Ryan Olivas

Anyone here uses a gps tracker device for their bike? Also, Im looking for suggestions of any accessory for additional ride safety... Thanks everyone.

Dave Mayer

GPS? On my cell phone. Of course I only use or reference my phone when I am safely stopped, off the bike and out of traffic. Any other approach is a unsafe distraction.

As when you're driving a vehicle, screens/displays, music, headphones, eating, etc. all create distractions that diminish your reaction time, your ability to deal with emergencies and changing conditions.

When riding, you should be totally and exclusively focused on the riding.

ExPatTyke

I use Strava Premium, which has a tracking facility included.

Gives my wife a little peace of mind, plus there's either - depending on the weather - a cold G&T or a hot cup of tea ready for me as soon as I arrive home.

europa

Probably the wrong forum, but the mods will sort that out.

I use a GPS but only because I wanted the navigation tools. I'd previously used a normal bike computer. However, the ability to just put it on any bike without mucking about with wheel settings is nice (it's accurate enough for my needs without the speed sensors, etc). It's really all about what you need and what you want (not necessarily the same thing).

As for safety, for greatest safety, I wear four wheels, steel armour and six air bags. The radio makes it a nice experience and ensures I'm not distracted by them two wheeled nutters.

Dyskolos

Garmin Livetrack

I-Like-To-Bike

Yuchh! No thanks, I like to enjoy my riding and do not want it to become drudgery driven by fear and obsessive requirements to be totally and exclusively focused on it.

Milton Keynes

I use my phone with the Runtastic road cycling app and/or Strava. The Runtastic app will live feed my location to a map in near-real time so my wife can see where I am and know that I'm still alive and OK if I'm still moving.

Maelochs

Lots of free GPS apps if you ride with a smartphone. I find that with the screen turned off, my phone is good for about any length of ride.

I like all the data but the biggest plus is the map. If I explore new territory I can download the ride and look at where i went, find other ways to get there, find alternate routes around bad parts ...

A few Sundays ago I went on a group ride over mostly totally familiar terrain, with a few odd departures which turned out to be much better roads. Now I can redraw some old familiar routes and fill in some blanks.

If I were just using a computer for speed and distance, I would have to guess at the routes. Now i can lay them out in overhead view and elevation simultaneously ... beats getting surprised by those big hills halfway through a ride.

natnatroswell22

I usually use a lot of accessories for additional protection and comfy ride as well. Spoke led which is pretty cheaper that adds visibility to your bike, bras bells, and the basics, gloves,helmet, knee pads and more.

Ryan Olivas

Thankyou for the suggestion everyone, will follow them

donnaeastman

Yeah me too! I use GPS tracker whenever I'm cycling. Just to keep me on track all the time.

rumrunn6

I let ppl know when & where I am & headed to, when I turnaround, & when I'm back home or back at my car

salcedo

Quadlock + smartphone

I only use it when I am in a part of town I don't know and need directions to get to my destination

Ryan Olivas

I forgot to include the reason why I asked for the tips, it's because I'm planning to do bikepacking alone. Basically, if I am just headed into the town then I'll probably just tell my fam bout it.

Bmach

Icedot

natnatroswell22

my first time to hear about this app. will definitely try them tomorrow

PanYAgua

Garmin Livetrack

Ryan Olivas

Oh , I made a research of it and it's good seeing how it works. However, there were some issues or complaints from the people as I've seen in the review section and in the youtube.

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Olivas

Anyone here uses a gps tracker device for their bike? Also, Im looking for suggestions of any accessory for additional ride safety... Thanks everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Olivas

I forgot to include the reason why I asked for the tips, it's because I'm planning to do bikepacking alone. Basically, if I am just headed into the town then I'll probably just tell my fam bout it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Mayer

.. .As when you're driving a vehicle, screens/displays, music, headphones, eating, etc. all create distractions that diminish your reaction time, your ability to deal with emergencies and changing conditions.

When riding, you should be totally and exclusively focused on the riding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike

Yuchh! No thanks, I like to enjoy my riding and do not want it to become drudgery driven by fear and obsessive requirements to be totally and exclusively focused on it..

I’m an exclusive road / commuter cyclist, and I presume my approach to safety (link) is different than safety off the road. Nonetheless attention to the ride whether to be alert to the dangers, or enjoy the ride is paramount (without comment about listening to music, etc.).

Otherwise, the only accessories (gadgets) I use for safety are lights and a rearview mirror.

beachball42

I just use the Runkeeper app on my phone and use the cycle setting to track my progress. As for if my wife wants to track my location, we have the Life360 app on all our phones so she can just open up that app and see where I am. It runs in the background so I don't really have to open it or do anything once you set it up. Then I just put my phone in low battery mode and the drain on my battery is fairly limited while I'm out riding.

Ryan Olivas

Thanks everyone for your tips and advices. Also, thanks for opening up your comment and opinions, good or bad, appreciated it all

mr_bill

Similar for me, but I subscribe to Runkeeper Go, and enabled Live Track. Also set up to post on my Facebook feed, view-able only by my spouse. And added my spouse to Runkeeper so they can view my Live Track.

One caveat - most of these tracking apps require cell coverage and/or data coverage.

Where I usually ride this is not an issue. BUT the tracking "dot" at the server will just sit there while you are out of coverage until you "pop" back into coverage some minutes/hours later.

You will want to discuss this "feature" BEFORE it happens, not after.

-mr. bill

Leisesturm

Must you always be so tenaciously literal? Most of us understand what the other poster was saying.

Leisesturm

I don't know, it doesn't seem like all the crumple zones, multiple airbags, anti-lock braking, traction control, etc. and etc., it does not appear that all this automotive innovation has any positive effect on the number of automobile driver death and dismemberment statistics. They continue to rise year over year and last year spiked out of all proportion to the number of new cars purchased the previous year. You want safety? Fly. Next safest is bus or train. Nothing else comes close.

I-Like-To-Bike

Please explain how " When riding, you should be totally and exclusively focused on the riding" does not mean when riding, you should be totally and exclusively focused on the riding.
What special "understanding" does your crystal ball tell you that really means?