spectastic

I'm considering getting one of those cycliq cameras. however, I don't really want to spend the coin, considering I already have a gopro session that's not seeing a whole lot of use lately. my plan is to record only the 30 minutes of going out of town and getting back into town, where the traffic are the heaviest and the probability of accidents are multiplied. what has y'all's experience been like when it comes to dealing with bad drivers?

UmneyDurak

They are everywhere. Some cowards might be more empowered to mess with cyclist in the middle of nowhere where there are less/no witnesses.

WhyFi

In addition to the above, I'm wary of any approach with more moving parts than necessary because a) more opportunity for me to mess up and 2) the higher likelihood that I'll decide that it's just not worth the trouble. If I were to do what you propose, I'd probably forget to turn on the camera on the way back in to town on the very first ride. I'd probably forget to turn it off on the way out during the second ride. I'd probably find myself with a dead battery shortly thereafter. Then I'd toss up my hands and buy a Cycliq.

Lemond1985

Having fewer witnesses around seems to embolden the Adam Henrys of the car vs. bike world, or that's been my experience anyway. For that reason, the most dangerous and obnoxious close passes, honking, etc. seem to happen in the middle of nowhere. Like all cowards, they're deathly afraid of getting caught and having to defend their anti-social acts to anyone who is in a position to possibly harm one hair on their precious little heads.

TheRef

There is a huge difference between safety and the idea of safety.
I'm not sure how a camera set up can make anyone safer. It could however record incidents that already happened and could be used as evidence but that's not really making it any safer.
One could argue that devices that give the impression of safety could lead people to take extra and unnecessary risks.
As for the camera(s) potential to thwart aggressive behaviors from drivers, well, I'm not sure they can see or even care a small camera is mounted when zooming by us at 50mph+.

Lemond1985

I don't think that was the question being asked, at least in this thread.

TheRef

It was.

Dan333SP

How long can a Session record? I'd imagine they can run at least 2 hours? Why not just mount that under your seat and leave it running?

noodle soup

The Cycliq light/camera canrecord 4-5 hours with the light on, and 7 hours without the light.

Litespud

I use a Cycliq on the rear - I bought it after a couple of determined dog chases - If a dog is going to bring me down, I want a record of what it looked like and from what property it emerged for when I sue the owners. I run the camera routinely, but haven't needed it (although I did catch a couple of riders touching wheels behind me on a group ride, with one rider & bike flying off into the undergrowth - no injuries ), but really it's more for the rear LED, which is excellent. I run the flashing LEDs every ride, day or dusk

cthenn

I actually disagree with your thought on where the video is most important. Out on lonely country roads is where you will want to have a camera. In town, there are people everywhere, and though the percent chance might technically go up due to the sheer number of vehicle interactions, getting smacked out in the middle of nowhere will likely have zero witnesses, or people around to help. Frankly, it might end up being the evidence your "next of kin" needs to bring justice. A morbid thought, but that's the reality.

I'm sure you just chose the wrong word, but cameras will in no way make your ride more "safe". The only way I could even think a camera would make you "safer" is if you had a giant sign that said "SMILE, YOU'RE ON CAMERA!", and that might only make a difference to a psychopath who would otherwise intentionally run you down. Accidents will not be prevented by a camera, by definition of the word "accident". So, consider what you really want out of the camera. If you mean "safety" in terms of after-the-fact information gathering of the driver who ran you down, yes, it's possible a camera would help, but by itself it's not going to prevent jack squat.

rumrunn6

Seattle Forrest

I'm sorry to hear that. My experience has been exactly the opposite. I've always mostly attributed it to traffic making people crazy.

Seattle Forrest

If it was known that most cyclists ride with cameras running, pepper would be more cautious around us. Unfortunately we're not even close to that and probably won't get there for a very long time.

caloso

I have a Fly12 and and older Fly6 that I will typically run on every ride, training, commuting, racing, or JRA. It isn't for me, it's for my survivors.

burnthesheep

You want the Sworks helmet with the crash notification app if you're after safety alone in a rural area.

Then, a camera just for proof of any incidents.

cthenn

My worst encounter was out on a country road. Redneck type, absolutely incensed that a bicyclist would be out there, on narrow roads with no bike lanes. Frankly, I get more nervous out on lonely roads when cars pass than I do when there are more "witnesses" around. Distracted drivers can be anywhere, so my feeling is the number of cars doesn't make much difference, other than perhaps an increased percentage of an incident just due to the number of vehicles. But mentally, I feel way better when there are more people around.

ghettocruiser

A gopro session (either 4 or 5) battery will give you 90-100 minutes in 1080p mode. I have them front and rear.

If you plug it into a cell phone power pack, even the mini ones, it will basically run until you fill up the memory card, which is 5-6 hours for 128gb.

It won't be waterproof plugged in since you need to leave the little side door open.

I don't recommend putting it in "loop record"... as the time I got hit, I was incapacitated to the point that I wouldn't have been able to turn it off, and it probably would have recorded over the accident.

I'm not going to comment on the "safety" aspects of it, other than to say I didn't used to use them, and wish I had more data about that last accident.

bbbean 

My experience is that bad drivers don't care if I'm using a camera. They do seem to care about my lane position, lights, choice of clothing, etc.

With that said, I do run a camera on most of my rides. I don't expect it will keep me safe, but it has provided some instructive video, and good race documentation.

Lemond1985

I use my camera to check my position on the bike. Set the camera down on a fence post or tree stump, and then ride past.

I figured out that my lower back was rounding out, and I was using my back muscles to pedal instead of my glutes. So I have been doing stretching to increase hip flexibility, and making a conscious effort to pedal with my back as straight as I can get it, using glutes instead of my back. The back still gets rounded when I get tired on long climbs, but I have pretty much eliminated having a sore back, post-ride.

Now to work on bending my elbows and getting a little lower, whilst keeping the back straight.

drewguy

This. It's a collective action problem. Your having a camera won't make you safer at all (unless maybe you add a sign saying "video recording in progress", which some might take as a dare). Overall, if it became clear every cyclist had a camera (or nearly all did) then there would be a beneficial effect for everyone.

Lemond1985

Every cyclist already has a phone (even 5 y/o kids have their own phones these days) so that's a good start.

Sy Reene

Can someone explain the difference between the Fly6 and Fly12? Obviously one is sold as front facing and the other rear, but what's the $100 difference covering? Any reason a Fly6 can't be used out front with lights off? is there a way to sync the 2 easily in playback.. eg. side-by-side front rear exactly timed to each other?

maartendc

I have to agree with this.

My approach to safety on the bike is to be as visible as possible (high viz helmet, good rear light always on, good quality helmet). Since most accidents seem to occur when drivers "didn't see you", being seen is key for safety. My rear (and front) blinker is so bright that it would catch the attention of even the most inattentive drivers (I hope).

Other than that, yeah, cameras are good for after the fact I guess, but I tend to focus on prevention.

furiousferret

I was going to post this same thing; its so my wife gets a nice payout. I also believe there is a high likely hood that the memory card will somehow disappear in the evidence locker.