Wanted: Bike or wheelset for stolen bicycle project

I've been messing around with putting a tracking device in the seat of a bike.. the 'tracking device' is a phone which will sms its gps location at intervals (until the battery runs out). At this point I'm looking to cobble together a super cheap bike to leave out with the hopes of it getting stolen. I doubt i'll be able to get the bicycle back, but hopefully i'll know where it has gone, and be able to start a map of bike theft [this is sort of illigal...I think the bike has to have a sign which says it carries a tracking device...]

I'm looking for a cheap singlespeed wheelset, or a decent runner for under 80 quid.

Are you funding this out of your own pocket? Might be worth setting up a paypal fund where others can donate towards what could be a worthy experiment. I'd stick a couple of quid in to see the results.

Just a thought.

That would be cool. Maybe if this first experiment works (or semi-works), I'd set up a paypal fund.

That project sounds wicked, such a good idea. How will the phone know when to activate or are you not far into the project yet?

thanks, at this point the phone will just send its location when the app is running (from an old google phone), it doesn't know how to turn itself on and off...

Gyroscope activated? When the bike is moved, it pings location.

Rig it to a bomb?

do you need to get it stolen? why not just get one of your mates to take it back to there house…

do you need to get it stolen? why not just get one of your mates to take it back to there house…

Indeed, otherwise this experiment is going to get quite expensive! No?

true, but I guess the experiment is to track the theft as well as test the technology

Sounds interesting-would chuck in a couple of bob. just out of interest tho, why wouldn't you just use the gps tracking security things you can buy already? They're getting a fair bit cheaper these days.

do you need to get it stolen? why not just get one of your mates to take it back to there house…

true, but I guess the experiment is to track the theft as well as test the technology

This made me lol. Wayne = clever.

You could still track it without knowing where your mate has gone in the first place, you just get the bike back instead of a nasty confrontation in the end.
Lateral thinking fail.

But massive props for you going ahead with this. I'd donate a pound or two.
Good luck!

Why not get that £50(ish) complete Bike Shaped Object from Tesco?

I think it would be important in a test to see if the thieves spotted and removed the tracking device.

Why not get that £50(ish) complete Bike Shaped Object from Tesco?

I think it would be important in a test to see if the thieves spotted and removed the tracking device.

I agree... it may be easier on your pocket if you were to just use something horrible and cheap, I would guess that most petty bike theft is not concerned with the look of the bike, some kid who liberates bikes would probably sell a custom track bike or a crappy alu mtb each for a tenner, doesnt matter to them.

Or are you trying to map out a specific bike theft racket that targets track bikes? ie. what areas they're stolen, and where they're brought (chop shop)?

OR maybe i'm missing the point and you're trying to figure out what the best way to track your own stolen bike would be... ahhh... in that case its probably best as the others said to get your friend to ''steal'' it, eh.

do as BDW says first ,get your a mate to test test the phone signal at his house first,otherwise your gonna lose a lot of bikes and phones before you get this sorted out

Great idea here mate. But like the others have said why not just use a super cheap bike to start off with and get your mate to 'steal' it. At least that way you can actually tell if the hardware works.

Also rather than a phone would it not be easier to try and source a kind of tracking device, I thought that these were getting quite cheap now?

cool idea - I've got a battered/rusty old wheelset you can have, 10 spd cartridge on it at the moment though - also some drop bars that're only really fit for the skip but you're welcome to them

If you choose to go the "horrible and cheap" route - let me know. I should be able to get you complete bike or two (including shite lock!)...

put it on a timer to conserve power? i.e. turns on every ten, twenty, thirty ,minutes and pings out a signal which you would be watching for. go on a techhie forum, or even better, Im sure if you hung out and made friends with some EEng type fellas /comp sci kids and offered it as a project theyd do it for fun and its something to put on the CV.

hook them up with sex too. not many girls on the kind of courses they are doing. know any sluts?

wicked Idea BTW

why do bike thiefs need a warning that the bike will be tracked? surely thats their problem! really interested to hear how you get on though!