If you’ve ever had a bicycle stolen, you know all too well that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. I had that feeling firsthand in the summer of 2019 while vacationing in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. We walked out of a restaurant only to find an empty hitch rack. Two fat bikes were gone! I wrote about our ordeal several years ago here and how we got one of the bikes back.
Since that tragic and costly day, I’ve learned from my mistake and have been hiding an Apple AirTag on my bike: just the tag, no holder. Plus, I registered my bikes with the non-profit Bike Index. Years later, several options are available, requiring an AirTag inside a case and then attaching it to the bike or even inside the tire. Going this route, you incur the expense of the AirTag ($29) plus the third-party case.
At CABDA Midwest last month, I discovered a new option on the market ― Bikebac Tracker. Bikebac offers everything in one convenient waterproof package for $34.99. Like an AirTag, the Bikebac Tracker integrates with an Apple iPhone, iPad, or iMac and the Find My app to locate your bicycle. The company states the integration should be out for Android users sometime in mid-March or April 2025.
Getting Started is Simple
The setup is simple. Open the Find My app on your Apple device. Select “Add New Item,” and while the app is searching, press the button on the back of the Bikebac Tracker once. You should hear an audible beep. Click “Connect” in the app and give the tracker a name. A video on the company’s setup page walks you through the steps.
The next step is registering the tracker on the company’s setup page. Enter the tracker’s serial number, your email address, and the bike’s serial number. You’ll be prompted to register your bike with 529 Garage during the registration process. However, you can skip that step.
Once your tracker is registered, it’s time to install it on your bike. Choose to mount it directly to the frame, under an accessory like a water bottle cage, or zip-tie it to the seat rails. All the mounting hardware is included in the box ―two zip ties, two sets of TORX security screws (standard length and long), and a TORX security wrench.
My Salsa has multiple water bottle mounting holes on the downtube; I used two available holes to install the tracker. I’ll probably put it under the bottle cage in the near future.
The tracker has an IP67 waterproof rating, meaning it does not allow water to get inside under normal water pressure from a hose. If immersed in water, it can bear up to 15cm to 1m pressure, generally up to 30 minutes. According to the company, it comes with a CR2023 battery that lasts about a year. Once the battery dies, easily swap it out for a new one.
Tracking Your Stolen Bike
If your bike is stolen, open the Find My app and search for the tracker. Share this information with the local police department, and don’t try to retrieve the bike yourself. Also, if you registered the bike on the 529 Garage site, mark it stolen on their site.
To test the tracker, I left my Salsa at the bike shop for a tune-up, and as I drove away, the app alerted me that I had left my bike behind. When I got home, I used the app to see if it would pinpoint exactly where to find my bike. It worked flawlessly. Now, if I only had Bikebac trackers on our fat bikes, the police would have been able to see their location and quickly retrieved them.
Registering your bike(s) with 529 Garage will increase the odds of getting your stolen bike back. The 529 community includes 400+ law enforcement agencies, universities, bike clubs, and bike shops around the world. As a side note, if you are planning to purchase a bike, you can check the registry and see if the bicycle was reported stolen.
Learn from my experience. Now, for only $35, installing a Bikebac Tracker increases the chances of recovering your stolen bike.
As initially seen on Road Bike Rider.
Price: $34.99
Weight: 27 g
Battery Life: 1 year (per company)
Battery Type: CR2023 battery
Waterproof Rating: IP67
Recommended Mounting Options: Attach using the bottle cage holes, under an accessory (with TORX security bolts), or on seat rails using zip ties.
Tracking Method: Find My app via iPhone, iPad, or an iMac (Android compatibility due out in late March/April)
Subscription Fees: None
Bike Registration Partnership: 529 Garage
Availability: OnlinePrice: $34.99
Weight: 27 g
Battery Life: 1 year (per company)
Battery Type: CR2023 battery
Waterproof Rating: IP67
Recommended Mounting Options: Attach using the bottle cage holes, under an accessory (with TORX security bolts), or on seat rails using zip ties.
Tracking Method: Find My app via iPhone, iPad, or an iMac (Android compatibility due out in late March/April)
Subscription Fees: None
Bike Registration Partnership: 529 Garage
Availability: Online
Sunflowers and Pedals 