Kwasi Appiah

I have been been researching for a live rear view camera for my mountain bike. Naturally I have considered the pros and cons of riding with such a camera and decided I am better of knowing what is going on behind me than riding blind. (I live in downtown Chicago, people!). I wanted the Hexagon but everywhere I checked it is no longer available. I recently purchased a Cyclecam Rearview WiFi Bike Camera (also called Homscam), but I'm having problems connecting it to my phone. I am familiar with all the cycliq products - they are record and view later. I wonder if anyone knows of any product presently on the market they would suggest. I will be most appreciative of such suggestions.

canklecat

Check the Ion site and customer reviews. The Wi-Fi PODZ attachment might enable real time viewing via a phone.

angerdan

You can get a GoPro Hero Model and use an dedicated external LCD like the Removu R1+ for watching.
R1+ ? REMOVU
k-edge.com/shop/light-and-action-camera-mounts/go-big-pro-saddle-rail-mount/

tcs

mirror.jpg

wphamilton

You can connect a webcam to a phone or tablet, I was just recently thinking about getting a usb camera for that purpose. I don't know how well it would work for a rear view though, or if a cable long enough would work.

Kwasi Appiah

Thanks guys for the quick response. I am checking them all. Meanwhile keep it coming.

noglider 

If you want recordings, I can understand the desire for a camera. If you just want to see, a mirror is a much better tool. Some mirrors go on the bike. Some go on your glasses or helmet. There are pros and cons to each type. I've been using eyeglass mirrors for years.

Kwasi Appiah

I have have used mirrors in the past. They are good up to a certain level. I used a friend's bike a month ago and it is equipped with the Hexagon bike camera and nothing compares with that. One second peek at the screen (on your smartphone) and you catch everything happening behind you. Moreover, you get to record everything too. Given the anti-bike culture of most of the drivers I encounter on the Chicago roads there is no better security than having a record of everything happening behind me ( I already own a front-mounted camera).

canklecat

I agree about using cameras to record incidents. A driver deliberately buzzed me Monday and I caught it on my helmet mounted camera. The guy looked right at me as he approached a stop sign from my right, gunned his engine and raced through the stop sign toward me, then swerved at the last second, missing me by inches.

And last Friday another car veered out of its lane into the oncoming traffic lane and then into the shoulder where I was riding, missing me by a couple of feet. Blacked out windshield so I couldn't see whether the driver was looking at me or down at a phone.

Those incidents have me considering additional bike mounted cameras. Neither driver had front license plates. I caught only a partial number on the rear plate in the Monday incident. I know from previous experience the cops won't investigate if the camera didn't capture clear license numbers so I didn't bother filing a complaint.

But I wouldn't rely too much on a rear view camera for real-time monitoring. Recording, yes, in case something happens. But I prefer my helmet mounted mirror to monitor behind me. It's at eye level so there's no interruption to my peripheral vision and view of the road ahead and to the sides.

It took me awhile to adapt to the helmet mounted mirror -- for a long time I preferred handlebar mounted mirrors. But now I use the handlebar mirrors less often. And I never look at my phone even when it's mounted on the handlebar. It's just there to record rides and to be available if I need it, but the display is turned off. I don't even use a simple bike computer or speedometer. I try to keep my eyes up without distractions looking downward.

ksole7

Gopro!

f4rrest

Looking down for a second is too long.

With a helmet mirror, I know what's going on behind in a few milliseconds without diverting my gaze down.

It did take a few weeks of regular use to become skilled with the mirror. Perhaps you gave up on it too quickly?

Cyclist0108

The Garmin viagra radar has greatly improved my quality of life.

airforce1

Oh, I thought it would make life HARDER *snort*

JohnJ80

Please explain viagra radar to me. Is this it?

metalheart44

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...camera-cycling

If it actually gets produced and delivered, this looks interesting

Kwasi Appiah

Well folks, I get the camera installed and it's working like clockwork. I am attaching pictures of my bike, with the camera attached and a screenshot of what I see behind me when I look at my smartphone screen (the camera beams whatever is going on behind me onto my smartphone, with no delay and no mis-position of objects. By the way I'm riding along Lake Michigan, for those who want to know. )

TimothyH

That's just too much stuff.

GrainBrain

I'm impressed, that is quite a cockpit.

BikeLite

lol at that cockpit.

bogydave

Nice
Battery life?

Milton Keynes

How does he have time to ride the bike?

angerdan

Do you even have remote controls for the headlamps or at least a frontlight?

ItsJustMe

No camera is as good as a mirror.

Kwasi Appiah

No need for a remote. The headlights control knob is right there on handlebar.

noglider 

We're supposed to replace our helmets every three years or so. This kickstarter helmet could be a good thing if the cameras clip out and transfer to the next helmet.