Tell us what you particularly liked about the product, Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product.

The app itself is fairly self-explanatory to use.

On the other hand, in the area where Dave lives, we were able to tell where the bike had been taken. Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc Specifically designed for theft protection it instead focuses on reducing power consumption to aid long-term tracking. Tel 01225 588855.

It's not a feature of the product itself but the fact that the Sigfox network doesn't cover all areas is a stumbling block. It's a new way to live your cycling life with peace of mind.". It records the unique ID of the visitor. In the unlikely event of a theft, GPS tracking helps you find it. It helps us perform certain functions, such as sharing website content on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third party functions. That said, other than an annoying-sounding alarm, and the resulting scramble of cycling shoes on a caf floor, there isnt anything stopping an opportunistic bike thief from trying their luck. If you already have a bottle cage installed, the device can go underneath it. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as 1.99.

Not at the moment. Most trackers consist of an accessory, which is attached to the bike, and a phone app. If your bike is stolen AlterLock tracks it once a minute to determine its final location. As a motoring journalist, he has contributed to Autocar, WhatCar?, Practical Caravan and more. On review we found that the Tile did indeed have limited range and proved to be some what unreliable during our tests. As the name suggests, it features an adhesive backing so you can stick the device to your bike frame with ease. The agreement can be cancelled during the trial period, but not for six months after that. This cookie is used by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A loud alarm sounds when your bike is moved, and you get notifications on the app that help you track your bike. Would you recommend the product to a friend? Subsequent vibrations wont reactivate the alarm, and instead, the Alterlock will quietly notify you of its location after each subsequent vibration so you can track its last location. However, the Sigfox network that it uses to provide tracking even when indoors doesn't provide universal coverage, so it can't be described as a failsafe.

Meanwhile, products like Hiplocks FX cable lock only costs 20 (less than the yearly subscription needed for Alterlock) and creates a tangible barrier that stops someone from riding away on your bike. See more about the See.Sense Knowhere here (opens in new tab). Maintenance and component data recording is a nice touch, and the amount of data that can be documented is pretty comprehensive to help you keep track of everything from when you last cleaned your chain to when you upgraded your handlebars. This cookie does not contain or represent any personal information or entry details. Graham has been part of the Cyclingnews team since January 2020. Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose. Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at.

The AlterLock device attaches to the bottle cage bosses on a standard sports bike. My daughter had one go on her MTB the same way, although in that case it was a SRAM chain. If you are looking for a way to track down your pride and joy, having the Alterlock fitted is probably going to be your best bet. In a car, the AlterLock could send its location via GPS. Real life can be more complicated. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value with value determined by how a product Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Interesting security device that lets you know if your bike is moved and helps you locate it, If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website, Make and model: Alterlock Anti-Theft Alarm & GPS Tracking Device, Size tested: 159mm long x 38mm wide x 9mm thick. The Sigfox tracking was less reliable, working in some places but not in others. LPWA allows the AlterLock device to communicate independently of your smartphone with minimal power consumption and at low cost. However, the first time it detects vibration after it is locked you'll just get a notification without the location information, the idea being that you can get to where you parked your bike as quickly as possible. Obviously, the thief would need a multi-tool handy and the use of the security bolts would make this much harder (but they are an additional cost at the time of purchase). Cyclingnews is supported by its audience. This cookie is used to store information about how visitors use the website and to compile analytical reports on how the website is performing. If a GPS signal isn't available the device uses a WiFi signal. The unique ID is a random number that does not contain any user information and is stored in a cookie in the user's browser.

After the set number of times, the AlterLock will stop sounding the alarm and just report its position once it has detected a standstill (see below). In the unlikely event that the alarm doesnt prevent theft, GPS tracking helps you find your bike. You can read our full review of the Tile Sticker here. By employing a highly accurate GPS module and Sigfox communication, the device transmits location information even from hundreds of kilometres away, unlike Bluetooth, which has a maximum range of about 100 metres. If someone tries to remove the device, AlterLock detects the vibration and sounds an alarm to warn you, so you can rush to your bike. The point the police made to me was that yes, a tracker can be very useful, but it's sometimes not simply a question of going where the app tells you and getting your bike back. We had mixed levels of success here, depending on the location. Weve noticed youre using an ad blocker.

This means that even if you forget to turn on the security and alarm functions (which is done by removing the light function) you'll still get notified when your bike is moved with the light attached. If you agree to the use of cookies, please click the "OK" button. However the Curve did record our rides each and every time so the GPS function was clearly working during the review period. Meanwhile, if weight is an issue for you, Alterlock only weighs 50g, making it still a lighter option than even the best lightweight bike locks. The unit itself weighs 48g, and you get two extra-long bottle cage bolts for fitting.

The unit weighs in at 80g and sits under the seatpost or the bottle cage. When AlterLock detects a vibration, its alarm sounds, deterring theft and tampering.

If AlterLock detects your bike is being moved, it sounds an alarm, deterring theft and interference. This cookie is used by Google. Compare bicycle insurance (opens in new tab) to find yourself the best deal. Could we find it? If the bike is moved a louder alarm will sounds.

For those concerned about aero considerations, Alterlock says that the device only adds a Cd value of +0.00062 at 40kph. This cookie is set by Facebook in order to show users relevant advertising and to measure and improve advertising. If your bike is moved the tracker will both sound a 107db siren and send you a movement alert. Aerodynamics is a complicated old business and I couldn't tell you if that claim is correct for any particular bike, but the positioning certainly means that it's sheltered between your frame and water bottle. Once fitted, its secure and out the way. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. That said for the price of a cheap bike lock it provides some additional peace of mind when it comes to security of your favourite bike. AlterLock says that the vibration detection mechanism has been developed to avoid false alarms, but there's the slight chance that the alarm will go off and you'll get an alert on your phone if someone innocently adjusts your bike's position while locking up theirs, for example, depending on the setting you're using. His daughter took on the role of hunter. This cookie is used to collect data about how site visitors use our website. To coin a phrase 'lock him up, lock him up'. This feature has worked really well for us in testing, sending the message through every time it was moved when locked outdoors. To start with, no. Yes, it is. This cookie also tracks user behaviour on the web on sites with the Facebook Pixel or Facebook Social Plugin. Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc It might be enough to deter opportunist theft at a mid-ride coffee stop, for example, if your bike is leaning up against a wall outside. As for its accuracy, during our testing we're able to locate the bike accurately in two out of the five locations. Although we didn't have them on our review device, the AlterLock does come with anti-theft bolts. That's a little better than the Tile tracker and comparable with the far more expensive Vodafone bike light & GPS tracker product. Once in position, the AlterLock is unobtrusive, especially if you have a dark coloured bike and/or bottle cage. Positioned between the frame and bottle cage, it's unlikely ever to be touched so durability isn't going to be an issue. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. If youve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as 1.99. David's cycling reviews, features and news stories have been published in Cycling Plus, Pro Cycling, Bikeradar.com and in mainstream newspapers such as The Sunday Times and The Telegraph. Is it a game-changer, or should you still opt for the best bike insurance you can find, to be safe? It's a very slim plastic device that sits between your bike frame and bottle cage. Thinking of getting your bike insured? Peace of mind with smartphone notifications. This is where the Alterlock switches to using Wi-Fi networks to determine its location, though obviously this is not going to be as accurate as GPS and is compounded if the thief lives in a densely populated area. It cannot be used as a GPS tracker that continuously provides location information. AlterLock transmits data via Sigfox (a low-power, wide-area [LPWA] communication system) when beyond Bluetooth range. >Inside the mind of a bike thief learn how to protect your bike. The best location for a GPS tracker is one where it won't be found. The idea is that if someone moves your bike, you can find out where it is via the app. Locating the AlterLock in shared premises might be complicated, for instance, and you'll get the same position on the map whether the device is on the ground floor, the first floor, or the 15th floor. You get a map of the position on the app and you can send the location over to Google Maps and use that to navigate. All of this applies to any tracker, not just the AlterLock. This cookie is set by doubleclick.net. Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. These cookies are used to provide relevant advertising and marketing campaigns to visitors. We particularly liked the option that allows you set 'zones', receiving alerts when your bike enters and leaves. You can set things like the alarm duration (between 5secs and a minute) and the number of times it goes off (one to three times) via the app. The European version is available in the following countries: Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and United Kingdom. At 10 minute intervals, she would try to locate the bike, using all three security devices.

The police might go and knock on the door of the premises where you suspect your bike is being stored, but if no one answers or the occupier refuses entry, they'll need a warrant, signed off by a magistrate, to get inside.