Video Cameras for Cyclists - Using video to film your cycling journey and protect you from drivers.
There seems to be a new fashion in England for cyclists to wear helmet cameras. My other half cycles to work, and I was intrigued by this trend. From my experience as a car driver in London, cyclists aren’t really catered for by the capital’s roads, and drivers are often unaware of them.
The principle of using a video recorder whilst cycling is supposed to fulfil two goals: it helps prove the actions of dangerous car drivers (and sometimes other cyclists), and it might serve as a deterrent if the driver knows his or her actions are being filmed.
It comes out something like this video, which was filmed on Mill Road, Cambridge. The description by the cyclist goes - “Cyclist doesn’t indicate intention, keep well clear of other cyclist or look behind while moving out to pass another. Car driver fails to anticipate this is going to be a bad moment to overtake. It’s fairly obvious that the faster cyclist is likely to want to pass the other. Would be better to drive more patiently. As usual, car subsequently gained no advantage, waiting over a minute at the next set of traffic lights.“:
It seems cyclists are also keen to spot bad driving as well, and there is a spirit of activism to many of the YouTube cyclist helmet videos.
Good cameras seem to start at around £80, and these are the ones I found on Amazon Marketplace (prices correct at time of writing):
ATC2000 Action Helmet Camera 
Manufacturer camera description: The Extreme Cam is a digital video camera that enables the user to capture video clips of their sports activities. After capturing footage, the user can replay the video clips on a television or edit the movie on computer and share the video clips with friends through Internet connection or write back the footage creation to the console for carrying around. After capturing footage, you can replay your video clips on a television, or edit the movie on computer and share the video clips with friends through an internet connection. You can also save the footage back to the console for transport and the ATC-2K works seamlessly with most video editing software. The ATC-2K is a video camera only, it is not possible to take still photos. The ATC-2K will record varying amounts of footage, depending upon the memory card size and quality of video. For example, at 30 frames per second at 640×480, the camera will record 60 minutes of footage to the card. If however you reduce the quality of the recording and use 15 frames per second, it is possible to record up to 794 minutes of footage. Please note: ATC-2K requires a high speed branded Secure Digital card for external storage. Features: Multiple mounting design (bike, helmet, …etc) Water proof Professional Helmet Cam looking Design 640×480 VGA CMOS sensor 32MB internal memory (NAND flash) SD memory card support up to 2GB USB interface A/V out interface Keys: (3 buttons) Shutter (Movie only) (one or two beeping sounds) Menu (one beeping sound) On/Off/Enter (two beeping sounds) Buzzer for key tones and other alert sounds Internal real time clock Operated by 2 x AA batteries Compatible with Windows XP/2000/Me
Hero Helmet Camera
Manufacturer camera description: Features: 54 min. high quality video w/sound, 3 megapixel sensor with glass lens, 3X sequence photo burst, programmable power off settings, always on mode lasts 3+ hours, mode lock for easy shooting Supports up to 2GB SD, 100? depth glass lens waterhousing, 130g flyweight.
GoPro Helmet Hero Quick Release Video Camera
Manufacturer camera Description: The Helmet HERO 3 is the ultimate waterproof action camera, waterproof down to 30 meters * A 3 mega-pixel waterproof camera, taking still photos and with a built-in 16Mb internal memory, upgradeable to 2gb via SD Card (Optional) * It is also a waterproof video camera and includes various helmet mounting options. * Capacity to shoot 56 minutes of colour TV resolution video when using a 2gb card (512 x 384 pixels), also capturing sound. * Includes 2 Flat surface & curved surface stick on mounts, 1 head mount with strap, 1 x Triple-pivot side arm assembly, 1 x vented helmet strap base mount & straps, 2 x quick release buckles, 1 Pivot adjustment thumb screw & nut.
Ride safely!
Geek Footnote: of course a camera implanted in your head is the first step to joining The Borg.
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