gopro on bicycle

[multiweb (Marc)]

Hi guys, this one is for all the cyclists out there. I'm considering getting a gopro to mount on my bicycle handlebar. What model would you recommend? It has to be reasonably bug/weather proof. I want to use it primarily for protection from drivers in cars who might get a little to close. Should anything happen at least I have a rego number and a footage if any confrontation. TIA.

[xelasnave]

You really need two.
Front and rear coverage.
What brand I have no suggestion to offer.

[MattT]

Hi Marc,
Have you had any confrontations?
14 years of daily commutes at 200km's a week and I can remember once when a motorist wound down the passanger window for a bit of abusive language....didn't bother me really as I find cycling the ultimate way to relax on the way to and from work...have developed a 6th sense for what's going to happen. Filming this lot is asking for a trouble IMO.
Matt

[pluto (Hugh)]

Marc - if you're just going to be recording HD video then any of the GoPro cameras will be about the same. You can probably get the GoPro Hero 2 for a good price these days.

However if you don't need top quality then you could probably get away with one of the GoPro clones that comes in a similar waterproof hard case. I've seen ones at Kmart for about $40-$50 and while they only shoot 720p, as opposed to 1080p or 4k on the newer GoPros, I think the quality would be more than enough for your purposes.
I don't have any first hand experience with the non-GoPro ones though so I don't know how reliable they are but I'm sure you can find reviews out there for them.

If you have the budget though you can't go wrong with a GoPro or the little Sony action cameras.

[killswitch (Edison)]

GoPro Entry level is $169.

http://shop.gopro.com/APAC/hero/CHDHA-301.html

It doesnt have all the fancy features as a normal gopro, but you dont need it for cycling anyway.

[Hagar (Doug)]

GoPro3 has a recording loop system like a dashcam but the gopro2 doesn't.

Now I will have to get a dash cam to protect my car from bike riders.

[cjb (Chris)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Should anything happen at least I have a rego number and a footage if any confrontation. TIA.

I ride my bike around the Adelaide Hills - no worries as long as you keep left, don't cut corners etc... Sadly when I drive around the Hills about 10% of riders are grossly inconsiderate and infuriating and fail to follow the road rules. I can't report these people to the police as they are not registered and have no number plate The worst is the groups riding 4 wide on blind corners going up hill at 5 kmph when I'm doing 70 kmph in an 80 zone. Very scary for all involved.

The worst thing that happened to me was when I went to overtake a bike he cut the corner in front of me and hit my car - fortunately he did not fall off - but when I stopped he abused me so I left him to it. I got a call from the police as he had reported me. I went to the police station and explained to the police what had happened. As a result he was charged with driving without due care, failure to keep left, and making a false statement to police. He lost his car licence for 6 months and $2000 fine

So I reckon the GoPro is a good way to go but remember it won't be much use to you if you are dead under a car - so stick to the road rules and be super careful on your bike

Chris

[Panthers (Dave)]

I'm in the US (Don't blame me), and we have similar situations. And the issue is confused. One argument is that cyclists are bound by the same 'rules of the road' are motorists, and the other is that cyclists should take over whole lanes so that motorists will see them and take measures to avoid running them down.

I'm a bicycle-mechanic, and I keep my ears open to this situation. Both sides have their points.

Clear Skies,

Dave

[acropolite (Phil)]

None of the GoPros, the battery life is relatively short, there's a specialty camera designed (by Australians) just for the purpose and has up to 6 hours run time. It is only for rear views but that's where the danger is.

http://www.pushys.com.au/cycliq-fly6...-micro-sd.html

review here http://www.bicycles.net.au/2014/11/f...-brand-cycliq/

[Dooghan (Dooghan)]

Also have a look at the ion air pro cameras. I got the air pro 2 to use on my motorbike. Is as good as the gopro. 1080p, waterproof to 10m, easy to use and I think we'll designed. Instead of having a box on the side of my helmet, it's cylindrical shape makes it more aerodynamic. Been using it for a few months and takes dam good footage. Can read number plates no problems. I picked up mine new on ebay for $200

[multiweb (Marc)]

Thanks for all the info guys. As to all those who are getting agro with cyclist may I suggest you get on your bike and try it.

1_ you'll be more relaxed and a lot happier.

2_ you'll realise that a car zooming past you at 80kph with 300mm clearance is more of an inconvenience that being stuck for 30s between two cyclists riding side by side.

Originally Posted by MattT

Hi Marc,
Have you had any confrontations?
14 years of daily commutes at 200km's a week and I can remember once when a motorist wound down the passanger window for a bit of abusive language....didn't bother me really as I find cycling the ultimate way to relax on the way to and from work...have developed a 6th sense for what's going to happen. Filming this lot is asking for a trouble IMO.
Matt

I haven't but a mate of mine came really close.

Originally Posted by Hagar

GoPro3 has a recording loop system like a dashcam but the gopro2 doesn't.

Now I will have to get a dash cam to protect my car from bike riders.

lol - don't hold back - can't wait to see that photo of you in lycra mate

Originally Posted by cjb

I ride my bike around the Adelaide Hills - no worries as long as you keep left, don't cut corners etc... Sadly when I drive around the Hills about 10% of riders are grossly inconsiderate and infuriating and fail to follow the road rules. I can't report these people to the police as they are not registered and have no number plate The worst is the groups riding 4 wide on blind corners going up hill at 5 kmph when I'm doing 70 kmph in an 80 zone. Very scary for all involved.

The worst thing that happened to me was when I went to overtake a bike he cut the corner in front of me and hit my car - fortunately he did not fall off - but when I stopped he abused me so I left him to it. I got a call from the police as he had reported me. I went to the police station and explained to the police what had happened. As a result he was charged with driving without due care, failure to keep left, and making a false statement to police. He lost his car licence for 6 months and $2000 fine

So I reckon the GoPro is a good way to go but remember it won't be much use to you if you are dead under a car - so stick to the road rules and be super careful on your bike

Chris

Agree there are idiots on both sides but by law two bikes can ride side by side with a 1.5m space in between taking the width of one whole lane. Cars overtaking bikes should also be aware that people might swerve and slow down. We have no protection against a 2t vehicle and bones are brittle.

Originally Posted by acropolite

None of the GoPros, the battery life is relatively short, there's a specialty camera designed (by Australians) just for the purpose and has up to 6 hours run time. It is only for rear views but that's where the danger is.

http://www.pushys.com.au/cycliq-fly6...-micro-sd.html

review here http://www.bicycles.net.au/2014/11/f...-brand-cycliq/

That looks very interesting mate. Thanks a lot for the links.

Originally Posted by Dooghan

Also have a look at the ion air pro cameras. I got the air pro 2 to use on my motorbike. Is as good as the gopro. 1080p, waterproof to 10m, easy to use and I think we'll designed. Instead of having a box on the side of my helmet, it's cylindrical shape makes it more aerodynamic. Been using it for a few months and takes dam good footage. Can read number plates no problems. I picked up mine new on ebay for $200

Very cool. Will check them out as well. Thanks!

[N1 (Mirko)]

This is not the cheapest option but has a very low "ridiculousness factor" because it's integrated with something useful - bikelights, especially when they get the front version sorted:

http://cycliq.com.au/

I've seen lots of stupidity on the roads myself, and the idiot density among motorists and cyclists appears to be exactly the same. That would make sense, because they are recruited from the same flaw-ridden pool: Humans!

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by N1

This is not the cheapest option but has a very low "ridiculousness factor" because it's integrated with something useful - bikelights, especially when they get the front version sorted:

http://cycliq.com.au/

I've seen lots of stupidity on the roads myself, and the idiot density among motorists and cyclists appears to be exactly the same. That would make sense, because they are recruited from the same flaw-ridden pool: Humans!

Thanks mate. Same one Phil's mentioned. Looks like the way to go.

Agreed. But we cyclists are not protected by a 2t chunk of steel. It's not about right or wrong but safety and common sense. People in cars don't necessarily think about it this way but we are painfully aware of it.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

One thing to consider is that the camera appears to collapse the quantum probability just like any other observer opening the box in Shroedinger's thought experiment.
I've cycled to and from work for 17 years, about 130km per week with no accidents. One winter's morning during an especially violent storm I decided to record my intrepidness for posterity. Due to the river having burst its banks we were diverted to the other side of the freeway via a high pedestrian bridge. At this point I caught up to a friend who rides his unicycle to work. Glancing briefly as I said 'hello' on the way past, my bar clipped the railing and I did a nice somersault forwards onto the footpath. The gopro lovingly recorded my humiliation and inarticulate and involuntary vocalisations in HD as my friend then ran over me on a unicycle...
Point being- it wouldn't have happened if I wasn't wearing the camera would it?
Cheers,
Andrew.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by alocky

One thing to consider is that the camera appears to collapse the quantum probability just like any other observer opening the box in Shroedinger's thought experiment.
I've cycled to and from work for 17 years, about 130km per week with no accidents. One winter's morning during an especially violent storm I decided to record my intrepidness for posterity. Due to the river having burst its banks we were diverted to the other side of the freeway via a high pedestrian bridge. At this point I caught up to a friend who rides his unicycle to work. Glancing briefly as I said 'hello' on the way past, my bar clipped the railing and I did a nice somersault forwards onto the footpath. The gopro lovingly recorded my humiliation and inarticulate and involuntary vocalisations in HD as my friend then ran over me on a unicycle...
Point being- it wouldn't have happened if I wasn't wearing the camera would it?
Cheers,
Andrew.

Now that is something I'd like to see. Hope you came out alright in the end. Recently rode into a ballast wall on the freeway myself. It was far less acrobatic but still freakin' hurt.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Now that is something I'd like to see. Hope you came out alright in the end. Recently rode into a ballast wall on the freeway myself. It was far less acrobatic but still freakin' hurt.

I'm ashamed to admit that I put it on Facebook... im sure I can find the link😱

[GrahamL]

I find these days cyclists on narrow country roads (80-100kmh) with no lines or rideable edges are fast becoming the norm ,as someone who has ridden for many years I can't fathom the lack of basic saftey considerations in regard. I can see you and brake /overtake , an elderly driver maybe not or a fully laden semi on a blind corner same , Cameras are a great tool in retrospect , on a bike in traffic not my first choice to have with me on any given day .

[N1 (Mirko)]

Graham, great to see the number of cyclists increasing on roads where they have a legal right to be. That is excatly what's needed to make everybody else more aware and as a result, create a safer traffic environment for everybody.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Thanks mate. Same one Phil's mentioned. Looks like the way to go.

Agreed. But we cyclists are not protected by a 2t chunk of steel. It's not about right or wrong but safety and common sense. People in cars don't necessarily think about it this way but we are painfully aware of it.

No I suppose you are not protected by 2T of steel. But then again as a motorist I pay a small fortune for the vehicle, the roads I run it on, insurance to cover idiots who think their lycra makes them the owners of the road. I pay third party insurance to cover against a lycra clad super hero who continually rides through traffic with one inch clearance on either side of his handlebars and claims when he falls off. I pay petrol excise to have signs pasted all along my local roads, " Cyclists share this road" How kind of them.
I have to put up with road closures on a regular basis because where I live is a prime cycling area. It doesn't matter that the road closures close the town off completely for a few hours. I am fortunate that the councils make cycle paths that are never used but consume my rates.

When cyclist start to be treated equally with motorist then you can tell me how hard done by a cyclist is treated by rouge motorists who loose demerit points for every traffic offence while cyclists on get the fine.

It appears the cycling lobby can even have speed limits changed on highways while they infiltrate country towns and even pay police to harass motorists.
Seems all is fair just it's a bit fairer for some.

As for seeing this body in lycra, it is never going to happen Marc. Don't worry about a GoPro, just get a target and give those of us that drive a 2.5T mass of steel something to aim at with the bull bar.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by Hagar

It appears the cycling lobby can even have ....

The cycling lobby! :rofl :
This is Oztraya mite
Back in your car!