Helmet Camera

**cuttercoasty** · 03-14-2011, 09:01 AM

Anyone else ride with a video camera?

I got the idea for buying one when I was nearly ran over by a convoy of impatient Bahraini drivers taking a short cut on the bicycle path that runs along one of the causeways. I have the right of way, but it doesn't stop them.

I figured I should probably buy one for two reasons...
one, to show how bad the traffic is, as it records to an ST card and can plug straight into the Mac to upload the video.

two, the police can find out who ran over me. Never the less, it is going to be interesting.

I picked up a Contour HD 1080p camera and a handle bar mount for pretty cheap. I am going to take it on its maiden voyage tomorrow.
It is a short ride, but it will show the craziness I deal with.

Anyone else do this stuff too???

I am sure it would be fun to check out videos of recent fun rides.

**Geonz** · 03-14-2011, 12:31 PM

I got one a few years ago and... it was really ungainly and heavy on the head. However, I did get some nice film. (IT also has NO viewfinder to look through!) I filmed my entire commute one mornign and I keep meaning to put it online -- but this was before that was easy to do; I'd have to do serious work. It's quiet and peaceful...
Now, in many states there are laws against taping conversations withouit a person's permission. That would be why you get that "this call may be monitored..." when you're dealing with public service. That is why I would be inclined to say exactly that if, say, I had an interaction with police or a driver that I was madly recording. "This interaction may be being monitored for your convenience." (I know that people have been forced to turn their cameras off in hostile situations in some cities.)

**Fredwina** · 03-14-2011, 08:44 PM

I have the plain contour. I've used several times. I even have my own youtube Channel. The only issue is editing the things can get to be a time sink

**crazycanuck** · 03-14-2011, 09:21 PM

Helmet cams are becoming more and more popular here. We purchased one a few years back for mountain biking training & still use it.

I have to say I think some folks on another local forum I puruse use them to complain about every single little movement by a motorist. This isn't directed towards you, it's just an observation.

If we were going to buy another one we'd get it from http://www.launchhelmetcams.com.au/ as we know most of the folks w the company ride!

I'd use them on the Audax rides I do as i'm often on my own...

**cuttercoasty** · 03-15-2011, 04:11 AM

I tried it out today on my commute to and from work. It worked great! I didn't know it took audio too; good thing I didn't swear at the car on my bike path.
It picked up a lot of the wind noise though. And the bouncing; yikes.... it is a bumpy area!
After watching the replay when I got home(no view screen), it is something I can improve on. Glad I bought the handlebar mount. If I had it attached to my head, you could get motion sickness from watching how I am always checking my surroundings. Head on a constant swivel.

It was incredibly light traffic today, which has to do with the civil unrest going on. I am going to keep the camera rolling as I go.

Geonz, good call on the recording of people. I will look into the rules here. I don't know where I could find that, but I will look around.

**ladyicon** · 03-15-2011, 01:44 PM

cuttercoasty, I would love to see your videos of bike riding in Bahrain. I am sure others would too. Let us know if you put them online.

**Possegal** · 03-15-2011, 05:11 PM

I have one and the only two times I tried it I had it on my helmet. The first time, it was tilted so you just saw the sky.

Second time, you'd have needed a dramamine to watch it, as I look around so much, looking to every side street, making eye contact with all the drivers, that the video was just all over the place. The hardware to mount it on my handle bars doesn't seem to work (seems too small?) but clearly that is what I need to do. I am anxious to fix that so I can take more videos. I don't do it from a safety reason, but because I like to make videos with music and video and still photos. This is safer than me holding my camera.

I believe I have the same camera. Wonder what I'm doing wrong with the handle bar mount. hmmmmmm

**cuttercoasty** · 03-15-2011, 07:50 PM

I will take a picture of how I have my handlebar mount set up. If the screw is too small, I am sure you could take it to the local big box store and find a longer one in the same thread. It looks to be a 1/4-20 with a wingnut, but anything that diameter will work.

I will post what I can.

**Possegal** · 03-15-2011, 07:54 PM

Thanks, that would help.

No hurry though. It will take me some time to find all the parts again.

**Jiffer** · 03-15-2011, 10:30 PM

Sadly, a friend in our cycling club was just killed on a descent when he hit sand, lost control of the bike and went into the opposite lane where an SUV was coming around the bend. His wife had gotten him a camera for Christmas and actually watched the footage, which included his friends telling him to hang on while waiting for help. I can't even imagine watching something like that, yet if it were my husband's last moments and I had the opportunity, I'd probably do it too.

Interesting to think about.

**PscyclePath** · 03-16-2011, 05:49 AM

I got one as well back around Christmas, with the intent to collect some video for use in some Smart Cycling classes, but other things have been getting in the way and I haven't had much of a chance to play with it yet :-(

**Thorn** · 03-16-2011, 04:09 PM

This guy: http://bikesafer.blogspot.com/ has a lot of video of bad drivers on his site that he has collected over the years. There is a post in there with suggestions on mounting the camera.

He used to try to get the local law enforcement to issue warnings and/or tickets, but after he got lost a ticket battle (when the driver, not he, should have been ticketed), he's been a little silent.

**PscyclePath** · 03-17-2011, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Thorn

This guy: http://bikesafer.blogspot.com/ has a lot of video of bad drivers on his site that he has collected over the years. There is a post in there with suggestions on mounting the camera.

He used to try to get the local law enforcement to issue warnings and/or tickets, but after he got lost a ticket battle (when the driver, not he, should have been ticketed), he's been a little silent.

Many states (mine, Arkansas included) do not allow for the use of photographic evidence in traffic enforcement. This is specifically aimed at red light cameras and those little portable radar/camera trailers, but what it typically means is that if a cop didn't see the violation, it didn't happen :-(

**luv2climb** · 03-17-2011, 01:56 PM

I record some of my rides, especially unusual ones or climbing rides. Here's my YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/cyclingfun2

So far it is all cycling-related material. I found out through trial and error years ago that cycling stuff usually doesn't attract the trolls and bad ratings. However, if it has anything to do with Critical Mass, then the trolls come out of the woodwork. I don't do CM rides, but I saw the flamefests on other people's CM videos.

The latest video has music on it because I was testing my so-called waterproof camera in the rain. The rain got in the tiny mic hole and made the audio sound like crap, so only the first minute of the video is raw. All my other videos are raw, as I like to hear the sounds of a typical ride.

Knock on wood, I haven't had bad luck with motorists lately, and I hope to not have to capture footage of that in the future. I like to relive fun rides

All the footage is from handlebar-mounted cameras or handheld ones. I don't own a helmet cam.

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