Neverchill

Beacon

Ride solo. Don't ride alone.

Live position sharing with the few people who'd actually want to know. Auto-alerts if you stop moving. Off by default - on for the rides you want it on for.

Join the waitlist How it works

Free on every tier. Because safety shouldn't be a paywall.

How it works

  1. 1

    Pick your circle

    Add 1-10 people to your Beacon list. Partner, parents, a couple of close friends, a riding buddy. Each gets a unique link to follow.

  2. 2

    Start your ride

    Tap Beacon when you head out. Your live position streams to your circle every 15 seconds until you stop the ride or come within 300 m of where you started.

  3. 3

    Auto-alert if something goes wrong

    If you stop moving for longer than the threshold you set (default 12 minutes) and don't respond to the in-app check, your circle gets a 'still stopped' notification with your last known coordinates.

The details

What we built in. What we left out.

Beacon is a phone-based safety net, not a satellite expedition tool. Honest about both sides.

If you're going somewhere with no cell coverage - backcountry MTB, remote gravel, bikepacking - carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) or Garmin inReach. Beacon needs cell signal.

  • Off by default. Always opt-in per ride.
  • Live link expires when the ride ends - no permanent tracking URL.
  • You can pause Beacon mid-ride (e.g. at a long coffee stop) without ending the share.
  • Manual SOS button - long-press triggers an immediate alert to the full circle.
  • Battery-aware: drops update frequency from 15 s to 60 s when phone battery is below 20%.
  • Works without your circle having a Neverchill account - they get an SMS or email with a live map link.

FAQ

Is this a replacement for a personal locator beacon (PLB) or Garmin inReach?

No. Beacon uses your phone's cell connection. It works in cities and most rural areas; it does not work where there's no cell coverage. For genuine backcountry expeditions you still want a satellite-based PLB or inReach. Beacon is for the 95% case - long road rides, daily commutes, gravel days in marginal terrain.

What happens if my phone dies?

Your live link freezes at your last reported position. Beacon detects the loss of signal after 3 missed updates and notifies your circle with a 'signal lost' status, plus the last known coordinates.

Can I see who's looked at my Beacon link?

Yes - every view is logged in your post-ride summary with timestamp. No surprise viewers.

Does Beacon work for runs and hikes?

Yes. Beacon is sport-agnostic - any activity you start in the app can broadcast.

What if I crash and can't tap the alert?

That's exactly the case the auto-stop alert covers. If your phone reports zero motion for longer than your threshold (default 12 minutes) and you don't dismiss the in-app prompt, your circle gets pinged automatically. You can adjust the threshold per activity - set it shorter for road rides in traffic, longer for long climbs where you'll stop at the summit.

Is this free?

Yes. Beacon is on the Free tier. The product is safer when more people use it.

Tell someone where you are.

Ride alone, but not unaccompanied. Beacon is free on every tier. Join the waitlist.

Join the waitlist