Rear reflector? AirTag mount? Both! Gives your missing bike a second chance with this covert device.
Due to the overwhelming response from the community, we would like to announce the black TRACE is now come with black reflector (instead of white), while white TRACE stays with the white reflector. (Note: Some of the content may not be updated for black reflector on Black Trace but rest assured that you will get black reflectors if you choose the black TRACE, and White TRACE will still have white reflectors.)
Hello backers, Hellomaco is back with our sixth project! This time we bring you TRACE, the stealth AirTag bike mount.
In many major cities, cycling is the main mode of transport, and for others, it is a fun and beneficial exercise. As the bike count grows, so does the theft rate, and that is not cool.
A bike tracker goes a long way in increasing the chances of retrieving your beloved bike. But what we have on the market are mostly pricey (>$100 USD) GPS trackers, not to mention the additional monthly subscription charges and pathetic battery life. Other more affordable options such as Tiles Sticker has limited network and the battery is not replaceable.
Things changed when Apple launched AirTag in May. AirTag tapped into the power of the crowdsourced networks with its over 1 billion user counts. Every Bluetooth-enabled iPhone, iPad, iPod nearby will be your eyes in case your bike was misplaced or stolen.
The U1 Precision Finding feature lets the rider accurately locate the bike. There are many YouTube videos out there that experiment lost and found items (including bikes) with good success rates. One of the most impressive case studies is by Megalag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3zMWWG9W14&t=351s
AirTag battery can last up to one year, easily 10 times better than some of the GPS bike trackers. And since it is a CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery, you can easily buy it from most electronic or drug stores and replace it yourself.
Now it looks like all we need is to stick an AirTag into our bike frame and we are good to go, right? Well, not quite yet. Most bike frames are made of metal or carbon fiber, which are good insulators for Bluetooth radio waves. The detection range will be greatly affected, which defeats the purpose of a tracker. Shane Miller did a thorough field test to determine the detection range of an AirTag with different placement, bike frame is definitely not a great place to install an AirTag.
AirTag had intermittent connection with iPhone when placed inside the bike frame (Credit: Shane Miller)
Besides, AirTag comes with its own anti-stalker feature. After it is separated from the owner after some time, it will make a sound to alert the people nearby, in this case, the thief. So, it can be counterintuitive as we want AirTag to stay low for as long as possible to buy us time to retrieve the bike.
Understanding AirTag’s huge potential and its inherent limitations, we went on and designed a specialized bike mount that transforms AirTag into the first-ever bike tracker that actually works. We give you, TRACE.
By turning AirTag into an (almost) covert device, TRACE keeps your bike as accurately traceable, for as long as possible. The idea is to equip the bike owners with the whereabouts of their lost bike and having the discretion to contact the local authority or confront the thief in a prepared fashion.
TRACE is made with glass-filled nylon which gives an unimpeded detection range for AirTag. Our prototype experiment shows AirTag in TRACE can be precisely detected up to 40 meters away with Apple’s U1 Precision Finding feature, about the same as a bare AirTag without cover. Besides, other users can still detect your AirTag’s Bluetooth 5 signal which is up to 240 meters away, and feedback its latest location to your Find My app. Glass-filled nylon is known for its durability and lightweight. It is incredibly strong compared to ABS or PC material and perfect for rigorous outdoor use.
Doubled as a rear reflector, the AirTag has a high chance of staying undetected with the lost bike for the owner to locate it. Premium 3M reflective stickers are used to provide the best awareness to other road users of your presence. It also blocks the screw from the potential thief’s vision.
To prevent the AirTag from unwittingly alerting the thief, a soundproof foam is added to TRACE. The soundproof foam is a two-pronged approach to muffle the AirTag sound and provide extra protection to AirTag against the elements. From the prototype, we estimated a noise level reduction of 30-35 dB using TRACE versus a bare AirTag. It is almost inaudible on the street.
AirTag is a beast of a tracking device, while TRACE is an elegant cloak that blends it gracefully to your bike.
Pick your perks from our menu below. We ship worldwide*!
1. Slot AirTag into TRACE with metal side facing outwards.
2. Install the soundproof foam, apply mild compression around the peripheral for optimum noise reduction.
3. Measure the seatpost diameter to know if you need to include the spacer. TRACE fits seatpost from 25mm to 32mm.
- For seatpost (round or aerofoil) diameter from 28.5mm to 32mm, you can exclude the spacer.
- For seatpost (round or aerofoil) diameter below 28.4mm to 25mm, you will need to slot in the spacer before mounting the TRACE.
4. Wrap TRACE around seatpost, install the M2 screw provided. Avoid over-tighten the screw.
5. Put on the white reflector on the rear bracket. Follow the recess on the main body for best fit.
Creator: Rushfaster
Check out TRACE product review by Ed from Rushfaster in YouTube video below. Frankly, he did a better job at explaining the key features than us! Thanks, Ed, more collaboration to come for sure!
Creator: Shane Miller
We are privileged to have cycling enthusiast Shane Miller reviewing the TRACE prototype. The amount of hands-on field testing and dissecting the product functionality in multiple angles simply blows our minds. We couldn’t thank Shane enough for his genuine review and hope to catch up with you in person when the pandemic is over.
Creator: Megalag
We had the opportunity to work with Jono, a prominent YouTuber on the TRACE review in this sponsored video. Jono has the first-hand experience with AirtTag’s capability in retrieving his lost bike. It gave us even more confidence in developing a specialized bike mount to fight against bike theft.
Founded by Loke in 2014, Three1Design has launched 4 successful crowdfunding campaigns, with over 9,000 backers, raising over AUD 400k. This will be the second collaboration between Loke and Jim. We are fully crowdfunded because it gives us the freedom to run our business exactly how we envisioned. Your support lets us continue to launch creative and useful lifestyle products that we love. We cannot wait to get these products into your hands.
TRACE blends seamlessly to any bike.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us turned to cycle to commute and to stay fit. That indirectly increased the number of bikes on the street. Unfortunately, bike theft is increasingly rampant too. When AirTag was launched in May, we thought we could leverage the technology and create a specialized mount to turn the tide against the crime.
Initially, we wanted the body to be stainless steel for its durability, but we soon found that any metal will act as a Faraday cage that significantly reduced the AirTag detection range. It also explains why putting AirTag in the bike frame is not a great idea. So we moved on to a glass-filled nylon body that gives us a great AirTag range while providing durability for harsh outdoor usage.
We also found that the 3M reflector is much thicker and difficult to stay on a curved surface. However, it is also the best in terms of light reflection and durability. So we have to tweak the TRACE body to provide more flat area and accommodate the rigidity of the reflector.
Through the prototype reviews and collaboration with suppliers, we have completed the design for manufacturing (DFM) phase recently. As this is our sixth project, we also have the logistic partners lined up to take the first orders. We didn’t want to launch until we were properly ready!
This project was conceived and completed during the pandemic, most of the time we were in total lockdown. Bootstrapping a crowdfunding campaign involves a lot of work, to deliver it in these times makes it twice as challenging. We are lucky enough to have some great people who have helped us along the way. We would like to express our gratitude to them as below:
- Elsa & Jaz: Two beautiful wives of Loke and Jim. Without your unconditional love and support, we will not be able to make this happen.
- Eng Kim: For helping us to shoot video with his drone.
- Wai Lam: For the advice on 3D printing supplier, being our cyclist model and his awesome bike!
- CK & Jennie: For lending us the nice mountain bike and delicious bakery!
- Shane Miller: For providing pro biker’s advice and reviewing our prototype.
