How do you share your live location while mountain biking?
To share your live location while mountain biking, start a share on your phone at the trailhead, send the link to a Guardian along with the trail system and loop you plan to ride, and keep the phone in a pack or secure pocket where it won't eject in a crash. Holler's live link opens in any browser, no app or account needed. In the woods, signal comes and goes, so a return time is the safety net when the dot stops moving.
Step by step
01Tell your Guardian the trail names
A dot in a trail network is hard to interpret. Send your Guardian the park, the trailhead and the trails you plan to ride. If something goes wrong, they can tell rescuers to use the right access road instead of just reading coordinates.
02Start sharing before you drop in
Open Holler in the parking lot, start your share and confirm your Guardian can see you. Once you're on the trail, you want both hands on the bars, not on your phone.
03Stow the phone where it survives a crash
Jersey pockets and loose bar mounts eject phones on rough descents. Keep your phone in a hip pack, a backpack pocket or a zipped frame bag. It needs to be there when you need to call for help.
04Set a return time for the ride
Rides run long when you add a loop or fix a flat. Set a Holler return time for when you'd truly be late, and extend it if you decide to keep riding. If you haven't checked in five minutes after it, your Guardians get an overdue alert, even if your phone has no signal.
05Turn on the backstops that fit your riding
Holler's optional stationary alert and crash detection beta can both start an "Are you OK?" check if you go still. Crash detection can false-alarm on big hits and miss slow tumbles, so choose settings that match how you ride.
Related questions
Will my location update deep in the trees?
Often, but not always. Dense forest and valleys block signal, and updates pause until you reach coverage again. Your Guardian sees your last known location. Our cell dead zone explainer covers what that means in practice.
How is this different from a bike computer's tracking?
Bike computer tracking shows where you are. Holler adds SOS, a return time with overdue alerts, and optional stationary and crash detection (beta) alerts, all delivered to your Guardians by email and push. Some riders use both.
What should my Guardian do if my dot stops on a descent?
Wait a short while, since you might be fixing a flat or out of signal. The live page shows how long ago your location last updated and keeps your last known location and route line on the map. If you've set a stationary alert or crash detection and they get an alert, or your return time passes, they should try to call you, then call 911 with your last known location and trail name.
Is it worth sharing on a short local loop?
Yes, because crashes happen on familiar trails too. A quick share takes seconds to start. The crash detection explainer explains how that beta feature fits in.
How do I keep my phone alive on a long ride?
Start at full charge, keep the screen off in a pack, and carry a small battery pack for big days. Weak signal in the trees drains power faster. Keep enough charge for a call at the end of the ride. The page on how much battery live location sharing uses goes deeper.
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