My Safety Beacon Setup

Let’s talk about safety tracking. I know, not the most thrilling topic, but an important one especially for those of us who ride solo.

My partner isn’t an outdoorsy person to the degree I am, so when I head out on a ride it naturally causes a bit of stress. They’re supportive, but they also want to know I’m safe. Using a reliable tracking beacon has made a big difference for both of us. It gives them peace of mind, and it gives me the freedom to explore without worrying that they’re stressing over about my location.

I actually use two tracking services when I ride: one for my partner and another I send to a riding buddy. That way, if something goes wrong, my friends can come help without my partner needing to relay my location or try to coordinate from home. It’s a simple setup, but it’s made a big impact.

My Setup

For my own rides, I use a combo of Garmin LiveTrack and the Strava Beacon, and it’s been a solid system.

Garmin LiveTrack is my go-to for keeping my partner in the loop. It’s tied to my email and set up to automatically send every time I start an activity on my Garmin watch. No extra steps, no forgetting. That’s especially helpful when I’m starting a ride outside of cell service, since the email goes out automatically as soon as there's a signal. There’s also an option to copy a direct link from the app if I ever want to send it manually via text, but most of the time I don’t need to think about it.

Strava Beacon is my second line of safety. Since I use Strava to track my ride mileage for bike maintenance, I’m already logging everything there. Turning on Beacon is simple with the June 20025 Strava update. It is now at the bottom of your record ride screen. I send that link when I start my ride to a riding buddy who knows my habits and the terrain, just in case something goes sideways and I need help from someone who understands the area.

Neither of these tools are essential, but once I got the automation dialed in, they’ve become part of my regular routine. The setup runs quietly in the background and gives my partner peace of mind and allows me to explore without worrying about keeping them updated on my progress.

Each beacon service offers something slightly different, so I want to take a closer look at what they offer and you can choose which one works best for you. First thing I want to highlight is they are both free to use! Strava Beacon does not require premium to access. Garmin LiveTrack does require a garmin device, but does not require Garmin+.

Strava Beacon

Strava Beacon is Strava’s answer to real-time safety. You don’t need a premium GPS device, just your smartphone and the Strava app. Beacon lets you share your live activity with up to three people. It’s super simple, and with the new app update the share location button is right on the main screen.

If you want to read more about the Strava beacon from their blog, check it out here.

Key Features:

• Real-time GPS tracking from your phone or Garmin device
• Link can be texted to emergency contacts
• Super quick setup before each ride/run
• Tracks location, movement, and when you started

Bonus Tip: If your Apple Watch is connected to Strava, you can also enable Beacon from your wrist.

Garmin LiveTrack

If you’re already using a Garmin device, LiveTrack is a powerful safety tool that turns your watch or bike computer into a live GPS beacon. Once paired with your phone and the Garmin Connect app, it sends a link to designated contacts showing your real-time location, speed, distance, heart rate, and elevation. Some Garmin models even include Incident Detection, which auto-notifies your contacts in the event of a crash (I personally have not used this feature). Learning more about the LiveTrack features on Garmin's website, here.

Key Features:

• Sends live location via email or text
• Optional auto-start with activity (my favorite feature)
• Heart rate, cadence, and other sensor data included
• Works with most modern Garmin devices (watches, Edge bike computers)
• Free with Garmin Connect app

At the end of the day, safety tracking isn’t about fear, it’s about freedom. It’s about riding with confidence, knowing that if something goes wrong, someone has your location. Whether you're exploring solo or just want to ease a loved one’s mind, tools like Garmin LiveTrack and Strava Beacon offer an easy way to stay connected without interrupting your flow. If you’ve been on the fence about using them, consider giving one (or both) a try. It might be the simplest upgrade you make to your ride.

Forever Two Wheels!

-Myles