Anyone ride with cameras?
#26
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK
Posts: 433
Bikes: Gitane Course, Paris Sport, Peugeot AO8, Peugeot Bretagne, Peugeot Premiere 85, Peugeot Premiere 86, Peugeot ANC Halfords Team Replica, Peugeot Festina Team Replica, Motobecane Grand Sport, Motobecane Super 15, Raleigh Pro Race, Raleigh Stratos, BSA
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 427 Times
in
90 Posts
I started carrying a camera a few weeks ago, after one close pass too many.
I bought the Ion camera someone else mentioned, video quality in daylight is pretty good - not tried it at night yet - although the audio doesn't give much apart from wind noise.
The battery life isn't the best, 2 hours at best, although as mentioned above you can plug in a powerbank.
I mount mine on the handlebars, works very well there, and it's clearly visible to drivers - I've found that having a camera on display really does alter drivers' attitudes towards me.
I bought the Ion camera someone else mentioned, video quality in daylight is pretty good - not tried it at night yet - although the audio doesn't give much apart from wind noise.
The battery life isn't the best, 2 hours at best, although as mentioned above you can plug in a powerbank.
I mount mine on the handlebars, works very well there, and it's clearly visible to drivers - I've found that having a camera on display really does alter drivers' attitudes towards me.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Richmond VA area
Posts: 2,618
Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
I plan on buying the fly6 and 12 very soon. It's obvious from some of the posters stories in this thread - and many others I've read, that vid cameras are a very worthwhile investment. I can think of 2 recent times myself where my having video of a driver situation would've resulted in them getting a hefty ticket or jail.
#28
☢
Action cameras nowadays are so cheap (Chinese) this is almost of no-brainer. For capture only you don't need any frills and they all have acceptable quality. If you do this you need two.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
That's true. Your friends and family might find some closure in justice though. And the more people do this, hopefully, the safer we all are. I mean, if it becomes widely known that a lot of cyclists are riding with cameras, because their footage keeps turning up in court, people will have to deal with it. As they've been putting red light cameras in, most people stopped going through "orange" lights.
#30
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Not all collisions result in deaths. Mine caused injuries, but those are significant enough to me. It was the one time in two years I hadn't used the camera. There were plenty of witnesses and even a police officer who happened to be near the intersection although I'm not sure he actually saw the car hit me. But if I'd used my camera it's likely the driver's insurance would already have settled. Instead I needed an attorney to represent me.
#31
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
I started carrying a camera a few weeks ago, after one close pass too many.
I bought the Ion camera someone else mentioned, video quality in daylight is pretty good - not tried it at night yet - although the audio doesn't give much apart from wind noise.
The battery life isn't the best, 2 hours at best, although as mentioned above you can plug in a powerbank.
I mount mine on the handlebars, works very well there, and it's clearly visible to drivers - I've found that having a camera on display really does alter drivers' attitudes towards me.
I bought the Ion camera someone else mentioned, video quality in daylight is pretty good - not tried it at night yet - although the audio doesn't give much apart from wind noise.
The battery life isn't the best, 2 hours at best, although as mentioned above you can plug in a powerbank.
I mount mine on the handlebars, works very well there, and it's clearly visible to drivers - I've found that having a camera on display really does alter drivers' attitudes towards me.
There are some dash cams with much better nighttime performance. They usually need an external power source and have no weather resistance. But those can be homebrewed into a functional higher quality night ride video camera.
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,083
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3376 Post(s)
Liked 5,518 Times
in
2,860 Posts
Yeah, I have an Ion Speed Pro. Nighttime video quality is mediocre, noisy with poor dynamic range, blacked out shadows and blown highlights. It's only good enough to identify the type of vehicle, some gross characteristics such as body damage, etc.
There are some dash cams with much better nighttime performance. They usually need an external power source and have no weather resistance. But those can be homebrewed into a functional higher quality night ride video camera.
There are some dash cams with much better nighttime performance. They usually need an external power source and have no weather resistance. But those can be homebrewed into a functional higher quality night ride video camera.
Sony uses them in their own cameras (obviously), and they also sell them to other mfgrs.
I've seen a couple dashcams that used them, but I don't recall the brands right now.
#34
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Incidentally, a few years ago there were questions about why so many Russian drivers managed to video record the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor entry. It seemed like too much of a coincidence. Several news outlets explained that insurance fraud was so rampant in Russia that many Russian drivers were among the earliest adopters of dashcams to provide evidence in their own defense. So they just happened to be recording video when the meteor event occurred.
Cyclists and pedestrians are at far greater risk. Makes sense to record video. And pedestrians are struck and injured or killed by drivers in far greater numbers than cyclists.
Some of the most dangerous areas in my city (Fort Worth) for pedestrians are the hospital districts. Drivers routinely travel much too fast for conditions and ignore crosswalks and walk signals. After I was struck and injured riding my bike in May I had countless medical appointments. Some were within walking distance the same day, so I'd walk since I had no leg injuries and needed the exercise.
After the first day of nearly being hit by cars three times in less than a mile I began carrying my Ion Speed Pro video camera and displaying it very prominently as I approached intersection and as I entered crosswalks. It's amazing how well drivers can see when they're concerned about consequences. Suddenly there were vehicles backing up from crosswalks, coming to complete stops at intersections where pedestrians had right of way.
Part of the problem is bad street design. But it seemed pretty obvious that a major factor is that too many drivers just do not give a single damn about pedestrians or cyclists unless the drivers are concerned about consequences to themselves.
Cyclists and pedestrians are at far greater risk. Makes sense to record video. And pedestrians are struck and injured or killed by drivers in far greater numbers than cyclists.
Some of the most dangerous areas in my city (Fort Worth) for pedestrians are the hospital districts. Drivers routinely travel much too fast for conditions and ignore crosswalks and walk signals. After I was struck and injured riding my bike in May I had countless medical appointments. Some were within walking distance the same day, so I'd walk since I had no leg injuries and needed the exercise.
After the first day of nearly being hit by cars three times in less than a mile I began carrying my Ion Speed Pro video camera and displaying it very prominently as I approached intersection and as I entered crosswalks. It's amazing how well drivers can see when they're concerned about consequences. Suddenly there were vehicles backing up from crosswalks, coming to complete stops at intersections where pedestrians had right of way.
Part of the problem is bad street design. But it seemed pretty obvious that a major factor is that too many drivers just do not give a single damn about pedestrians or cyclists unless the drivers are concerned about consequences to themselves.
#35
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
I've read a lot of POV & dashcam reviews, (and watched review videos), and for night use there is one image sensor that stands out: The Sony "Exmor" sensor. (There are various versions and part numbers.)
Sony uses them in their own cameras (obviously), and they also sell them to other mfgrs.
I've seen a couple dashcams that used them, but I don't recall the brands right now.
Sony uses them in their own cameras (obviously), and they also sell them to other mfgrs.
I've seen a couple dashcams that used them, but I don't recall the brands right now.
I plan to try one of the dashcams the Techmoan reviewer suggests on my bike, just to see whether it's a practical compromise. The cameras are often very inexpensive, but lack a power supply or weather proof housing.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,083
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3376 Post(s)
Liked 5,518 Times
in
2,860 Posts
Yep, a couple of good tech reviewers (including Techmoan on YouTube) have mentioned that. The Ion cameras are inexpensive, yet well made so I figured they had to cut corners somewhere. Good camera body and design with an obsolete sensor.
I plan to try one of the dashcams the Techmoan reviewer suggests on my bike, just to see whether it's a practical compromise. The cameras are often very inexpensive, but lack a power supply or weather proof housing.
I plan to try one of the dashcams the Techmoan reviewer suggests on my bike, just to see whether it's a practical compromise. The cameras are often very inexpensive, but lack a power supply or weather proof housing.
Techmoan was one of the first guys I found doing lots of dashcam reviews.
Sadly, he seems to be more into antique electronics these days.
I'm using a Mobius 1 camera as a dashcam in my car.
It was really geared toward remote-control flying models, but works well.
I originally tried a Mini 0801 and later an 0803, but they were unreliable crap despite good test reviews.
(The Mobius 1 is good, but the company went off the rails with the later versions.)
#37
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Oh, yeah!
Techmoan was one of the first guys I found doing lots of dashcam reviews.
Sadly, he seems to be more into antique electronics these days.
I'm using a Mobius 1 camera as a dashcam in my car.
It was really geared toward remote-control flying models, but works well.
I originally tried a Mini 0801 and later an 0803, but they were unreliable crap despite good test reviews.
(The Mobius 1 is good, but the company went off the rails with the later versions.)
Techmoan was one of the first guys I found doing lots of dashcam reviews.
Sadly, he seems to be more into antique electronics these days.
I'm using a Mobius 1 camera as a dashcam in my car.
It was really geared toward remote-control flying models, but works well.
I originally tried a Mini 0801 and later an 0803, but they were unreliable crap despite good test reviews.
(The Mobius 1 is good, but the company went off the rails with the later versions.)
#38
Senior Member
I have a Fly6 but stopped using it as I realized the footage was too poor to be of any use. I switched to the new Varia radar and find that it’s more useful for me. I’d love to get a front camera but most of my rides are over 2 hours and that seems to be beyond the upper limit for the better quality cameras (GoPro, Virb, etc...).
#39
commu*ist spy
Thread Starter
report it to the police. what they did & time/place/location/description of vehicle & occupants. police calls are recorded so you don't have to deal with whether or not the person who answers the phone "thinks" it's worth reporting because you don't have a plate #. just repeat what they did & time/place/location/description of vehicle & occupants. if the cop answering says well there's nothing we can do, just say I called to report what they did & time/place/location/description of vehicle & occupants
just curious, what city/state was this?
just curious, what city/state was this?
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 941 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times
in
189 Posts
I occasionally ride with a camera. One the Mobius, very small, light and quite good. I also own an Ion Speed Pro, also good. I'm not enthused enough to use one all the time. Michigan is a single plate state. Getting an image of a plate coming up behind you, or coming at you is unlikely. Without that, I'm not sure how well they would care to investigate.
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Bend Or.
Posts: 573
Bikes: 2 TiSports and a Ho Ko E Koo
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
1 Post
I have a Sony action cam mounted on my handle bars that I have 3 batteries for I can swap. It's white and very visible. And an inexpensive Mobius, dash cam on the back run by a battery in my top tube bag. I've read too many stories from posters who have no memory of the accident, just remember waking up in the hospital.
Last edited by John00; 08-09-18 at 03:29 PM.
#42
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
I have a Sony action cam mounted on my handle bars that I have 3 batteries for I can swap. It's white and very visible. And an inexpensive Mobius, dash cam on the back run by a battery in my top tube bag. I've read too many stories from posters who have no memory of the accident, just remember waking up in the hospital.
In addition to usually running a video camera, I also set my smartphone for Google to track my activities. These are recorded to my private timeline by default. It's a good option for a mute and objective witness. It helped confirm my version of events when I was struck by a car a few months ago, even though I didn't have my camera that day.
Google timeline tracking has also been useful to log my many medical visits. Occasionally there have been unexpected changes to appointments or locations so my appointment calendar isn't necessarily an accurate log. But the Google tracking is. It shows exactly where I was and when, even logged the name of the clinic in most cases. Occasionally it will prompt me later to confirm or correct a location and clinic name. But usually it's already there.
Might be useful for legal purposes if we're found unconscious and have no memory of what happened or how we got there.
Usually Google tracking must be enabled by the user, and it's private by default ("private" meaning only you and Google can see the data). That also means even a loved one, law enforcement or legal representative may not have access to that data. So you might consider authorizing someone you trust to access your Google timeline if you're incapacitated.
Incidentally, I've found Google tracking to be far more reliable than Strava or other activities apps. So if Strava glitches and you lost an important ride log, check Google timeline. You can reconstruct the ride from there. You'll need to download the Google data and convert it to a format Strava can use. There are online tools for that. It'll give a pretty good approximation of the basic ride data. It's even pretty good about telling the difference between walking, cycling and riding in vehicles without manually entering that info.
Last edited by canklecat; 08-09-18 at 03:51 PM.
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
For anyone that's been running a backward-facing camera, have you noticed any patterns in the types of people who do close passes? I never actually see who's driving when it happens to me. Is there a classic profile of a close-passer? I know a lot of them drive pickup trucks in my area, that's for sure, or some type of SUV.
Is it mostly men? I suspect a good number of mine of women, but without a camera ir's almost impossible to tell most of the time. I guess that's why they do it, because they assume you can't see them.
Lots of overweight people and folks with lit cigarettes?
Is it mostly men? I suspect a good number of mine of women, but without a camera ir's almost impossible to tell most of the time. I guess that's why they do it, because they assume you can't see them.
Lots of overweight people and folks with lit cigarettes?
Last edited by Colnago Mixte; 08-09-18 at 04:29 PM.
#44
☢
For anyone that's been running a backward-facing camera, have you noticed any patterns in the types of people who do close passes? I never actually see who's driving when it happens to me. Is there a classic profile of a close-passer? I know a lot of them drive pickup trucks in my area, that's for sure, or some type of SUV.
Is it mostly men? I suspect a good number of mine of women, but without a camera ir's almost impossible to tell most of the time. I guess that's why they do it, because they assume you can't see them.
Lots of overweight people and folks with lit cigarettes?
Is it mostly men? I suspect a good number of mine of women, but without a camera ir's almost impossible to tell most of the time. I guess that's why they do it, because they assume you can't see them.
Lots of overweight people and folks with lit cigarettes?
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
So, life's insecure DB's, essentially?
Sorry about the typos, but the font size in the box where you compose posts is really tiny. Does anyone else have this problem? I often have trouble telling comma from periods in there, especially when my eyes get tired. Someone suggested a darker background where you compose posts, I find it BLINDING at times, but that complaint fell on deaf ears.
Still I should have proofread.
Sorry about the typos, but the font size in the box where you compose posts is really tiny. Does anyone else have this problem? I often have trouble telling comma from periods in there, especially when my eyes get tired. Someone suggested a darker background where you compose posts, I find it BLINDING at times, but that complaint fell on deaf ears.
Still I should have proofread.
#46
☢
So, life's insecure DB's, essentially?
Sorry about the typos, but the font size in the box where you compose posts is really tiny. Does anyone else have this problem? I often have trouble telling comma from periods in there, especially when my eyes get tired. Someone suggested a darker background where you compose posts, I find it BLINDING at times, but that complaint fell on deaf ears.
Still I should have proofread.
Sorry about the typos, but the font size in the box where you compose posts is really tiny. Does anyone else have this problem? I often have trouble telling comma from periods in there, especially when my eyes get tired. Someone suggested a darker background where you compose posts, I find it BLINDING at times, but that complaint fell on deaf ears.
Still I should have proofread.
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,083
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3376 Post(s)
Liked 5,518 Times
in
2,860 Posts
For anyone that's been running a backward-facing camera, have you noticed any patterns in the types of people who do close passes? I never actually see who's driving when it happens to me. Is there a classic profile of a close-passer? I know a lot of them drive pickup trucks in my area, that's for sure, or some type of SUV.
Is it mostly men? I suspect a good number of mine of women, but without a camera ir's almost impossible to tell most of the time. I guess that's why they do it, because they assume you can't see them.
Lots of overweight people and folks with lit cigarettes?
Is it mostly men? I suspect a good number of mine of women, but without a camera ir's almost impossible to tell most of the time. I guess that's why they do it, because they assume you can't see them.
Lots of overweight people and folks with lit cigarettes?
Reasons:
1. Reflections off the glass.
2. Tinted glass.
3. Interior in the shade of the roof.
5. Wide-angle lenses of every POV/dashcam that make everything look smaller and further away.
6. As vehicle passes, the driver is on the opposite side from the cyclist he is passing.
7. Video capture resolution is worse when there is a lot of movement between camera and object.
As an example, here is a capture from my motorcycle rear camera of a stationary vehicle at a stoplight about 3 feet behind me.
1920x1080 resolution at 30fps.
What can you tell us about the driver?
#48
☢
You are dreaming if you think a camera can capture the occupants of a car as it is passing you.
Reasons:
1. Reflections off the glass.
2. Tinted glass.
3. Interior in the shade of the roof.
5. Wide-angle lenses of every POV/dashcam that make everything look smaller and further away.
6. As vehicle passes, the driver is on the opposite side from the cyclist he is passing.
7. Video capture resolution is worse when there is a lot of movement between camera and object.
As an example, here is a capture from my motorcycle rear camera of a stationary vehicle at a stoplight about 3 feet behind me.
1920x1080 resolution at 30fps.
What can you tell us about the driver?
Reasons:
1. Reflections off the glass.
2. Tinted glass.
3. Interior in the shade of the roof.
5. Wide-angle lenses of every POV/dashcam that make everything look smaller and further away.
6. As vehicle passes, the driver is on the opposite side from the cyclist he is passing.
7. Video capture resolution is worse when there is a lot of movement between camera and object.
As an example, here is a capture from my motorcycle rear camera of a stationary vehicle at a stoplight about 3 feet behind me.
1920x1080 resolution at 30fps.
What can you tell us about the driver?
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
You are dreaming if you think a camera can capture the occupants of a car as it is passing you.
Reasons:
1. Reflections off the glass.
2. Tinted glass.
3. Interior in the shade of the roof.
5. Wide-angle lenses of every POV/dashcam that make everything look smaller and further away.
6. As vehicle passes, the driver is on the opposite side from the cyclist he is passing.
7. Video capture resolution is worse when there is a lot of movement between camera and object.
As an example, here is a capture from my motorcycle rear camera of a stationary vehicle at a stoplight about 3 feet behind me.
1920x1080 resolution at 30fps.
What can you tell us about the driver?
Reasons:
1. Reflections off the glass.
2. Tinted glass.
3. Interior in the shade of the roof.
5. Wide-angle lenses of every POV/dashcam that make everything look smaller and further away.
6. As vehicle passes, the driver is on the opposite side from the cyclist he is passing.
7. Video capture resolution is worse when there is a lot of movement between camera and object.
As an example, here is a capture from my motorcycle rear camera of a stationary vehicle at a stoplight about 3 feet behind me.
1920x1080 resolution at 30fps.
What can you tell us about the driver?
#50
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,639
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4737 Post(s)
Liked 1,533 Times
in
1,004 Posts
I was looking at one of the gopro hero Session models.. looks about as large as I'd ever consider mounting on a handlebar anyway. Anyone used one of these?
The fly6 looks good if you're rear-facing the camera.
The fly6 looks good if you're rear-facing the camera.