. Otherwise I think thats the closest to what I'm looking for. Was hoping to find some alternatives.

 

@HenryS that seems like a winner. Bit pricey though! For that price I would rather insure my bike than to get a broken carbon bike retrieved!