front camera suggestions?
06-08-21, 05:21 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
front camera suggestions?
Does anyone have any suggestions for a front facing camera? either on the handlebars or my helmet? I have been using a Veho Muvi on my helmet, but it seems kind of bulky . I was considering the fly 12 for the handlebars, but it's a little pricey (and I need a new computer so cost is a factor). ANy suggestions? Thanks
06-08-21, 09:34 PM
#2
Senior Member
Look at the Drift Ghost cameras. They are a favorite of motorcycle riders. I use the Ghost XL.
Likes For texbiker:
06-09-21, 05:48 AM
#3
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lutz, FL
Posts: 416
Bikes: 2014 Fuji Traverse 1.3, 2020 Electra Cruiser 1, 1995 Giant CFM-4
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 124 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times
in
36 Posts
Those Ghost cameras look good. I was checking out the site and mounts. Does anyone know if there are after market mounts out there? Looking for something minimal to mount to my handlebars or to my FSA Control Center mount:
https://www.amazon.com/FSA-Control-C.../dp/B006TX9CL0
The one Ghost offers does look good though, just looking for options.
https://www.amazon.com/FSA-Control-C.../dp/B006TX9CL0
The one Ghost offers does look good though, just looking for options.
06-09-21, 09:56 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Posts: 14,258
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4244 Post(s)
Liked 1,346 Times
in
934 Posts
Those Ghost cameras look good. I was checking out the site and mounts. Does anyone know if there are after market mounts out there? Looking for something minimal to mount to my handlebars or to my FSA Control Center mount:
https://www.amazon.com/FSA-Control-C.../dp/B006TX9CL0
The one Ghost offers does look good though, just looking for options.
https://www.amazon.com/FSA-Control-C.../dp/B006TX9CL0
The one Ghost offers does look good though, just looking for options.
Likes For njkayaker:
06-09-21, 11:00 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
looks like stuff is available off the shelf, including quick release mounts
Review: Drift Innovation Ghost HD Camera
I'm a big fan of q/r mounts, so I can move my cameras, to different locations while I ride
Review: Drift Innovation Ghost HD Camera
I'm a big fan of q/r mounts, so I can move my cameras, to different locations while I ride
06-10-21, 12:39 AM
#7
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: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Ditto, the Drift Ghost cameras. I've used a pair of Ghost X with the 5 hour batteries for almost two years. They're an outstanding value.
Likes For canklecat:
06-10-21, 02:08 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,694
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 815 Post(s)
Liked 1,647 Times
in
776 Posts
I just outfitted my bike with two GoPro Hero 8 cameras, one mounted looking forward, the other one looks rearward. The rear camera (more important in my opinion, since that is usually the direction cars are approaching from) is being powered by an external Anker power supply, so there's enough power for an entire ride. Front one taps off the USB port on my Garmin external power pack. Both have 256MB SD cards good for over 7 hours of recording.
One feature I like is the voice control. I can hop on the bike, say "GoPro, turn on" and both turn on. Then I can tell them to start or stop recording, highlight a particular spot in the recording to make it easy to find on playback, or tell them to shut off.
One feature I like is the voice control. I can hop on the bike, say "GoPro, turn on" and both turn on. Then I can tell them to start or stop recording, highlight a particular spot in the recording to make it easy to find on playback, or tell them to shut off.
06-14-21, 11:43 PM
#9
Junior Member
I have been using an DJI Osmo action camera, and a K-edge gopro handlebar mount. Works GREAT. I threw together this video of one of my first rides of the season mounted to my Gravel bike.
06-17-21, 08:33 PM
#10
Senior Member
Whatever you decide, double-check these things:
Long lasting battery in temperatures from -10C to 55C at a video resolution that can read licence plates.Spare batteries and a separate battery charger.
Date and timestamp remain as you change batteries.
Each time you start a new ride, check that the camera's timestamp is correct.
The following don't exist yet but you might as well ask in case there are good solutions.
Good internal microphone that can pick up a conversation 10ft away while in its waterproof case.
Audio recording that stays in synch with the video recording.
Waterproof case that gives you access to the micro usb ports.
Long lasting battery in temperatures from -10C to 55C at a video resolution that can read licence plates.Spare batteries and a separate battery charger.
Date and timestamp remain as you change batteries.
Each time you start a new ride, check that the camera's timestamp is correct.
The following don't exist yet but you might as well ask in case there are good solutions.
Good internal microphone that can pick up a conversation 10ft away while in its waterproof case.
Audio recording that stays in synch with the video recording.
Waterproof case that gives you access to the micro usb ports.
06-18-21, 12:28 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
06-19-21, 12:28 AM
#12
Junior Member
Agree'd, I was very happy when I saw how smooth it was. I plan on taking it through some single track soon through a rock field to see how it does there lol
Likes For Noahma:
06-24-21, 12:46 AM
#14
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: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
The Drift cameras take care of almost every issue other than image stabilization, which isn't absolutely essential with a camera mounted on the bike with a reasonably sturdy mount. But it could use image stabilization for helmet mounting. I tend to be a bit bobble-headed due to old neck injuries, so my helmet mounted videos are very shaky without stabilization.
06-25-21, 08:10 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
my Polaroids have a similar form factor incl. a similar retaining ring for the lens cover. recently tortured one, more than usual, & got some condensation fogging, which came & went depending on temperature. was able to remove the cover, finding a tiny puddle inside the edge of the foam & wiped it away & aired it out. would be nice to replace a cpl of those lens covers but can't find any. would help if I didn't torture then & scratch them. but the cams are cheap enough to just keep buying used ones. it was nice to know a tiny bit of leakage wasn't the end of the camera. never had any trouble w/ the back cover. it was a good excuse to buy some tiny precision screw drivers 
...
...
07-05-21, 05:33 AM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I got the Ghost drift XL. I waited for prime day on Amazon. Paid $109. I purchased the helmet mount, but wound up taking off and using just the part that the camera attaches to. I took that and put the strap that I was using with my Veho Muvi and mounted it to my helmet. I can't remember where I got the strap, but it's just one continuous strap with Velcro. It's very simple and holds it tight enough.
Last edited by signalnc; 07-05-21 at 05:42 AM.
07-06-21, 09:18 AM
#17
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,498
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7345 Post(s)
Liked 2,452 Times
in
1,430 Posts
Please let us know how you end up using it and how it works out.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
07-15-21, 06:37 PM
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Did you check out Cycliq's cameras? Made as a dashcam for bikes. Be sure to figure out a charging solution as well while riding. Video is a quite power-consuming!
07-15-21, 07:56 PM
#19
Old enough, hmmm?
I bought one of the cheap GoPro knock off's to learn a few things.
What I learned to this point:
EIS will be very important on a bike — helmet, chest or handlebar mount! (Nah the cheap knock off doesn't have it)
Smaller and lighter is better; that is directly related to how big the battery can be.
The small Action Cam batteries can handle 90 minutes (1050maH) the slightly larger 1350maH another 30 minutes? Charging times seem to equal running times.
Having enough batteries and micro sd cards along could solve that problem
I guess I'll find out which settings will give best battery life.
cheers
HJ
P.S. A slightly more expensive cam with more features should arrive on Saturday. More learning coming!
What I learned to this point:
EIS will be very important on a bike — helmet, chest or handlebar mount! (Nah the cheap knock off doesn't have it)
Smaller and lighter is better; that is directly related to how big the battery can be.
The small Action Cam batteries can handle 90 minutes (1050maH) the slightly larger 1350maH another 30 minutes? Charging times seem to equal running times.
Having enough batteries and micro sd cards along could solve that problem
I guess I'll find out which settings will give best battery life.
cheers
HJ
P.S. A slightly more expensive cam with more features should arrive on Saturday. More learning coming!
07-15-21, 07:58 PM
#20
Old enough, hmmm?
07-15-21, 08:25 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Jose
Posts: 1,025
Bikes: Blur / Ibis Hakka MX / team machince alr2 / topstone 1
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 426 Post(s)
Liked 274 Times
in
201 Posts
07-16-21, 07:59 AM
#22
Old enough, hmmm?
Didn't think of that .... yet. Since I have one I'll give that a whirl. Thanks!
07-16-21, 11:34 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Jose
Posts: 1,025
Bikes: Blur / Ibis Hakka MX / team machince alr2 / topstone 1
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 426 Post(s)
Liked 274 Times
in
201 Posts
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
07-16-21, 02:13 PM
#24
Old enough, hmmm?
Well.....
Since I have a few phone holders not being employed (freebies when I bought other stuff) I came up with another arrangement.
From left to right
Actuator for the e-horn/bell, speaker for the horn, power bank mounted to frame, CamPark action cam, iGS50E computer, LED front light used in strobe mode.
I figure the 10000 mAh power bank probably lasts for 9+ hours. Now the only problem will be to remember to charge all those gizmos and ...... shut them down after the ride.
On the e-horn, riding on our Rail Trail — out and back is 52km — I used to call "Passing on your left", but some don't know left from right. Next I bought a very loud bell, but that wasn't loud enough for "some"; so next the e-horn. Only the "truly out to lunch" don't get the message and get one of my acerbic quips.
Since I have a few phone holders not being employed (freebies when I bought other stuff) I came up with another arrangement.
From left to right
Actuator for the e-horn/bell, speaker for the horn, power bank mounted to frame, CamPark action cam, iGS50E computer, LED front light used in strobe mode.
I figure the 10000 mAh power bank probably lasts for 9+ hours. Now the only problem will be to remember to charge all those gizmos and ...... shut them down after the ride.
On the e-horn, riding on our Rail Trail — out and back is 52km — I used to call "Passing on your left", but some don't know left from right. Next I bought a very loud bell, but that wasn't loud enough for "some"; so next the e-horn. Only the "truly out to lunch" don't get the message and get one of my acerbic quips.
