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So after coming across a bloke in a bit of a mess after being attacked by a tree today, i've been thinking about what crash detection options i should consider.
I regularly ride alone (3-4 times a week) in places where i have good mobile reception but on singletrack in forest where very few people go.
Currently i've been using the Wahoo tracking option, but SWMBO reckons it doesn't send her links anymore. Tracking apps are only any good if someone is watching to see where you are, and it would be better if she got a notification to say i was having a dirt nap (I've a history of fainting after shock - falling through roofs, off motorbikes, in extreme pain... but oddly never mtb related, but you never know).
So far i've identified:
- Garmin incident detection - pricey as i'd need a new device - but is it any good, i haven't seen much in the way of reviews?
- Specialized ANGI - cheap as chips, sensor fits to the helmet, but reviews are mixed. Has anyone here got experience?
- TILT - Danish hub sensor thing. Can't find out much about it...uses an app called Singletracker (cute) anyone been using it?
Are there any more i should add to the list to consider?
Also interested, I tend not to use the Wahoo one has it drains the phone battery when you've got the Elemnt App running.
Strava beacon? If you already use strava anyway?
Tried the incident detection on my garmin when I got it, went off randomly when I went over bumps and down steep bits.
The Garmin incident detection worked a treat when I bought my Explore 1000 3 years ago but several software upgrades later it is now unusable as it's too sensitive, it even started going off while braking (slowly) for traffic lights. Users of other models have complained of a similar experience (see the Garmin Forums). I have mine switched off permanently now although it has developed an annoying habit of switching itself on without my knowledge, cue heart attack at lights!
I own an Apple Watch series 4 which has fall detection on it. It seems pretty good. Tripped over a kerb at work, went down hard, mate pi**ing himself laughing, jumped up in my best Delboy impression and the watch nudged me saying it had detected a fall and am I ok? The only damage sustained was to my ego but it’s used to it by now.
Think it nudge you a couple of times and if you don’t respond it calls an emergency number.
Admittedly it’s also activated when doing a 3 foot drop off to down slope landing on my bike which I didn’t land that hard on but weirdly didn’t activate when I dropped to flat on a lower drop off and I landed that a lot harder.🤔
This is timely, after a crash this weekend, I too would be interested. I would like something reliable that does not set off false alarms.
Does Strava Beacon only do live location sharing?
I've got it on my Garmin 820. Never noticed it road riding.
Cycling off road it's a nightmare. Every time I brake hard to stop at a gate after a downhill it goes off. I then have 30 seconds to stop it but it doesn't work well with my gloves on so it sometimes messages the Mrs so I have to call her to say false alarm.
I've currently disabled it. I'm seeing if that improves the terrible battery life the unit had!
I’ve got the Specialized one.
Not had cause to see if the crash detection works but the tracking side of it is pretty good (along with the ‘over expected time’ alert) & my Mrs is happy I’ve got it for long rides on the Downs or solo night rides.
I use the Specialized Angi it generally works well keeps the missus happy and 90% of my riding is solo but i have had a few issues with it stopping part way through a ride and not notifiying me that it has stopped, this has generally been recently since i updated the unit so hopefully a new update will sort it. These can be had off of ebay for around £25-30.
Good signal? I use Google trusted contact.
Free. Simples.
https://contacts.google.com/trustedcontacts/u/0/
Incident detection on my 520 plus seems to work as it should. Went off today the one time it should have.
Google, Strava Beacon, etc are just tracking - they rely on someone watching to see if i've stopped. Sure, i'd be fascinated to watch a live feed of my rides ... but my emergency contacts have lives. It's specifically the crash detection that i'm looking for.
Sounds like the Angi could be worth a punt.
I use a phone app called RoadID, messages a contact if you don't move for 5 minutes. Contact can then trace you
@stevego that sounds interesting... 5 minutes might be a bit of a pain, but seems like a good idea.
Garmin Edge 530 works well for me. Fell over my bike in he car park at a cross race and off it went. My phone was in the car at the time and I hadn't realised it had gone of, cue lots of missed calls from my wife!
Tried Anginas with two different units.
One unit would never stay connected to the phone so was effectively useless.
The other unit once gave a false crash alert and sent a location 50 miles from where I actually was. Then when I did have an actual crash(cracked the helmet) it gave off no alert at all.
So can't recommend.
Switched to using the Garmin live track with the Connect app and a Edge 1030.
Worked fine the first time it was used. Now point blank refuses to acknowledge the phone is connected and won't start the live track. Tried adjusting all the settings and still will not work. The phone is actually connected to the app as the rides transfer with no issue.
Can't recommend.
Gone back to using the Apple "find my" app and the fall detection on Apple Watch. Tracking never fails, not had an incident yet to test the other function.
I have a Specialized ANGI helmet and with an iPhone it works well. I don’t use it to map anything, just use it for crash detection/alert. I’ve had a few tumbles, but nothing major, just off’s in corners and no head impacts.
Battery life is about 6months on sensor, riding about twice a week.
But, I can’t recommend it, as i’ve not crashed since owning it. Must try harder I guess.
As others have said, the Garmin incident detector is just too sensitive. I use it but most rides I'll end up having to stop and cancel the alert message (you get 30 seconds) via the head unit.
It could be an excellent facility if Garmin invested some developer time in it, to improve the algorithm and add a sensitivity variable.
We own 2 Edge 530s in our household, incident detection switched on with no false alerts and it went off the one time it should have, maybe the newer Garmin units are a bit better?
I've got a See.Sense Ace rear light with this built in. I haven't crashed (not since owning it anyway!), but my ex is the only contact set up. This thread reminds me I should change it!
It's never sent a false positive anyway.
I’ll give another vote for the Angi.
I’ve got one on the Ambush helmet that I bought and I haven’t had any issues with it. Very occasionally it loses connection (welcome to rural life), but that’s rare in my case, and it gives piece of mind.
I haven’t had the misfortune of testing it in a crash, but equally it’s never gone off in error.
+1 for Road Id. Very easy to use and although I’ve never had to use the emergency contact I’ve been stationary chatting on the trail and the alarm does go off. Just remember to turn it off if you call at the pub!!.