Tracking your bicycle with the Apple AirTag

Miniaturised trackers have become a cost effective way to keep of personal items – including bicycles. While most users might attach their Apple Airtag or Tile tracking device to a key chain, there are accessories that you to attach them discreetly to a bicycle. In the event that the bike is stolen, it can be tracked via an app.

Without GPS trackers it’s almost impossible to detect bicycle theft, which is why the police give so little priority to the crime. That’s the conclusion of ANWB, The Dutch Touring Club, following two years of providing its cycle insurance policy holders with GPS trackers.

According to the cycle insurer, thieves often put the stolen bikes into storage incase they are equipped with tracking technology. However, this hasn’t stopped six out of ten stolen bicycles being recovered over the last two years.

Cycle theft is a low priority for police because it’s a crime that’s hard to solve

The trackers are attached to the bicycles with an industrial adhesive and intended to be highly visible. According to ANWB, which has has around 60,000 bicycles now equipped with a tracker: “The bicycles are not attractive to the casual thief.”

Working closely with a security firm, when the insurer locates a stolen bicycle and the frame number tallies, the bike is seized on the spot and returned to its owner. If the bicycle is on private property, the police are called in.

For the moment here in the UK, trackers don’t make a good cycle insurance redundant – as well as the thorny issue of recovering the bike from the thief, a good policy protects against accidental damage, theft of parts and includes third party cover.

Win an Apple AirTag and bike mount kit

We have an Apple AirTag and bike mount kit to give away. The mounting kit fits standard 64mm bottle cage holes, but the anti-shake and water-repellant design can also be hidden away underneath the seat.

To be in with a chance of winning the AirTag, simply leave us a message at the bottom of the page and we’ll pick a winner next week.

The bike mount allows you to mount your AirTag securely and discreetly

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance, breakdown cover  and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

 

Comments

  1. Mark

    Reply

    Looks a good idea. Thanks

  2. Jane Hellier

    Reply

    Even if I found my bike I’m not sure I’d be confident enough to tackle the thieves 😏

    • Stephen Conrad

      Reply

      I need one- great idea. Just recovered my lost iPhone so it is a very useful security tool.

      • Julian caine

        Reply

        I’d love a tag as I’ve got an electric bike and I’m worried all the time it might get stolen.

  3. Jane

    Reply

    Even if I found my bike I’m not sure I’d be confident enough to tackle the thieves 😏

  4. Alistair Leith

    Reply

    Looks good

  5. Jill

    Reply

    A good idea. I’d be so lost without my bike

  6. Jane

    Reply

    really good idea! thanks

  7. John R

    Reply

    Now that looks like a brilliant security device; one that I would love to have for my bike.

  8. Rhoda Wolf

    Reply

    Great idea

  9. Rhoda Wolf

    Reply

    Great looking product

  10. Sue Beattie

    Reply

    Brilliant idea, and would be good for my mobility scooter as well, since securing them is not easy.

    • Craig

      Reply

      Pick me!

  11. Gavin

    Reply

    Am interested!

    • Rachel

      Reply

      Great idea, have been thinking I need something like this after two stolen bikes! 😔

  12. Mags

    Reply

    But do you need an Apple account with a monthly charge to use this, I wonder?

    • Rose

      Reply

      Essential bit of kit for every cyclist! I’d love to have one.

  13. Bill

    Reply

    An excellent idea which should be an effective deterrent as well as a great way to find stolen property.

  14. Steve

    Reply

    Don’t pick me!

  15. Bev

    Reply

    Great idea! It would be great that all new bikes were fitted as standard with this device. I would love this. ETA are a great company and protect the interests of cyclists. Thank you!

  16. Conor K

    Reply

    Great idea – the mount is pretty vital for preventing quick removal.

  17. BIKEPACKING BEEVERS

    Reply

    Brilliant idea — think the jury is still out on how effecient — but count me for a freebie to try if lucky

  18. Matt

    Reply

    I’d love one please! Thanks, Matt 😀

  19. Steve Warne

    Reply

    What a great idea, anything that helps reunite people with their property has to be good.

  20. Iain G

    Reply

    Making it visible was something I had not considered.

  21. Clive

    Reply

    Great idea

  22. Ali Wight

    Reply

    Not just bikes getting stolen mobility scooters as well

  23. Jonathan M

    Reply

    Great for tracking a stolen bike. Also, if I end up in a ditch, my wife can find me and my bike and decide which to bring back home!

  24. Paul Long

    Reply

    You can trust Apple technology

  25. Richard Green

    Reply

    Have suffered bicycle theft more than once so what a great idea this is, especially as the tags are very discreet so can be hidden on the bike itself.

  26. Doug M

    Reply

    As I understand it, you need an Apple device to set up an Apple AirTag, but you can track one using an Android App. Not being an Apple fan, except for a few delicious eating varieties (!), I ‘ll give this one a miss.

  27. Pete

    Reply

    I was very well looked-after by ETA when someone cut my lock and made off with my bike a few years ago. A tracker could have satisfied my puzzling over where on earth it ended up!

  28. Jon Sparks

    Reply

    Great idea!

    • David Gray

      Reply

      At least you can use an Android app. I would hate to have to have an iPhone!

  29. Federico Andornino

    Reply

    Love this idea!

  30. Antony Blair

    Reply

    Nice design

  31. Peter g

    Reply

    Sensible idea

  32. Yasmin Gregory

    Reply

    Excellent and simple solution! It’s the inconvenience of having to find an alternative mode of transport if you use your bike for commuting. It’s disappointing that the police are not able to be more supportive but it’s a solution. I bought one for my partner.

    • Judith A Rout

      Reply

      Interesting that making them very visible acts as a deterrent. They sound good

  33. Huw Williams

    Reply

    Great idea, especially after the Richmond Park attacks

  34. Bill Day

    Reply

    Sounds exactly what I need. My current device runs out of power after 5 days!

  35. Rob Hine

    Reply

    Good idea! My son needs one for his brand new bike!

  36. Simon Bailey

    Reply

    What a great. Well done the inventor. Good luck to everyone in the competition

  37. Peter Clark

    Reply

    I have one of these on my key ring. A gift at Christmas. Brilliant device and I’d love one on my bike. And my wallet. And my backpack…

  38. Geoff

    Reply

    What a “FanTAGstic” idea

  39. Roger Wood

    Reply

    These are a brilliant idea and help the police track down missing bikes and (hopefully) convict thieves.

  40. Jennie Parsons

    Reply

    Really good idea especially for Cambridge the cycle theft capital of the UK !

  41. Jonathan Hunt

    Reply

    Great tech – nice and simple and I can think of good places to hide it. I’d love to get the chance.

  42. Martyn

    Reply

    Will this work with my (original) Nokia 3310? If not, I’ll have to buy a new phone if I win this

  43. james

    Reply

    tag would help

  44. Brian D

    Reply

    Just what I need.

  45. Paul M

    Reply

    Making tracks with a tracker attached is a great idea! Yes please!

  46. Rob Rimell

    Reply

    Great idea – yes please!

  47. Tim Hogan

    Reply

    Yes please; excellent idea 😁

  48. Graham Lingley

    Reply

    Love one thanks. I promise not to stalk anyone with it! 😀

  49. Fiona McLuckie

    Reply

    I’ve had two bikes stolen and never recovered so this would be very useful indeed

  50. David

    Reply

    For anyone who has trudged along to the nearest (open) police station to report the theft of their cherished bike, only to be met by a member of staff who obviously intends to do no more than issue a crime number, tracking devices have to be the way forward. With a shed full of the families’ prized bicycles, please do sign me up.

  51. Craig Todd

    Reply

    Digital tracking for bikes is a great idea.

  52. Steve Curtis

    Reply

    Great security device for expensive bikes.

  53. Nathaniel R

    Reply

    After my past 2 bikes being stolen and the police doing nothing about it, this would make me feel much better

  54. Bryn Gwyndaf Jones

    Reply

    Gosh, what a brilliant idea!

  55. Gillian

    Reply

    Great prize, thanks eta.

    Gill

  56. Dave Brabants

    Reply

    Seems like a “no-brainer” I was just about to buy one for my keys – getting one for my bike too would be even better.

  57. Clive Probert

    Reply

    Good use of technology.

  58. Janet

    Reply

    That looks like a great idea.

  59. Vincent

    Reply

    Yes please. If I point out your email, advertising this giveaway, needs proof reading will that decrease my chances?

  60. KathyC

    Reply

    We had our bikes stolen recently locked on our car bike rack. Great loss so would love a tracker to protect my new bike.

  61. T

    Reply

    Comment.

  62. james

    Reply

    Looks a great addition to the bike

  63. Kelly smith

    Reply

    Great innovative idea, hope the idea takes off

  64. Richard

    Reply

    Yes please, might even help police take bike theft more seriously.

  65. Peter Chisnall

    Reply

    Excellent product.

  66. Huw Thomas

    Reply

    Very welcome, Highest number of cycle thefts in UK here.

  67. Philip Woodford

    Reply

    Another good article thanks 🙏

  68. Anthony Powell

    Reply

    Great if you’ve got the kit to host the app – I’ll stick to a bike lock

  69. Chris Bromwich

    Reply

    don’t have an apple phone but have family that could make good use of it.

  70. Pamela

    Reply

    Wow, yet another gadjet, but this could be really useful.

  71. Steve Green

    Reply

    Great idea! One would be really useful.

  72. CraigSA

    Reply

    Anything to help with security an only be a good thing

  73. Rachel

    Reply

    Great idea, have been thinking I need something like this after two stolen bikes! 😔

  74. Ashley Webb

    Reply

    Now that I’ve retired, I think I’ll need one to find where I have parked the bike!

  75. Kate

    Reply

    Great Prize!

    • Jonathan Darby

      Reply

      I like the idea but it really does need to be concealed in the frame – and sufficiently accessible for the battery to be changed when required. Also the frame tubing might act as a shield and limit the AirTag’s range.

  76. Mark B

    Reply

    Great idea. I’d love to add this to my bike.

  77. Andrew

    Reply

    Great idea to help recover a stolen bike.

  78. Alastair Seagroatt

    Reply

    Love to try one of these, it would also show my loved one were my bike is – useful for safety.

  79. Stephen D.

    Reply

    Anything which makes life tougher for bike thieves sounds good to me! Nice gadget.

  80. JohnB

    Reply

    Oh yes, one of these would be cool addition!

  81. wesley

    Reply

    A free tracker sounds like a steal.

  82. PeterG

    Reply

    A great way of tracking my pride and joy. I want one!

  83. Bill

    Reply

    Have already had two bikes stolen in London (and not recovered), so anything that might help would be most useful.

  84. Stephen Gosney

    Reply

    Anything that can help to protect my expensive Trek bike will be most welcome.

  85. Phil G

    Reply

    Nice Job(s).

  86. Chas Patat

    Reply

    I have been looking at these for a while. After a good lock and common sense they must be a useful security/recovery device.

  87. John V

    Reply

    What a fantastic prize to win with all the bikes that get stolen nowadays brilliant idea

  88. Bruce

    Reply

    I love the idea of an insurer’s tag on each of my bikes and this is a great solution until tracking becomes more common.

  89. John H

    Reply

    The AirTag idea is great
    (And hopefully is not here too late)
    Stick one on your bike
    Or maybe your trike
    And when you get it back – celebrate!

  90. Nigel Cole

    Reply

    Looks like a really good idea

  91. Graham Corfield

    Reply

    This is a super product and one which would be great for my bike!! Fingers crossed now!!

  92. Mark

    Reply

    Stalking my own bike seems like a very good idea!!

    🚲

  93. Gregory Carpenter

    Reply

    Thank you for so many useful comments and suggested products that help to keep me on the road well into retirement.

  94. Gregory Carpenter

    Reply

    Thank you again for supporting my cycling not only with insurance, but also with advice.

  95. Christopher

    Reply

    Deterrent against the casual thief. Sounds good having the airtag mounted in the open for that.

    Here’s another idea, what about a bottle cage that also mounts or even hides the airtag? Then we won’t have to sacrifice storage of one bottle just for mounting an airtag.

  96. David Anthony

    Reply

    Nice and discreet, at least a fighting chance of recovery!

  97. Colin

    Reply

    These small trackers could be a game changer for our bikes and our fight against the bad guys.

  98. Craig

    Reply

    I love the idea of a tracker on my bike but wouldn’t it be better to hide it inside the frame? I understand that mounting it externally may act as a deterrent, but doesn’t that make them easy to just remove?

  99. Anthony

    Reply

    Useless to track a stolen device as it notifies the thief he’s being tracked if he has an apple device (or android with the track app)

  100. Nicola

    Reply

    Great Idea – people are using these in Cambridge. Bike theft is a massive problem here.

  101. Vicki Soul

    Reply

    Oh wow this would be so useful! I would love one ❤️

  102. Clive Jones

    Reply

    They should staple these to the intimate body parts of convicted cycle thrives, as I suspect they rarely stop when caught, so tracking their whereabouts would save more bikes.

  103. john

    Reply

    really useful device – already have one for my keys

  104. Mike Langley

    Reply

    Oh where did I leave my bike?

  105. Damian Connaughton

    Reply

    Would love one of these to keep my bike safe!

  106. RJ

    Reply

    Good idea and great way to protect your steed. 👍

  107. Sara

    Reply

    Having had my bike stolen recently this would’ve been so useful 🙁 Would love to put this on my other bike 🙂

  108. Michael White

    Reply

    Love one and it would be good to see how it fits under the saddle.

  109. Mark

    Reply

    Really helpful! This is a brilliant idea, what I’ve been looking for!

  110. myron tytko

    Reply

    I love air tags and would be delighted to win this proze

  111. Paul

    Reply

    As a bonus (for my partner) she gets to track me! lol

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