Tech Week 2023: Handy Tools & Hidden AirTags

Oct 24, 2022
by Mike Levy  
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CushCore's $12.95 USD Bead Bro acts as a third hand to hold the tire bead onto the rim.

CushCore Bead Bro

If you've ever installed a tight-fitting tire, especially one with a stiff casing or steel bead, you'll already know that it can be a frustrating job that tests both your patience and your finger strength. There are tricks to make it easier but, when you're combining that tight tire with an insert, it can feel like you're trying to push a square peg into a round hole and at least three hands to make it happen. CushCore's new Bead Bro is designed to be that third hand, freeing up the two that you do have to finish the job.
Bead Bro
• Holds tire bead onto rim
• Frees up your other hand
• Safe for alloy, carbon rims
• Works with any spoked wheel
• MSRP: $12.95 USD
• More info: wwwcushcore.com

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The Bead Bro is safe to use on aluminum and carbon rims.

When installing a tight tire, with or without an insert, it can often come down to trying to pry the last few inches of bead up and over into the rim cavity. Thing is, as you get closer to finishing, the tire bead that you've already got into the rim bed will want to pop back out, meaning that you have to hold that section down with one hand while using your other to finish the installation. The $12.95 USD Bead Bro is a simple little device that hooks onto a spoke, much like most tire levers do, but also locks onto your rim with a dial to act as a stop that keeps the tire's bead from popping back out. CushCore says that it's safe to use on aluminum and carbon rims, and also that the multiple spoke slots mean it should work with pretty much every normal wheel out there. Combine it with their $19.95 USD Bead Dropper lever and you should be able to get any tire installed, regardless of if there's an insert inside or not.

While not a workshop necessity, the Bead Bro probably makes sense if swap your own rubber and are tired of sore thumbs, especially as it costs about as much as a few post-ride beers.



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Now you can get your $49.95 USD Wheelie Wrench with a Dynaplug.

Fix Manufacturing Wheelie Wrench X Dynaplug

Fix Manufacturing's website shows a bunch of clever products, including a belt that you can store your mini-tool in and board-specific tools, but it's their Dynaplug-equipped Wheel Wrench that we're looking at here. The $49.95 USD Wheelie Wrench includes 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, and 6mm hex keys, a T25 Torx key, flat blade, tire lever, pedal wrench, and box wrenches, but now they've also added a Dynaplug applicator that also carries a single plug.
Wheelie Wrench X Dynaplug
• Dynaplug applicator
• Includes three plugs
• 2 - 6mm hex keys, t25
• Flat blade, tire lever, wrenches
• MSRP: $49.95 USD
• More info: www.fixmfg.com

When not needed, the plug sits in the tool backward so it doesn't poke anything. When you get a flat, all you need to do is reverse the plug and then you're ready to save the day. Like their other tools, the Wheelie Wrench fits into Fix Manufacturing's interesting belts.



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Muc-Off's $44.99 USD Stealth Tubeless Tag Holder hides your AirTag inside the rear tire.

Stealth Tubeless Tag Holder + 44mm Valve Kit

Having anything stolen sucks, but having your bike stolen is a whole other level of suck that's hard to put into words. Aside from doing everything in your power to keep your bike from getting stolen in the first place, like not leaving it unlocked in front of the dollar store while you run in for a bag of Fuego Takis, you can now put a tracking tag on it so at least you might be able to get it back. Muc-Off's $44.99 USD Stealth Tubeless Tag Holder does exactly that by letting you hide an Apple AirTag inside of one of its tires.
Stealth Tubeless Tag Holder
• AirTag housed in silicone cover
• Mount lets air, sealant flow
• Rattle-free design
• Comes w/ 3 pairs of valve bases
• Weight: 7.5-grams (w/o AirTag)
• AirTag not included (obviously)
• MSRP: $44.99 USD
• More info: www.muc-off.com

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The black rubber base beneath the pink silicone is designed to compress, and Muc-Off includes three spares in the kit.

Why the heck would you want to put your AirTag inside a tire? Because there's a good chance that anyone stealing your bike isn't thinking about a tracking device, let alone thinking about one that you've hidden securely inside of your rear tire. Muc-Off says that the AirTag is protected from sealant by the silicone cover, and also that it won't ever rattle or make noise. What happens when you case that double that you didn't have enough speed for and the valve stem just happens to line up with the impact? The internal rubber stem that the tracker sits on inside the tire is designed to be compressed and sacrificial, and Muc-Off includes three pairs with the kit so you can replace them as required. The Stealth Tubeless Tag Holder won't work if you're using a tire insert, however, and they recommend that you periodically check and clean the silicone cover when you're changing the tire or installing more sealant.



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Granite's $15.99 USD Stash Tool Kit Airtag Mount hides your AirTag under the fork crown.

Granite Stash Tool Kit Airtag Mount

I reviewed Granite's also-new Stash RT hidden tool a while back, with the spring-loaded kit being stored inside your bike's steerer tube and popping up like a friendly helper when you open the pivoting top cap. Now Granite has released a clever and relatively inexpensive add-on that lets you hide an Apple AirTag at the bottom of the Stash tool under your fork crown.
Stash Tool Kit Airtag Mount
• Converts Stash, Stash RT tool to carry AirTag
• New alloy lower cap, plastic lid
• MSRP: $15.99 USD
• More info: www.granite-design.com

The $15.99 USD Stash Tool Kit Airtag Mount is as simple as a replacement aluminum lower cap at the bottom of your fork crown with external threads that allow for the lid to thread on over your AirTag. You'll also need to have already bought the $69.99 USD Stash tool, of course. And while not as discreet as Muc-Off hiding theirs inside of the rear tire, the upside to Granite's AirTag holder is the much easier access.



Tech Week 2023 is a chance to get up to speed on the latest mountain bike components, apparel, and accessories. Click here to view all of the related content.


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120 Comments
  • 380 6
 Unrelated to this article I know, but hey pinkbike, it might be worth posting a little article about the fact that Dietrich Mateschitz, founder of RedBull has passed away this weekend, since he was personally responsible for setting up allll the extreme sports sponsoring and Red Bull media production the brand has done. It's unknown who will succeed him and how all this lovely sponsoring will be affected, so definitely seems relevant in terms of mountainbiking news.
  • 35 1
 Yes. Thank you for saying this
  • 66 0
 Fun fact. While on vacation in Thailand, Dietrich discovered a local energy drink at a convenience store. He sought out of the company who made it, approached the owner about potentially doing a international partnership and he agreed. Dietrich tweaked the formula a bit and called it Redbull and the rest is history. Both men have now passed but their legacy will live forever.
  • 43 0
 I bet he got his wings!
  • 7 1
 Scroll to bottom of website-
About Us-
Contacts-
Pinkbike Staff - General News
news@pinkbike.com

They can help
  • 5 2
 We had energy drinks all over the place in Japan and wondered why I'd never seen them in the States - then they popped up everywhere all of a sudden.
Here's an article and it mentions Dietrich.
www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/magazine/who-made-that-energy-drink.html#:~:text=The%20energy%20drink%2C%20as%20we,sold%20in%20minibar%2Dsize%20bottles.
  • 33 0
 @BenLow2019: sharing a NYTimes article link on this site is one of the major Flexes I've seen in my life.
  • 8 2
 @BenLow2019: #paywall
  • 5 0
 Im even more surprised that there's no mention of it on the rebull website.
  • 3 2
 Make a video about it and they'll post without a second thought or even watching it first. Wink
  • 4 13
flag enduuuro (Oct 24, 2022 at 23:31) (Below Threshold)
 Reading your post i sounds like you think he invented extreme sports...I do think extreme sport would have developed just fine with out his sponsring and I am sure the health of the youth drinking this shit would have been better.
  • 5 13
flag housem8d FL (Oct 25, 2022 at 2:07) (Below Threshold)
 Wow wtf is this cringe corporate bootlicking..,sheeesh
  • 9 1
 @enduuuro: I do not think that at all. But while we're here reading dozens of articles gushing about Red Bull rampage, and thanking Red Bull for all they have done for the DH world cup over the last ten years, and Red Bull supporting this and that athlete with their wild shreddits and injury rehabilitation, it's maybe worth sparing a thought that the person who kickstarted ALL this sponsorship is now gone, and It's anyone's guess who the majority-owning Thai family will bring in as the new CEO, and if sponsoring priorities might just shift a bit going forward. Who's to say if it's guaranteed that there will even be another Red Bull rampage next year?
I'm not blindly a fan of huge corporations and I don't like Mateschitz' political views much but to deny all that this company has done for our sport would be utterly ignorant.
  • 5 3
 Dietrich used to really support the free & bold in action sports, but after firing the US Head Coach (CEO) & Head of Marketing in July 2020 after supporting the BLM movement (in a normal capacity compared to most corporations did). They were fired immediately after they announced in just a company internal memo their support for Black people. Insane it wasn't more publicized. The US team criticized the Austrian teams racist slides they showed at a US meeting. They were then fired by the Austrian leadership team who think racism is trivial. www.forbes.com/sites/douglaswigdor/2020/07/28/red-bull-fires-top-executives-as-it-wrestles-with-racism/?sh=2f90639f3e0d
  • 4 2
 @rideitall-bmx-dh-road-unicycle: a lot of companies don't want to get into the weeds of politics in anyway. I could see why they dropped the guy. Once you jump in people expect it to continue. Plus you'll always anger at least some group no matter your opinion then your company sells less product.
  • 56 1
 The airbag mount inside your tire is all well and good until you have a really harsh bottom out and crush your air tag. Not to mention the fact that if you get a bad puncture and have to use a tube you have to remove the whole thing. Seems kinda silly compared to the other options on the market.
  • 16 27
flag danielfloyd FL (Oct 24, 2022 at 8:18) (Below Threshold)
 *airtag
  • 20 3
 Seems kinda unfortunate if your bike gets stolen on your way home after an emergency fix (installing a tube).
  • 13 18
flag KJP1230 (Oct 24, 2022 at 8:37) (Below Threshold)
 Too be fair, the harsh bottom out event you're describing would need to happen at exactly the place where your airtag is housed. This could happen - but its probably fairly unlikely.

That said, I agree with your assertion that there are plenty of other, worthwhile hiding places for these. With so many bikes coming out with their own version of "in frame storage", it feels as if you could easily hide one well within the frame itself.
  • 2 7
flag enduroelite (Oct 24, 2022 at 8:48) (Below Threshold)
 ...
  • 18 4
 Agreed. This is probably the most useless airtag placement I've seen. You can't install an insert with this device, if you get a flat, you'll probably break your tag while trying to ride it out, and as mentioned, a rock strike on the airtag is very likely. Most tires will deflect within millimeters of the rim with normal riding, this tag would get dinged dozens of times per ride if not more. Waste of money and space.
  • 5 0
 Also, 'hidden airtags' advertised everywhere online. There are only a handful of areas for thieves to check really. Used to have an equivalent one in the seat tube years ago until it dislodged it self, got stuck and crushed when a taller mate sat on the saddle!
  • 9 1
 Definitely valid concerns. I think the rubber base is meant to deform and compress if you do case a jump and it happens to line up with the Airtag holder. They also include some spares. But yeah, it ain't going to work with a tube or insert either.
  • 14 0
 @danielfloyd: Airbag inside the tire actually does make more sense.
  • 9 0
 @KJP1230: I don't know. I'm usually rolling when I ride my bike and the wheels are spinning. a harsh bottom out could cover like an 1/8th rotation of the wheel, maybe even 1/4 rotation.
  • 2 0
 It'd also be subjected to significantly higher g loads there than it would frame mounted. But I don't have any idea how much of a shock load air tags can handle, tbh. Fork one looks far more practical, tho easier for a thief to find.
  • 6 0
 Hitting the air tag would be a far less exceptional situation if you ride anywhere with lots of rocks. In the place where I live, it would be crushed on the very first ride. The pressure is usually dialed to prevent hitting the tire against the rim, even though even that can sometimes happen. The air tag will be struck way before that.
  • 5 1
 @KJP1230:
"I left my airbag at your mums house" ......for example.
  • 7 2
 I smirked and stopped reading at £44.99. I crappy little bit of made in China rubber, cost price 1.5p a unit, selling cor more than the air tags themselves. Ha ha!
  • 1 3
 @kcy4130: I've always wondered if a smart thief would just toss a bike in a pool for a day to kill any tracking electronics?
  • 4 3
 Understand the concern but my take: the fact that this product exists means that thieves have to strip the tires to do a full AirTag search, and every time we add an item to their post-theft workload, an angel gets its wings. I'm never going to use it, but it's already done its job.
  • 7 0
 @enis: I experienced a harsh bottom out at that house too.
  • 4 1
 They explain how it has a rim finger fail safe. Also, it’s absolutely no more work than removing your tubeless valve (which you already have to do when you flat and throw a tube in)
  • 1 4
 @cgreaseman: you ride out on a flat? Bring a tube buddy. Or just pop it out if you really want to ruin your rim, which by the way is much more expensive than an airtag
  • 3 0
 @olafthemoose: I think what he meant to say would like to run an insert which also allows him to ride it out after a flat and this thing doesn't jive with that. For short rides, being able to ride it out after a flat is often more convenient than to fix it out on the trail (if the tire plug doesn't work). I've got ProCore in my regular wheelset and Pepi in my spare rear wheel. All of these allow me to ride back if the tire doesn't seal and on a few occasions, I've had to do that. Obviously it is the one or the other as having to replace an insert by a tube must be a huge hassle.
  • 39 5
 AirTags have proven useless for tracking stolen bikes. AirTags that are not near their paired phone for a period of time will alert others with iPhones (or the Android app) of their presence. Even if a thief isn't looking for it, they'll be alerted its presence.

People have been putting AirTags on their bikes for a while. Every single person I've seen who tries to track down their AirTagged bike ends up finding the tag stripped from their bike. Eg, they just find the tag or whatever it was mounted to. It hasn't mattered how difficult it was to get to.

"Because there's a good chance that anyone stealing your bike isn't thinking about a tracking device" - that's completely irrelevant because of how the notifications work. They may not be thinking about it, but they'll get a notification so then they'll be thinking about it. Apple has actually made this worse over the past year or so. The challenge is people are using AirTags to stalk people unknowingly, so they want to make it easy for people who have an AirTag attached to them that doesn't belong to them, that the AirTag is there.
  • 3 1
 !!!
  • 6 0
 Just did some reading on Airtags and came to the same conclusion. Adding to the above: They are also useless in areas without iPhones/iPads nearby because Airtags use Bluetooth to communicate with other phones near it. That nearby iPhone then sends the air tag's location to the cloud for you to see.

Unfortunately, with air tags, finding a bike thief is the same solution as stalking someone...if they have an iPhone...
  • 5 1
 @camcoz69: plenty of people have recovered their bikes with airtags.
  • 3 0
 @snokarver: Yes, the thief knows there is an Airtag onboard but you have physically disabled the alarm speaker so they can't easily locate it. This MIGHT give you enough time to strap up and head out to meet your maker at the OK Corral. This works way better on a car as there are an order of magnitude more hiding spots. I live in an iPhone-dense area but my country cuzzins might not get much value from an Airtag in Android-land.
  • 4 2
 I have been using Tile Trackers for years (before apple "invented them") and they are still better than Apple airtags in many ways. If only there was a million mounting options however I find just gluing them with some shoe goo in a non visible location works just fine.
  • 1 1
 Yep, but people stupid enough to buy the product won't know that!
  • 1 0
 @r-jesse: Yes! Actually do what everyone thinks airtags do.
  • 4 1
 yeah, but having airtag is better than nothing. Also, claims that go like " have been proven" in reality is just your opinion that you are trying to present as a fact. And this type of opinion is not worth a shit Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @snokarver. Apple had to do it this way because before that change they had massive problems with criminal absue of airtags. Because if you dont get a notification ill tag your car and bike without you notice it. I will then track down yoir car etc. You can read that up on apple itself. It was crazy how criminal gangs absised airtags and you disnt even knew because you didnt even hot a notifier.
  • 2 0
 @valrock: my take comes from the findings of groups who have tracked thousands of bike thefts.

And your opinion that my take "is not worth a shit" come from what data? Seems like you're guilty of the exact thing you're accusing me of. You could have at least asked what information I had that led me to that belief. Instead, you jumped straight to an insult.
  • 2 0
 @Here: yeah, I've been keeping up on it. The struggle was real and I tried to touch on that in my original comment. They have to figure out which criminals they want to fight.
  • 1 0
 @snokarver: I guess the fact that you could tag anything and nobody near that tag go a notifier is a big issue. I mean. You could walk around and tag cars and shit and track people. Find out where they live etc. I thing thats a bigger issue than biked getting stolen. There is no prefect solution
  • 15 0
 On Airtag hiding: I removed my fork, and stuck the airtag inside my frame just behind the head tube with velcro. Carbon frame, obvs. I don't imagine this will work for every frame, as it requires an opening from the head tube to the triangle to be large enough to pass the tag through. but it's a great spot if available. It also means it is in a non-removable part of the bike.
  • 1 0
 I tried this a few years ago with a Tile and the signal strength fell off a cliff just as it would with aluminum. It was utterly useless I'm afraid. Maybe it's better with whatever frequencies Airtags are using, but I'd really test out this placement before relying on it.
  • 2 0
 @big-red: You've got me curious now. Airtag should have a range of 10 m or so. And I had that inside my home, but I didn't try it in different orientations or compare to it sitting out free. If I get around to testing it, I'll report back.
  • 2 0
 @CarbonShmarbon @big-red Here you go - www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLtWN1Mp2Qc
  • 10 0
 I'd pay $200 to have a reliable GPS monitoring device that would not have Airtag limitatiions. But we need police that would give a F (and to be fair, have enough resources) to follow up a stolen bike.

You can have my crappy cars, but stay away from my bike.
  • 3 0
 Pretty stoked how much they followed up on my stolen bike in Nanaimo. Unfortunately no recovery but they sent out cars looking for it.
  • 2 0
 @wtroost: That's good - at least effort. I'm in the Greater Van area and I don't think it would get on their radar.
  • 3 0
 @njcbps: haha i was just going to say: I see you are a fellow vancouverite.

Stolen bike? "Got any LEADS? HA!"
  • 2 0
 Problem is that GPS uses more battery, you also need a LTE or similar connection then to call home, that uses more battery and also costs more etc. That is why air tag/tile is so convenient. Really cheap and battery that lasts a long time.
  • 1 0
 @oskare: Thanks - that's an obvious point I overlooked.
  • 7 0
 Take your phone and get some slo-mo shots of bunny hops on the sidewalk and look how much your tire deforms... Not hard to see how that airtag mount is not going to be a good idea. Maybe it'll work for the emtb heros of the suburban bikepath but I can't see much use anywhere else.
  • 6 2
 I see the second bead bro photo and all I see is the inevitable casing wobble.

Any tips on how to not stretch my casing during an install with inserts? I've tried to avoid levers but always seem to resort to them for that last section of tire... then left with a wobbly tire.
  • 14 3
 Hmm, I don't think I've ever damaged a tire from using a lever, even when they're super tight and I'm being way too greedy with the bead. Are you sure it's damaged and the tire doesn't just need more pressure to seat straight on the rim?
  • 15 9
 Don't buy maxxis, problem solved
  • 8 0
 Sadly I think @milesofpain is correct that it's a Maxxis problem. I've installed Cushcore on my own bikes w/ Maxxis tires both with and without levers and 4 out of 5 times I had casing wobble. I'm not sure if the casing is tearing from install, or if it would have been wobbly either way, since I've seen so many wobbly Maxxis tires w/o Cushcore too.

I've also installed Specialized and Schwalbe DH casing tires w/ Cuschcore on customers' bikes with heavy lever use and the casing was straight as an arrow.
  • 2 0
 @coffeepoop42069: Warped my tire this past weekend, which I suspect from over leveraging with a lever. Maxxis.
  • 6 2
 Yeah, I came to the comments to see if anybody else mentioned this. I know nobody likes to RTFM, but if you look at the "WARNING!" section on the hangtag of any Maxxis folding tire, #2 says "Tire mounting should be performed entirely by hand."

The first time I mounted Minions, I used levers, and the tires wobbled exactly where I had used the levers.

To answer your question--it's a matter of patience and hand strength, with a spritz of the liquid of your choice (soapy water, Windex, or alcohol are all fine) to lubricate the bead, if necessary. The main thing is to remember that the only way to create slack on the bead that's not mounted, is to push the bead that is already mounted into the lowest point on the center of the rim. Because that center is occupied by the valve stem (when doing tubeless), you want to finish mounting the tire at the valve.

The "patience" element means to keep massaging the bead into the center of the rim with one hand, while keeping tension on the un-mounted bead with the other hand, and using the slack to push a little more tire over the rim. You'll only gain a few mm at a time, but eventually you'll get to the point where a mighty push with your thumbs will get the last part of the bead over the rim and into place.

If you look at the tool called the Kool Stop Bead Jack--I use my hand in the same motion as the bead jack: pull up on the bead with the tip of my thumb while pushing down on the rim with my four finger tips.
  • 5 0
 @barp: That's true, but I've installed so many Maxxis tires w/o Cushcore, and using hands only and still have had enough wobbly casings to think that there is an issue going on w/ many Maxxis tires beyond tire lever damage.

The rest of your tips are spot on. Patience is key!
  • 2 0
 I make sure the tire is warm and seat it without the insert, then open one side up and slip the insert in.
Noble and DT rims with Maxxis and Schwalbe, sometimes don’t need a lever at all
  • 2 1
 @mikelevy: Have you ever run Maxxis tires with an insert!?!? I'm not hater and have them on all my bikes. To avoid stretching them into an undesirable state that's not a good match for the width of your rim you have to get them good and lubed up and then use your fingers to slowly and gently stretch them only so much as absolutely necessary . . . I'll show myself out.
  • 2 1
 If you're swapping between tires and it's been mounted a few times before it's no big deal, but the first time . . .
  • 2 3
 I doubt that's casing wobble, more likely the tire just isn't straight on the rim. I always apply a soapy solution to the beds and rim to prevent that. And some rims are more prone to this then others. I found that Newmen rims are not only the easiest to install and remove tires when inserts are involved (or overall) but the tire always gets pretty straight due to the outward slant of the inner wall of the rim. And hooked rims also seem to be better than non-hooked and non-slanted rims in that regard.
  • 4 1
 @DavidGuerra: It's easy to tell the difference between a tire that isn't seated all the way and one that is but still has a wobble. If it's fully seated and still very wobbly, it's the casing.
  • 4 1
 @coffeepoop42069: Agreed. Mine was fully seated. The "line" on the tire was a consistent 3-4mm from the rim all the way around. Bike shop also confirmed - bead looks fine. casing warped.
  • 1 0
 @coffeepoop42069: Tires can come warped from factory. I have had instances of that. And I'm obviously not referring to a tire that isn't fully seated. They are obviously fully seated, but on a hookless rim they can be not uniformly seated. Heck even on a hooked rim they can be not uniformly seated. I just deflate them, add soapy water between the flanges and the rim, and inflate again. Last time I did this was on a road tire, it had a couple milimeters of wobble, and it straigthened out. With an insert on the inside of the tire it can be much more difficult for the seating to the perfectly uniform. So, a lot of explanations besides the "I warped the tire by installing it" one, which I don't see how it could possibly happen.
  • 1 0
 @jalopyj: Exactly. It was warped before, it did not become warped by installing it.
  • 8 2
 Why is it 45 bucks for the cover of the device? That's like paying more for the case of a phone than the phone.
  • 3 0
 I used an airtag to track my bike while flying and it worked quite well, could see it being moved around the airport during connection, loaded on the plane, and at luggage pick up.
  • 2 1
 Maybe I'm just clumsy but I can't imagine myself truing a wheel with a nipple tool that's integrated in a multitool like that. I'm not even sure whether there is enough room to properly twist the spoke a half turn (having 32 spokes in a 26" wheel). I just carry a regular Park Tool nipple key (the one with the loop) in my pack.
  • 11 1
 26” wheel? Is that a prototype? Wonder if that’ll catch on, bet it would go great with a BMX background.
  • 2 0
 @GBeeston: My BMX has 20" wheels with 48 spokes. No way this tool is going to fit, let alone twist Wink .
  • 1 0
 I have the lesser version of the wheelie wrench and have used it a couple times on loose spokes and it works fine. The only issue I have is that it doubles as a bottle opener and I ALWAYS forget to use it, lmao.
  • 4 1
 I do wonder about the durability of the device to put an air tag inside a tyre. I can imagine flatting at speed and breaking it off.
  • 7 2
 Bead Bro could replace my gf
  • 1 0
 All these worries about airtags, and meanwhile renters insurance is $160/year for me and was zero hassle when I had a bike get stolen 10 years ago. The $500 deductible was a helluva lot less work than recruiting the cops to help me chase down a thief.
  • 1 0
 Is it just me, or do these setups (excepting OneUp EDC) that stash a tool in your steerer all have the massive downside that said stashed tool is no longer able to reach the bolt to tighten the headset should it ever become loose mid ride? Seems like creating a problem out of none.
  • 1 0
 Is this the second or third special tool from cushcore to make installing their inserts less painful? Gotta admit that that tyre leaver really helped, but maybe there is something to fix with the insert instead to make it reasonable to install? =)
  • 1 0
 Nope its fairly easy. Sub 15mins. Maybee it was my combo. Roval traverse 29" with maxxis maxxgrip dh casings. Works like butter
  • 4 0
 Fuego takis are just evil.
  • 11 0
 Only coming back out.
  • 3 0
 I need one of those Cush Core Bead Bros in my life.
Is there an Android version of the Airtag?
  • 1 0
 something tile or tile something. google knows more
  • 1 0
 www.samsung.com/us/mobile/mobile-accessories/phones/samsung-galaxy-smart-tag-1-pack-black-ei-t5300bbegus
  • 3 0
 Answer: air tag in steerer and tools in the tires. Done n done. It's obvious.
  • 5 2
 Pinkbike, you've got to stop showing bike thieves places to look for tracking devices.
  • 2 0
 we tested airtag like Hide an Seek in the Killington parking lot. Haha worthless. Keep an eye on your bike like its your bike
  • 1 1
 IDK about the AirTag stuff, seems like thieves know to check the bike for them. And on a second note... we are likely talking about a bike stolen from your house. Your homeowner's insurance will cover it. If its stolen off your bike rack, maybe your car insurance will cover it (if you have disclosed and noted it).

If you have ever had something stolen from you, it's a sick feeling inside. The object is now tainted... I really wouldn't want it back.
  • 2 0
 Thief step1: turns off his Bluetooth
Thief step 2: steals bike
Victim step 1: realizes he just wasted 45$ on a useless tracker
  • 3 0
 Bead Bro is the best tool ive purchased in a while
  • 10 0
 Bro, I can’t get enough of the beads. Pucker factor to 11.
  • 1 1
 Yeah, I've just seen it and thought I need one! Made sense as soon as I saw the pic.
  • 1 1
 Interesting. I have bead buddies for moto tires and I never use them. Blessed to be a stubborn idiot with strong hands.
  • 1 0
 Is there anyone 3d printing a part to attach an airtag under the saddle, that would attach to say the two bolt points on a specialized Power saddle?
  • 1 0
 Where can I put something I need to protect from impacts and abuse? Oh, the rear tyre. How much more pissing around could you do to fit an air tag?
  • 3 0
 3 pairs = 6.
  • 1 0
 If i get an airtag someday, i put it inside the frame: Just remove the fork, and put the airtag glued inside the frame...
  • 2 0
 there is an issue with signal, do you have a metal frame?
  • 1 0
 You could put an emergency donut hole it there.
  • 1 0
 None of these are new....
  • 10 13
 I don't know about any of you, but I hate the idea of putting tracking devices on my own bike. Just the paranoia of who else can see where I am or what I'm up to. Maybe I'm just superstitious though!
  • 14 0
 I guess if you are a person worthy of tracking... otherwise I couldnt care less. Or this comment is just a joke about Strava, can't decide.
  • 39 1
 You must not have a phone then, huh.
  • 4 1
 considering that thieves use airtags to track people home to steal their shit, I'd say it's a valid concern.
  • 3 0
 Cause they can track your phone
  • 3 0
 @johnski: No, I do not. Which also makes it very hard for me to use a tracker!
  • 7 0
 I full on share your feelings regarding this. But as long as people buy air tags, don't force companies to remove cookies from their websites and don't hide at least the location of their phone for third parties onthe web it will not change.
We have to demand it!
I know, many will say: "what do i have to hide? Nothing."
While i see where this comes from, history has proven how fast companies or government go after the wrong people, knowingly or not, and cause huge damage to those. Better prevention (where we're f-ing late now!) than reacting years after it's happening (where we're honestly at right now).
Just look at what companoe like google, faceboom or amazon all know about us. It's disgusting - to put it lightly. But they won't stop aslong as it's a business and the laws don't get enforced in this regard.

@Mike Levy: How about pinkbike and outside in this regard? I think i never saw something about consent to cookies when i came here. (Btw: the EU-Regulations would state that both options (consent and non-consent) need to be designed equally. Not that BS most websites have.)
  • 2 2
 Well I'm going to put your mind right at ease them. If you put your AirTag on your bike and link it to your phone, then only you can track it.
  • 2 0
 A few years ago one of my riding buddies was seriously injured while riding alone. His wife figured out something was wrong and called the emergency services because the little dot on Strava stopped moving. Whether that feeds your paranoia or not, there is definitely a place for tracking.
  • 4 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: they make GPS units that just send when you meet emergency conditions. like if it senses abrupt movement and then nothing. i believe those aren't as trackable by the average person as an airtag is.
  • 1 0
 @blackercanyons: Not sure if you're referring to Garmin's emergency crash notifications, but IME it's worse than worthless. One time I did have a nasty crash with it on (not bad enough to need aid, but a hard enough hit that it *should* have triggered the "Are you ok? alarm at least.) there was nary a peep from the Garmin.

Another ride, not too long before that one it triggered when I missed a fork in the trail and came to an abrupt, controlled stop to backtrack and it started beeping at me. The warning UI wasn't clear that I had *actually* canceled the alert, after I thought I had, so I had about 10 panicked texts from my wife at the end of the bottom of the descent.

Also those features require a cell signal so if you're riding outside cell range or in a deep canyon (like the area I ride most often) you probably couldn't get a message out anyway.

After those two experiences I disabled that feature, and just tell my wife what time to expect me home and where I'm riding.
  • 1 1
 Well, now everyone knows to look for one in the fork, thanks Pinkbike Smile
  • 1 0
 Cool







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