Excellent post, thank you for taking the time to write it up.
FWIW I have one of the new Sony HDR-AS15 cameras (the AS10 is the same thing without WiFi). I used to have a Contour Roam. The Sony is similar to the Contour in most respects. I'm not super happy with the quality of video but it's totally comparable to the Contour. I have yet to find the HD camcorder where license plates are ALWAYS readable, that's the big problem. Apart from that they're all good.
Oregon Scientific has an interesting camera coming up that shoots front and rear at the same time but I am not overly thrilled with it - with the waterproof case on it I think it'll be too big for helmet use.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.