Theft is a nightmare for every cyclist, which has become particularly common in our country. It is impossible to convey the feelings when you return to the place where you left your road companion and only see the remains of a damaged lock.

No one can fully guarantee the safety of your bicycle, but the developers of BikeSpike from Chicago have come to Kickstarter with a device that will make life difficult for thieves and prevent them from getting away with it. They have designed a special device that will notify you if something happens to your bike and will indicate its location through GPS if the criminal tries to escape with it.

In addition to the GPS module, BikeSpike is equipped with an accelerometer and GSM module, which will allow you to determine the whereabouts of your bike using iOS and Android devices. With the accelerometer, you will be able to know if your bike is in motion or stopped.

In case something does happen, you will be able to send the GPS coordinates of your bike to your friends through social networks so that they can help you in the search. This feature will also alert other cyclists in the area to the theft.

BikeSpike can be considered a successor to devices like Spybike and Spylamp2, which also track bicycles using GPS. They cost around $130, but one of the creators of BikeSpike, Harvey Moon, heavily criticized these devices.

First of all, Spybike is quite difficult to install, and it is not suitable for every bicycle due to specific handlebar requirements. The cyclist will also have to purchase their data storage and install a SIM card themselves. There are also some issues with recharging the device, as it needs to be completely removed from the bicycle to charge.

With BikeSpike, everything is much easier. It is easier to use and has no setup problems. It attaches to the frame with two screws, which even allows it to be disguised as a water bottle holder.

The developers of BikeSpike have already met with officials from Chicago to negotiate the use of the data obtained from the device to track the use of city bicycles. For example, based on the obtained trajectories, it is possible to efficiently plan bicycle lanes.

The creators of BikeSpike also plan to open access to an API so that third-party developers can use the data from the program for their applications. One software development company has already shown interest in this offer, primarily interested in accelerometer data to automatically detect pothole locations on the road.

Those who pledged $150 or more on Kickstarter will be able to receive BikeSpike in October when the devices start shipping.