rivers

My lezyne micro gps has tracking. It sends my wife an email whenever I start a ride, and links her to a website with my location and where I've been. She mostly uses it to see roughly when I'm going to be home from work or, if out on a ride, I'll be home roughly around when I said I would be. It's handy in case I have a mechanical so she can find me and retrieve me.

Munk69

LIfe360 - Free app on the app store.

Caliper

one thing to consider with apps like RoadID is that they will send a message for the situations when you can't call. After 5 minutes it will warn you and then send a message if you don't take action. I find that comforting being that most of my rides are away from crowded areas.

wipekitty

If you have an Android phone with the GPS turned on, you can share your location from the Google account on your phone to another Google account. (I've shared my location with my significant other, though I don't think it's ever been checked.)

It does, however, require a data connection to share location - so not great if you're riding in rural areas without service.

GreenAnvil

DomaneS5

MapMyRide app has live tracking.

OBoile

I use the same. It's quite handy if we need to time something for when I get home.

drewguy

Not clear from the article if he had Beacon or some such on or somehow the ride uploaded automatically (or perhaps someone followed the mantra below).

armybikerider

I've got really poor cell phone connectivity here in rural North Texas.

What are the options for live tracking that don't rely on smartphones?

Seattle Forrest

@armybikerider If you want to be tracked in real time without cellular, that leaves satellite. Garmin bought into that market, I think it's still called in reach. It's expensive. SPOT might be another option.

DaveLeeNC

I know little about them, but the 'SPOT services and devices' ( https://www.findmespot.com/en/ ) might offer a solution here. I guess if you have crappy cell service, then you probably don't have easy access to REI. But they are a retailer from what I know.

dave

Clipped_in

As has been mentioned, Wahoo has a tracking feature that for me has been absolutely flawless. My wife can follow me on every ride--no questions asked, and I can easily get 12 hours out of the battery. My experience with Garmin over about 6 years was not nearly as reliable. YMMV

armybikerider

So that means that Garmin devices like their bike computers, smart watches and Vivo fitness bands all transmit over cell networks when using the Garmin Connect or Live Track feature??

armybikerider

I looked at the Elemnt computers but don't they have to be paired with a smartphone?

Seattle Forrest

Except for the in reach, they all go through your phone. So does Wahoo. That works well for most people.

ksryder

SPOT or Garmin InReach are the two best options I've seen for tracking that doesn't go through cell phone networks.

SPOT has some terrible user reviews with their latest generation though. I think the Tour Divide folks might be using InReach.

cthenn

Spot and Inreach require a subscription. Expensive at that too. I've been researching satellite communicators recently for backcountry hiking trips, and I've "settled" on the Garmin. No fan of Garmin, but it seems Spot is even worse. I also have a PLB, but it doesn't allow for 2-way communication. The inreach mini is super tiny too, so it would be better for cycling. But again, expensive up front, and expensive subscriptions for each, although if you used it every day on the bike, it might make it worthwhile.

nycphotography

Honestly... just do live location sharing on iMessage or WhatsApp (in case one of you doesn't have an iphone).

Much easier on battery than anything bluetooth connected.

ksryder

Probably because:

Robert A

Wahoo Fitness does a much better job because it shows, in a map, where you've been and how fast you're traveling. If you are riding a downloaded route it also shows where you're headed. I don't have any battery issues with the iPhone and have ridden two centuries with Wahoo Fitness Tracking enabled.

WF obviously depends on an internet connection to work. Even without it, the system will report your last known location (when there was a signal).

armybikerider

Thanks.

So given that I HAVE CRAPPY CELL PHONE SERVICE my choices are very limited, Guess I'll have to choose another method. I think she'll be happy with something....it's better than nothing in her eyes.

Seattle Forrest

I would love to hear your thoughts and experience when you get back from backpacking. (Or have you already?)

My PLB is 5 years old, they change something like $150 to replace the battery. Haven't decided what I'm going to do, but 2 way communication sounds nice.

nycphotography

You need cell service for ANY method to update (Unless you have one of those iridium sat phones ha!)

WhatsApp, iMessage or Google maps live location will update whenever it gets service. not sure what the problem is with that.

ksryder

I'm not sure how to make this any more plain: the Garmin Inreach and SPOT trackers do not depend on cellular network coverage.

And this may be hard for someone in NYC to comprehend but there are, in fact, many, many places in this country where cellular coverage is not universal and waiting for hours to get back into network range to update is not an ideal solution for some people. That is the problem with that.

DaveLeeNC

The problem with that is if you have been out of cell coverage for a half hour, crash, and you are unconscious on the side of the road (unseen), your tracking has very little value.

Dave