View our media pack. Specifically designed for theft protection it instead focuses on reducing power consumption to aid long-term tracking. You get a map of the position on the app and you can send the location over to Google Maps and use that to navigate. The AlterLock has an IP66 rating which means it is protected from dust ingress and high-pressure water jets as long as you have the USB charging port protected by the cover provided. Locating the AlterLock in shared premises might be complicated, for instance, and you'll get the same position on the map whether the device is on the ground floor, the first floor, or the 15th floor. 'If it is moved indoors where there is no GPS signal, the device uses WiFi signals to determine its approximate location. Speaking of fitting, that's simple. Another advantage of being under the bottle cage is that it is shielded from front wheel spray, although the Alterlock is IP66-rated (waterproof), so you shouldnt need to be worried about riding in all weathers. 'In the unlikely event that your bike is stolen, AlterLock tracks it once a minute to determine its final location,' says AlterLock. If the bike is moved a louder alarm will sounds. While there are obviously millions of iPhones in operation it does limit it somewhat. As well as the initial payment for the AlterLock, after a month-long free trial period you need to pay a subscription fee of 34.99 per year or 3.49 per month (paying monthly would work out at 41.88 per year). The Apple AirTag uses Bluetooth, and relies upon an Apple user being within close proximity of the device. Our tech team reviews the best GPS bike trackers to offer you increased peace of mind. BA1 1UA. Created to mount on your bike's seat post, the Curve device uses a built-in Smart SIM that helps extend the range of the GPS tracker. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 'What sets AlterLock apart from many other tracking devices is its ability to track your location independently. It uses Bluetooth technology and is compatible with Android, Windows and iOS platforms. George tested a four-pack and liked the low-tech system. It's not a feature of the product itself but the fact that the Sigfox network doesn't cover all areas is a stumbling block. You get the alert on your phone saying that someone is messing with your bike and you can rush to get there as quickly as possible. If someone tries to remove the device, AlterLock detects the vibration and sounds an alarm to warn you, so you can rush to your bike. It hardly stands out, sitting there securely without rattling. The police might go and knock on the door of the premises where you suspect your bike is being stored, but if no one answers or the occupier refuses entry, they'll need a warrant, signed off by a magistrate, to get inside. This cookie is set by websites running on the Windows Azure cloud platform. The AirTag is Apple's answer to Tile and other small trackers. However, the Sigfox network that it uses to provide tracking even when indoors doesn't provide universal coverage, so it can't be described as a failsafe. That said, other than an annoying-sounding alarm, and the resulting scramble of cycling shoes on a caf floor, there isnt anything stopping an opportunistic bike thief from trying their luck. Interesting security device that lets you know if your bike is moved and helps you locate it, If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website, Make and model: Alterlock Anti-Theft Alarm & GPS Tracking Device, Size tested: 159mm long x 38mm wide x 9mm thick. The European version is available in the following countries: Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and United Kingdom. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized advertising. That said for the price of a cheap bike lock it provides some additional peace of mind when it comes to security of your favourite bike. This is used to present the user with relevant advertising according to their profile. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. 2008present unless otherwise stated. Since Sigfox uses different communication bands in different regions, Alterlock comes in several versions. What do the manufacturers say about it? Once in position, the AlterLock is unobtrusive, especially if you have a dark coloured bike and/or bottle cage. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The agreement can be cancelled during the trial period, but not for six months after that. AlterLock has stand-alone communication and GPS so you can track your device wherever it is. Leave your bike unattended with peace of mind. That said, if your bike was stolen you'd far rather have tracking info to work with than nothing. When your bike is out of Bluetooth range, the app will show you its most recent location on a map. The effectiveness of this is in the thiefs hands though. You just push the bolts through the holes in your bottle cage, then through the holes in the AlterLock, and tighten them into your bottle cage mounts. The unit weighs in at 80g and sits under the seatpost or the bottle cage. The app provides plenty of customisation for the functionality and sensitivity as well as the actual setting of the alarm and bike tracking. Keep an eye on your bike with a vibration detection alarm and smartphone notification. See more about the See.Sense Knowhere here (opens in new tab). You can see a map of current coverage here. If you found five vans all lined up next to one another you wouldn't know which one your bike was inside, but the tech would get you there or thereabouts. Stu reviewed the Tail It Bike GPS tracking device last year and rated it highly, although he found that it wouldn't fit the complex bend shapes of some road handlebars. Next up, we had someone move the bike to a friend's house. The idea is that if someone moves your bike, you can find out where it is via the app. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, It also isn't able to distinguish vertical position, so if your bike is in a multi-storey building, locating it would be very difficult as well. Others can be hidden inside the frame, such as in the seat tube. The lightweight device is charged via a USB port, with battery life lasting for around 1.5-2 months depending on use. Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad. Our mission is to bring you all the news thats relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Would you consider buying the product? As for its accuracy, during our testing we're able to locate the bike accurately in two out of the five locations. This cookie is used by ChatPlus to manage visitor information. It is used to track information about YouTube videos embedded on the website. Would you recommend the product to a friend? Similarly the tracker will detect if you've had a fall via the movement sensors and alert a chosen family member via SMS or push notification. If you're not familiar with Sigfox, it's 'a global network dedicated to the Internet of Things based on low power, long-range and small data that offers an end-to-end connectivity service'. Bear in mind, though, that it might not be totally straightforward every time. First, we had someone put a bike with the AlterLock fitted into the back of their car and drive it off to an undisclosed location. Help us to make it better. Quite the opposite, it's designed to hide away so that a thief has no idea that it's there, taking an approach that's very different from that of the AlterLock where deterrence is front and centre. AlterLock transmits data via Sigfox (a low-power, wide-area [LPWA] communication system) when beyond Bluetooth range. It's certainly an affordable option to a fully blown GPS tracker. It assigns a unique ID to every user and allows us to recognise visitors when they revisit. Graham has been part of the Cyclingnews team since January 2020. We had a lot of fun with this test. The form is neat as well, simply fitting under the bottle cage with almost zero effect on the performance of the bike. Designed to attach to your bike via the bottle cage bosses (or to sit underneath the cage) it uses a vibration detection algorithm with various settings that sounds an alarm and send you notice via the app. This cookie is set by Youtube. Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. The AlterLock works alongside a smartphone app. Two minutes tops. In the area where I live, once the bike was taken indoors we got nothing. If the thief is very tech-savvy, then they could simply press the physical button on the Alterlock before making off with your bike and you would potentially be none the wiser until you returned to find your bike missing. For those concerned about aero considerations, Alterlock says that the device only adds a Cd value of +0.00062 at 40kph. All material FarrellyAtkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. It records the unique ID of the visitor. Heres why you can trust us. The overall score is not just We tried out the AlterLock on many occasions to simulate theft. More exepensive options use GPS tracking - this is more effective in remote areas, however, still relies upon the GPS network covering the location of your missing steed. Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc While Bluetooth is used to connect to your phone, once out of range the Alterlock switches to Sigfox communication which is able to send location information over long distances with low power draw. This cookie is used by Google to control the request rate. Once fitted, its secure and out the way. AlterLock is a security service for sports bikes. A thief could still remove the device if they really wanted to but they might only do that if they realised that it's a tracker rather than just an alarm (as mentioned, the alarm will sound a maximum of three times, it won't just keep going on forever). It lets you keep a remote eye on your bike with a movement detection alarm and smartphone notification. It is used to store whether the user has consented to the use of the cookie and does not contain any personal data. He has mountain biking at his core and can mostly be found bikepacking around Scotland or exploring the steep trails around the Tweed Valley. Its a new way to enjoy your life as a cyclist with peace of mind. Essentially, it's a network that allows the transfer of small messages, such as the location of devices like AlterLock. That's a little better than the Tile tracker and comparable with the far more expensive Vodafone bike light & GPS tracker product. The full alarm is certainly loud enough to draw the attention of passers-by and might convince a thief to leave your bike alone and go back to whatever thieves do when they're not trying to nick other people's stuff. Please check your bike immediately.' Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. Tile Sticker is a tiny tracking device that's been designed to help you keep tabs on a range of household and outdoor items. It's particularly useful for things like parking at a cafe stop or in any other public place when you're relatively close by. Your subscription will help us to do more. To coin a phrase 'lock him up, lock him up'. My daughter had one go on her MTB the same way, although in that case it was a SRAM chain. AlterLock says, "AlterLock is a bike security service for sports bikes. As a motoring journalist, he has contributed to Autocar, WhatCar?, Practical Caravan and more. Real life can be more complicated. Positioned between the frame and bottle cage, it's unlikely ever to be touched so durability isn't going to be an issue. This cookie is used by Azure Apps to keep the user's session on the same server. All rights reserved. Meanwhile, if weight is an issue for you, Alterlock only weighs 50g, making it still a lighter option than even the best lightweight bike locks. Terms and conditions of use. We reviewed one recently and George said that it 'has the potential to be an impressive piece of hardware, but is let down by a lack of predictability and an app that needs improvement'. An AirTag costs 29 and there is no monthly subscription. It'll last up to two months between charges, depending on the environment and usage conditions, and you get an alert on your phone when it needs topping up. The Curve bike light & GPS tracker cost 79 upfront but also requires a Vodafone Smart SIM monthly subscription, which start at 4 per month for 12 months. LPWA allows the AlterLock device to communicate independently of your smartphone with minimal power consumption and at low cost. Probably not. 2. We particularly liked the option that allows you set 'zones', receiving alerts when your bike enters and leaves. This site uses cookies to understand how you use the site and to help us improve convenience. Login (new registrationcontract confirmation), Get 20% off of your first order with code: WELCOME20. This cookie is used to collect data about how site visitors use our website. Christiano was named after American Pres Ronnie Reagan. As well as sounding the alarm which might be enough, depending on how close you are to the bike the AlterLock sends a message to your phone if it is moved: 'Vibration detected! Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Of course, the car could be moved again, in which case you'd get an updated location. We made sure that our locations were varied, for example outside a caf in a busy highstreet, and in a multistorey car park (where you'd expect a tracker to struggle). These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud and you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. This cookie is used by Google. Okay, the map showed the car on the wrong side of the road, but it was within metres. Bear in mind Hiplocks FX lock is going to be easily cut, but if a bike thief is cruising around with a set of bolt cutters they probably arent going to be put off by an alarm either. If your bike is stolen AlterLock tracks it once a minute to determine its final location. This cookie is used by Application Gateway in addition to ApplicationGatewayAffinity to maintain the session on cross-origin requests. This means that even if you forget to turn on the security and alarm functions (which is done by removing the light function) you'll still get notified when your bike is moved with the light attached. Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc Huge number of Apple devices provides a big network to tap into, A wide range of third-party bike mounts are available, Needs a recent iPhone to get the best from the app, AirTag could accidentally alert a thief to its presence, Relies on other Tile users to find a missing bike, Multi-functional bike tracker that requires subscription, Water sealed with tamper resistant design, Coverage may vary depending on your location in the UK, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, UCI suspends continental team's licence due to doping investigation, Its always the same, the rider who wins the Tour, no one believes it: Christophe Laporte says nothing changes with suspicion in cycling, Exclusive interviews, fitness tips and product reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. At least with the video on that and the Sun Ex F1 drivers Brendon Hartley and Mark Webber are keen mountain bikers I reckon. The AlterLock device attaches to the bottle cage bosses on a standard sports bike. So long as the AirTag is within range of your phone, all you need to do is tap on the 'Find My' app and the AirTag's location shows on the screen. David Motton is a freelance journalist and presenter specialising in motoring and cycling. If AlterLock detects your bike is being moved, it sends a notification to your phone to tell you to check your bike. try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. Unlike some GPS trackers it won't continuously display your bikes location. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions. It's an inexpensive option and if you go on line there are stories of users who have found their stolen bikes thanks to the device. Not at the moment. Cyclingnews is supported by its audience. are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. There are cheaper GPS tracking systems out there, although AlterLock does use the Sigfox network too. You can read our in-depth review of the Vodafone Curve bike light & GPS tracker here. The point the police made to me was that yes, a tracker can be very useful, but it's sometimes not simply a question of going where the app tells you and getting your bike back. It is used by Google DoubleClick to store information about how users used the website and other advertising prior to visiting the website. Note: Even within the service area, notifications may not reach your smartphone if the bike is being kept indoors, where the signal is weak, or in an environment with poor reception. To start with, no. The trifecta approach to location tracking, paired with the battery-saving accelerometer, should hopefully give you enough time and accuracy to organise your local authorities to recover your bike. However how well does it perform against the best bike GPS trackers? AlterLock is 159mm long, 38mm wide (at the widest point), and 9mm deep. Outside the service area, all functions will work within the Bluetooth transmission range of your smartphone. It was saying that the bike was east of the meridian, somewhere near Ostend. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription, after your trial you will be billed 4.99 $7.99 5.99 per month, cancel anytime. It helps us perform certain functions, such as sharing website content on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third party functions. The AlterLock's other key feature is its tracking. Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product? If anyone touches your bike the alarm essentially tells them to back off and pick on someone else. How does that compare to your own feelings about it? In a house, GPS isn't usually possible so the system would be reliant on Sigfox. Just got the tanwall tubeless version, not sure where you got the fact that tanwall and tubeless will not work as they are porous, as all tyres are Great sounding set of earbuds with an ambient sound setting that is exceptional. In a low-budget recreation of the Hunted TV show, our tester went on the run with his own bike. You can read our full review of the Tile Sticker here. In many circumstances, the best bike locks are going to make sure your bike is still there when you come back. The best location for a GPS tracker is one where it won't be found. In the unlikely event of a theft, GPS tracking helps you find it. During our testing we found that the Vodafone Curve packed plenty of features into its relatively small size. This cookie is used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for analytics reports on the site and to understand how the site is used. Via the app you can track your bike's movement in realtime as well as benefit from other features such as ride history. Obviously, the thief would need a multi-tool handy and the use of the security bolts would make this much harder (but they are an additional cost at the time of purchase). Theyre not sold separately. The Tail It Bike GPS doesn't provide an alarm, though. That device was 83.89, so over 25% cheaper than the AlterLock and the subscription is cheaper too. The customisation of vibration detection sensitivity is a nice touch that should extend the Alterlocks range of use, this means it isnt limited to protecting your bike while you nip into the shops but also if you want to use it on the back of the car or van. We were told that the bike was somewhere in the English Channel. At 10 minute intervals, she would try to locate the bike, using all three security devices. You can check the service area here. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site. First, different police forces have different policies. You can set things like the alarm duration (between 5secs and a minute) and the number of times it goes off (one to three times) via the app. However, as it's not designed as a dedicated bike tracker it does mean that you'll find it has a few limitations as well as some benefits. '[This] second generation also uses WiFi signals for positioning, increasing the possibility of determining your location even indoors, where there is no GPS signal.'. All of this applies to any tracker, not just the AlterLock. It features a built-in battery with a two-year life and is waterproof. The data collected includes the number of visitors, the origin of the visit and the pages visited in anonymous form. This cookie does not contain or represent any personal information or entry details. When AlterLock detects a vibration, its alarm sounds, deterring theft and tampering. AlterLock says that the vibration detection mechanism has been developed to avoid false alarms, but there's the slight chance that the alarm will go off and you'll get an alert on your phone if someone innocently adjusts your bike's position while locking up theirs, for example, depending on the setting you're using. Aerodynamics is a complicated old business and I couldn't tell you if that claim is correct for any particular bike, but the positioning certainly means that it's sheltered between your frame and water bottle. By employing a highly accurate GPS module and Sigfox communication, the device transmits location information even from hundreds of kilometres away, unlike Bluetooth, which has a maximum range of about 100 metres. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. GPS accuracy is always going to be dependent on location, and if the thief hordes your bike inside a building to wait for the heat to blow over, you will lose signal. The Lithium polymer battery is charged via a USB-C cable and rated to last 1.5 months, giving plenty of time to locate your bike. We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Alterlock fits to the bike using the bottle cage mounts, At one end is the USB-C charging port and function button, Alterlock's reasonably small form should mean it's not noticeable once fitted to the bike with a water bottle, Accelerometer activated tracking saves battery, GPS module, Sigfox communication and WiFi has a huge tracking range, The initial cost is expensive and the subscription service adds further monthly costs, Can easily be removed unless additional special security bolts are purchased. . It features an aerodynamic design created to work seamlessly with most road bikes. It's a very slim plastic device that sits between your bike frame and bottle cage. One battery charge lasts three months and the AIR uses the new Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) low power wide area network (LPWAN) to transmit information. A loud alarm sounds when your bike is moved, and you get notifications on the app that help you track your bike. Police have also been known to arrive at a particular place to find that the tracker has been removed and chucked away there. Not afraid of a challenge, Graham has gained a reputation for riding fixed gear bikes both too far and often in inappropriate places. I counted 17 cracked links. If a GPS signal isn't available the device uses a WiFi signal. Note 1: Compatible with BLE-equipped smartphones running Android 5.0 and above or iOS 11 and above. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as 1.99. If youd like to make it even harder to remove the device, additional anti-theft bolts and a special tool are available. Bluetooth trackers are challenging to track once they leave your hands. As the name suggests, it features an adhesive backing so you can stick the device to your bike frame with ease. This cookie is used to save the user's language preferences and to provide content in the saved language the next time the user visits the website. It's not quite as black and white as you might hope. However it will alert you if your bike has been disturbed, which makes it suitable for caf stops when you may have to leave your bike unattended. Premium feeling, rugged solar panel, though missing attachment points for bike or backpacking use, Excellent secure fit and exceptional battery life, although not as good with wind noise as some out there, Editorial, general: info [at] road.cc If the worst happens and someone does steal your bike, the GPS tracking technology works well in our experience, but the Sigfox network isn't universal. His daughter took on the role of hunter. However, the first time it detects vibration after it is locked you'll just get a notification without the location information, the idea being that you can get to where you parked your bike as quickly as possible. If you are looking for a way to track down your pride and joy, having the Alterlock fitted is probably going to be your best bet. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. You download the app (there are iOS and Android versions), pair it to your device, and sort out various settings. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In a car, the AlterLock could send its location via GPS. The AlterLock can't be turned off they're not going to make it that easy for a thief but couldn't a wrong 'un just remove it from your bike? The Tail It Bike GPS doesn't provide an alarm though. Bath Quite the opposite, it's designed to hide away so that a thief has no idea that it's there, taking an approach that's very different from that of the AlterLock where deterrence is front and centre. You can also turn the alarm off if you like. Monitoring, notifications, alarm, and GPS tracking. Thinking of getting your bike insured? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Like Tile tags, the Apple AirTag uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone. It features both a 40 lumens intelligent brake and daylight and a GPS tracker that's activated by simply twisting the light. Launched via a Kickstarter project, the brand hit its funding target in a matter of hours. Meanwhile, products like Hiplocks FX cable lock only costs 20 (less than the yearly subscription needed for Alterlock) and creates a tangible barrier that stops someone from riding away on your bike. He is a serial offender. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. This is where the Alterlock switches to using Wi-Fi networks to determine its location, though obviously this is not going to be as accurate as GPS and is compounded if the thief lives in a densely populated area. This feature has worked really well for us in testing, sending the message through every time it was moved when locked outdoors. The unit itself weighs 48g, and you get two extra-long bottle cage bolts for fitting. Fitment is as simple as fitting a bottle cage and, unless you have a very unconventional frame, will fit across road, gravel and mountain bikes.