Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - First climb video with a ContourHD helmet camera

Hopefully this new camera will solve the two issues that some people complained about-the loud breathing and the shakiness from the handlebar mount.

I got a ContourHD from Amazon last week for $145, which is less than half the price local retailers are charging ($300). I mounted it on my helmet and went up a 7 mile climb yesterday. It is much quieter than the Playsport, and video quality is much better. I recorded at the same 848x480 resolution as I always have on the Playsport, but Contour's 848x480 is 60 fps instead of 30 like the Playsport, so the picture is much smoother, with none of the rolling shutter waviness that the Playsport had.

The only thing I can see people complaining about now is how much I move my head around while climbing. I didn't realize that until I watched the video. I will try to work on that for future videos.

This is Starkes Grade Road near Camino in El Dorado County, CA. It's a beautiful climb with very little traffic and great scenery. It reminded me of the Old La Honda climb videos other people have uploaded.

Garmin Connect data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106632471

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AJH5OvY15Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AJH5OvY15Q

Top of climb
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/roadbikeatStarkesGradeRoadandSlyParkRoad.jpg

City limit style sign at driveway entrance on Starkes Grade Road. I snapped this pic on the way back down the hill.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/funnysignatdrivewayentranceonStarkesGradeRoad.jpg

the camera includes the MPH on the video?

great video.

the camera includes the MPH on the video?

great video.
Thank you. :) No, I use DashWare software to overlay the data from my Garmin onto the video.

Contour makes a camera that has built-in GPS, but I don't know if it has as much data as a Garmin.

It just isn't the same w/o the porn audio track.:(

/\ /\ LOL!! I just spit coffee out of my nose!

Great video, as always!

It just isn't the same w/o the porn audio track.:(
:roflmao2:

It's still there, you've just gotta turn the volume WAAY up! :D My computer is hooked up to my home stereo system, so I have to turn the volume halfway up to hear it good. Laptop and desktop headphone jacks just don't have the oomph needed to hear it well. :lol:


/\ /\ LOL!! I just spit coffee out of my nose!

Great video, as always!
Thanks! :D I'm glad I didn't have a mouthful of water when I read Shimagnolo's post, otherwise it would be all over my monitor. :roflmao2:

I, for one, liked the heavy breathing. :D Cool video. Looks like you tilt your head to the right a little?

I, for one, liked the heavy breathing. :D Cool video. Looks like you tilt your head to the right a little?
Turn the volume way up and you'll hear it. You might have to turn it up all the way if your computer isn't hooked up to an amplifier like mine is. ;)

Contours are known for having low audio.

Yeah, I forgot how much I tilt my head to one side while climbing. Oops! :o

The way things are going with this POS camera though, I might just get another Playsport. I have never had so much trouble with a camera in my life. Sometimes it won't turn on. Sometimes it won't turn off, requiring a battery pull. Of course, after said battery pull the camera won't power up again. I just reloaded the firmware for the second time. I will test it out again on tomorrow's ride.

I don't relish the thought of having to go through the same crap that other people have had to deal with to get a working camera. They've had to pay $12 to ship it back, sometimes multiple times, just to get a working camera. Often the replacements don't work either. This is why I despise ordering anything over the internet. I'd much rather walk in to a store to make my purchases. That way I can just walk in and exchange it if it doesn't work.

I do prefer the video of your Contour over the Playsport. Looks very smooth and vibration free.

I did finally get my Playsport back after 3 weeks or so of it being repaired. I need to come up with some way of mounting it so that it shows my handlebar shifts etc. I was thinking of some kind of side-helmet mount but the PS is so unfriendly as far as bike mounting goes (other than handlebar of course).

Great video and stats BTW ;)

I do prefer the video of your Contour over the Playsport. Looks very smooth and vibration free.

I did finally get my Playsport back after 3 weeks or so of it being repaired. I need to come up with some way of mounting it so that it shows my handlebar shifts etc. I was thinking of some kind of side-helmet mount but the PS is so unfriendly as far as bike mounting goes (other than handlebar of course).

Great video and stats BTW ;)
Thank you. :) I agree, the video quality is much better with the Contour. I've been using the Playsport on the handlebars in addition to the Contour on the helmet, since I don't trust this camera and I don't want to lose all my footage. For this weekend's climb I'll set the Playsport's resolution to 720p HD at 60fps, since the higher framerate reduces the waviness of the rolling shutter. I used the 848 x 480 WVGA resolution at 60 fps on the Contour, which is why you don't see any waviness in the picture.

I'm at REI right now with my super Clyde friend who's buying a hybrid. I asked the employee helping us if there are lots of returns on the Contour cameras. She said yes. The GoPro doesn't have that problem. I wish I knew about that before I bought this POS of a camera!

You're right. It is hard to find a way to mount the Playsport other than on the bars. I hope yours works good now after that long wait. :)

Ive been living in hope by entering this daily:
http://gopro.com/daily-giveaway/
No luck so far but a guy up the road actually won - he got the complete GoPro setup for free!

Looking forwards to your weekend video - too bad about the Contour. It did look like a nice compact unit. At least your giving honest feedback to possible future contour owners.

Finally, looks like Kodak did have a cool body mount for the Playsport at one time but now they are discontinued - pity:
http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/DisplayProductDetailsPage/pgm.44254300/productID.224461400?cm_mmc=CSE-MarketForce-_-googlebase-_-224461400&CAWELAID=812857742

I've wanted a gopro for a while! ...but I want to mount mine to one of my airplanes for some in-flight vids! I've seen quite a few videos from the gopro mounted to airplanes. The vibration barely affects it and the wind noise is all but gone if the camera is inside the waterproof shell. Maybe someday.

Still, it would be great to mount on the bike as well. The problem is there aren't exactly any exciting rides around here... unless endless corn and beans excite you!

Wow! Cool video. I think you just sold another ContourHD camera. Does it come with a handler mount? Did you use the ContourHD to take the photographs, or did you have a separate still camera? You were climbing that hill at 185-190 bpm. That's impressive. You must be quite young.

Ive been living in hope by entering this daily:
http://gopro.com/daily-giveaway/
No luck so far but a guy up the road actually won - he got the complete GoPro setup for free!

Looking forwards to your weekend video - too bad about the Contour. It did look like a nice compact unit. At least your giving honest feedback to possible future contour owners.

Finally, looks like Kodak did have a cool body mount for the Playsport at one time but now they are discontinued - pity:
http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/DisplayProductDetailsPage/pgm.44254300/productID.224461400?cm_mmc=CSE-MarketForce-_-googlebase-_-224461400&CAWELAID=812857742
Hopefully it will work this weekend. I'll be using my old Playsport on the handlebars as a backup. I wish there was a way to stabilize it for a smoother picture. I'll try the 720p 60 fps setting and see if that helps. Can't get a new one as they're discontinued now. The replacement for the Zx3 we have (the Zx5) has a non-removable battery. What a joke! Who wants a camera with a non-replaceable battery? It's not an iPod, it's a CAMERA! Jeez! I often use more than one battery on long rides. With the Zx3, it's a simple battery swap and I'm on the road again. I guess Kodak wants you to carry a second camera as a spare. :rolleyes:

I'm a firm believer that you can't get something for nothing, so I don't bother with sweepstakes and contests. You'll end up paying somehow. I'd just like to purchase a decent camera at a local store that doesn't rattle over rough terrain. That's why the Playsport was so good. It was much quieter than my Casio digital camera over rough roads when mounted on the bars. GoPros and Contours rattle over rough roads. I've seen videos posted by others where they had those cameras mounted on the bars while riding over crappy roads. Lots of rattling!

That Playsport body mount would be nice to have. I could probably rig up something to mount it on my helmet. Oh well.

I've wanted a gopro for a while! ...but I want to mount mine to one of my airplanes for some in-flight vids! I've seen quite a few videos from the gopro mounted to airplanes. The vibration barely affects it and the wind noise is all but gone if the camera is inside the waterproof shell. Maybe someday.

Still, it would be great to mount on the bike as well. The problem is there aren't exactly any exciting rides around here... unless endless corn and beans excite you!
Mine's a Contour, but with all the problems I'm having with it, I highly recommend buying the GoPro instead. ;)


Wow! Cool video. I think you just sold another ContourHD camera. Does it come with a handler mount? Did you use the ContourHD to take the photographs, or did you have a separate still camera? You were climbing that hill at 185-190 bpm. That's impressive. You must be quite young.
I wouldn't buy the Contour until they improve their quality control. See my post #8 for more about all the problems I'm having with this fussy camera. :( From what I've read on Amazon and Contour's support forums, plenty of people are having the same problems.

All the mounts I have I paid extra for. The handlebar mount, universal mount (for mounting to anything with a standard 1/4" tripod screw), and helmet mount are the extra mounts I bought.

I used my Casio digital camera to take the still shots.

I'm actually 44 years old, but I can push my heart rate pretty high still.

...With the Zx3, it's a simple battery swap and I'm on the road again...

Just checked. Amazon is still selling Zx3 cameras. 112 bucks.

Just checked. Amazon is still selling Zx3 cameras. 112 bucks.
I'm going to bring my Pedco UltraClamp and my old Zx3 with the cracked and stripped tripod hole to the hardware store so I can pick up some parts to make a stabilizing mount that will screw into the UltraClamp. I'm thinking some kind of padded frame that the Playsport can be strapped into. I want to reduce rattling noise as much as possible so the camera will hopefully be just as quiet as it is in the UltraClamp by itself.