Email

As gas prices continue to climb, the allure of bicycles has increased for many who may not have chosen them before. Not only do they provide an efficient, eco-friendly way to get to work, but they also provide an enjoyable form of exercise that has kept people pedaling for generations. Along with all that increased biking activity has come an increase in the number of people adding GPS tracking units to their list of standard biking equipment. Strapping on the popular devices results in several benefits for the savvy cyclist.

• Bike Theft Prevention: Bikes are notoriously easy to steal and resell. With GPS tracking, however, a stolen bike can be reported and recovered within hours. In areas rife with bike theft, many law enforcement offices have begun using “bait bikes” to trap would-be thieves. Officers equip the bait bikes with tracking units and leave them in a high theft area. When a thief takes the bait, they can follow him back to his center of operation, sometimes recovering many stolen bicycles or uncovering an entire theft ring.

• Cyclist Safety: Serious cyclists often find themselves pedaling through remote sections of the countryside as they seek out tougher hills and longer distances which present greater challenges. A personal safety tracking unit gives family members the ability to monitor the biker’s location at all times, to take note if he stops moving, and to check up on him if he doesn’t return home when expected. In addition, many models include alert buttons that send a text message to a designated receiver when pressed, allowing the biker to notify someone if he’s in trouble

• Exercise Data:  Many GPS tracking devices have been designed with serious exercisers in mind and can keep track of distances and routes taken as well as heart rate and speed. Competitive bikers can use the information to help them train for a race, while less serious enthusiasts can compete against themselves using data from previous rides.

Because cycling tends to be a solitary sport, it’s important for riders to take precautions when planning a bike excursion. GPS tracking allows bikers to continue enjoying one of the nation’s most popular forms of exercise and eco-friendly travel while still planning for both their own safety and that of their bikes. It’s the one piece of equipment biking enthusiasts should never leave home without.

Article written by Lynetta Bowen