Getting Photos While Riding

[arielmoon]

I have an Olympus that fits nicely in my jersey pocket but I think I am going to try a bento box for the next long ride. I took these while riding:

[ny biker]

On the rare occasions when I have brought my camera on rides, I kept it in my handlebar bag along with my cell phone, ID, keys, and other stuff. But I like the bento box idea. I'm planning to bring the camera with me more in the future, and since I always stop in order to take a picture, it will be faster if the camera is easier to access.

[Grog]

The Bike Doctor bike shop in Vancouver BC has a "tripod" one can attach to the bike's handlebars to attach a camera. Most cameras have a threaded hole to attach to a tripod.

Google bicycle camera mount to find interesting ways to build one yourself!

[GLC1968]

I have a small cannon that I can pull out of a jersery pocket while riding. It's ok, but the shots can get blurry if the road isn't smooth. I'd love a more expensive point and shoot with a stabilizer built in (I'm not even sure they make one!).

One problem with the jersery pocket is that during the summer, my body heat often fogs up the lens. That's when I started using my bento box! (plus, I'm faster getting it out of the bento box than I was the jersey pocket).

It really helps to practice and take LOTS of photos. The photo of me in my avatar was taken by someone who takes TONS of on bike shots - 1/3 of which don't come out and 2/3rds of which are amazing!

[Zen]

I think I am going to try a bento box

I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Even though a small camera like that doesn't have a lot of optics to get jostled out of place, it could happen. Keeping your camera in your pocket gives it a smoother ride.

[Grog]

I have a small cannon that I can pull out of a jersery pocket while riding. It's ok, but the shots can get blurry if the road isn't smooth.

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!!

[7rider]

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!!

Why...I'd love to take out a small cannon against bystanders sometimes!

[Aggie_Ama]

Grog- I thought about a Gorillapod they sell at REI because the camera does video but again the tiny handlebars. I still want a Gorillapod for hiking so I might just try it on the bike too.

GLC- This camera has image stabilization. That was the number 1 priority for my mom when shopping since I have a neurological tremor. Hopefully since Texas is the chip seal capital of the world it will help with that too. The purple was icing on the cake!

Zen- I wonder if I lined the Bento Box with foam to absorb shock if that would help? With our 90 degree weather arriving late March and staying until October I hate sweating a bunch on the camera from it being in my pocket. I was kinda liking the Bento idea but I do wonder about bumpy and jostling. This isn't a super pricey camera but still I can't afford to break it being careless.

[Blueberry]

My bento is made out of foam. I usually just put it in there in a baggie. Hasn't bothered it yet (Canon SD 400).

CA

[OakLeaf]

I would think if you line the bottom of the bento box with foam, it should be fine. Those little cameras don't weigh that much. Then you could tether the camera to your handlebars or top tube, just make sure the tether isn't so long that the camera will go into your front wheel if you do drop it!

Craft stores usually have foam rubber... in a variety of densities including a density to match the foam that lines Pelican and Halliburton cases that protect heavy camera equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The way I sweat, I'd never put a camera in my jersey pocket. Once my Ziploc bag has gotten a little bit of wear and a few microscopic holes in it, I'll typically soak through whatever cash is in there. I haven't fried a phone yet <touch wood> but I keep waiting for it to happen.

Lightweight helmet cams (that can also be mounted to frames etc.) are widely available, just Google. I know the Aerostich catalog has at least one. AFAIK they only shoot video, but it's easy enough to capture still images from your video.

[Aggie_Ama]

Oh yeah, helmet cam is going on my anniversary or Christmas wish list so I can record my mountain biking shenanagins and debacles.

[GLC1968]

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!!

Yes, yes...the Canon is for the photos...the cannon is for the crazy drivers. Duh!

[TrekTheKaty]

Mine is in my bento box too. And easy to access. I take photos while riding, and have even done video. I'm still working on my technique and a lot of video begins and/or ends with pictures of the road and my voice saying - better hold on.

I used the video I shot along with lots of pics by me and mostly my brother in law (he's the one you can see riding with no hands and snapping pics) and put them all together with music and made a 12 minute video of our ride. I love my new Mac.

I love my Mac too! I prefer to stop and take pics, but my husband sets down a blistering pace and doesn't like to stop. I learned out of necessity, how to take pictures on the roll (we've ridden many miles on the Katy Trail in Missouri and I didn't have one pic to show for it). I used to keep my camera in my handlebar bag, but digging around in there while moving was by far more hazardous than the picture taking. Now I keep my camera in my back jersey pocket. I just got a Bento Box at the end of summer last year, and I think that will work great. I'm careful to only take pics on trails with no oncoming traffic--and have also taken lots of pics of the road, my feet and the occassional video--on accident (they're pretty entertaining).

My family knows when I ride ahead or drop to the back, the camera is coming out. As any photog knows, the best shots are gone unless you keep that camera handy.....

[Aggie_Ama]

I wish I didn't need a PC to tap into work, I used Macs through high school (1st gen of the colored ones) and college. I really would love to have one at home.

[Grog]

Taking photos solved part of the speed difference issue between my husband and I. (He's the fast one, not me.)

On long, scenic rides, he's responsible for the camera, and has to take so-many pictures an hour. So he has to stop. He will also ride ahead and catch me on an uphill or downhill or with some nice background.

Now and then I pick up the camera so there can be some pictures of him, too.

I don't like taking that many photographs, but whatever it takes to even our speed up works for me.