A good lock will do its best to prevent your bike from being stolen. But the Apple AirTag might actually be the best way to track it down.
Tracking devices for bikes are not new, but they all come with caveats that have inhibited widespread adoption. Limited range, pricey subscriptions, and small networks to assist with location have all kept trackers from becoming a cyclist’s best friend.
Enter Apple. Yes, that Apple. Last week, the Silicon Valley giant — and maker of all manner of handy, trendy, high-tech doodads — launched an innocuous-looking coin. Dubbed the “AirTag,” this half-dollar-size disc promised a “private and secure way to easily locate the items that matter most.”
The AirTag, Apple said, would leverage the immense reach and ubiquity of the Apple network — and its 100 million-strong user base — to keep tabs on lost items.
And because the AirTag is small and designed to be used in almost any way a user can imagine, it didn’t take long for cyclists to try it out for lost or stolen bikes.
How well does it work? And should cyclists rush out to buy this $29 AirTag — a price that’s less than a basic U-lock? Check out this video for a full review of how an AirTag can work for lost or stolen bicycles.
