Best products from r/CyclistsWithCameras

Although I agree with everything you're saying, I would say traveling on the shoulder would be safer in some areas as long as you had a hazard light going behind you that is classified for being able to be visible through the sun.

The Fly6(ce) is like this, and I think there are areas that the shoulder is simply the only option. Take i-80 for example, that is an interstate that allows bicycles on certain sections like going through Nebraska and the shoulder would be the only place you could ride. But I could only see that being viable with a light like the one I described before.

Ultimately it really should be up to the cyclist who knows the area better to judge this, since there are times where even I have to take the shoulder over the roadway due to the area I'm in and it really depends on the speed I'm going.

edit: If anyone reading this already has a rear camera highly recommend this light. Can see the person from about a half a mile away in the daytime so the driver knows to stay within those lines.

There's a lot of different options out there. Like with many things, the more money you spend, the better quality video you'll (likely) get.

The three main features to consider are video quality (e.g. 1080p, 4k, etc), frames per sec (e.g. 30fps, 60fps, 120fps, etc), and stabilization (electronic vs. software). GoPro and Garmin are competing for a lot of the same consumers. Many of their recent cameras have built-in software stabilization support and the Hero 7 easily has the best stabilization available in an action camera (without using a gimbal) for the price point. That'll run you around $350.

I wouldn't invest in anything older than a Hero 5 (which can be unlocked to support the same features of the Hero 5 Black). For a rear camera, the Cycliq brand light/camera combo are well-known in the cycling community. As someone who rides in rain and snow, I've found that they're not very resilient to the elements. For the cost, I can't say good things about them.

The holy grail of cycling cameras is the Garmin VIRB 360. It's the camera I have and I might be slightly biased. It is a $700 action camera with two 200° fisheye lenses and an onboard "computer" that automatically stitches the videos together real-time. Smartphone and PC software automatically stabilizes the video using sensor data from built-in accelerometers and compass. It's waterproof, shockproof and will give you the biggest bang for your buck. At the same time, the videos it records are huge. The VIRB Edit software used to cut clips from raw 360° video has a minimum PC specifications and there might be a slight learning curve in figuring out how the software works and efficient workflows. It's not a camera for everyone.

From experience, I'd be wary of buying obvious Chinese knockoff action cameras. While they work, the two major problems I have with them is that the video isn't stabilized at all and they typically require being kept in a bulk, translucent waterproof mount. Another thing to consider is mounts. I don't see many people with two cameras on their helmet and different helmets have different mount points. I would caution against using adhesive mounts. They can break off during high impacts, which makes finding the camera a matter of luck. There are strap mounts that are much more reliable, but not as easy to mount on a helmet.

1. Airzound. It mounts to your bars, a bottle holds the compressed air and goes in your wsterbottle cage. 115db horn. Can be purchased many places, but here is where I got it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ACAMJC/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_awdo_wfksDb98VW2V7
   
   
2. Yes, often the framerates, passing speeds, angle, water drops on the lense, etc can render the few frames of the plate being visible as unreadable. Letters can be harder to define after the fact. Usually in all the whole plate, but ibwas trying to read the trucks plate before the trailer passed. I was also gassed as I had just been sprinting. Note the speedometer... this is added afterwards using GPS data.
   Learn your phonetic alphabet as well. I'll typically call it out quick then phonetically "A, B, C; 1, 2, 3, 4... Alpha - Bravo - Charlie".
   
   
3. Yes, rear camera tells more of the story. How close was the car, how fast did they come up on you, how close were they, how long were they behind you?
   By mounting it rear facing off of your bars at an angle like mine is, it also shows perspective of close passes. It captures the rider (me), my bike, road position and the overtaking vehicles pisiton. Sometimes it can also capture the drivers face, but usually angle/glare dont yield good results on this.
   I like to have my 7 on my helmet so that if I look at someone, it looks where I do (like when I stopped to try to educate this gentleman.)
   
   
4. You didn't ask, but hey... I always try to control my temper and be respectful. My purpose is to attempt to educate the driver as to why I was riding like I was, and give some insight. Usually that fails, but ocassionslly I get through to someone. That makes it worth it.

Ah, good question. I use 3M 7000 series Half-face Respirator, it's the top of the line model and is only about ~$30 US with filters if you get a good package deal.


I've used a few different filters and there are notable differences and exactly what you would expect. The big bulky OV/P95 Cartridges impact breathing the most, the 3M 2297 P100 filters are a significant improvement in ease of breathing, and lastly the 3M Advanced 2291 P100 filters are the least impactful as their are purposely designed for ease of breathing. I started with them in that order and have transitioned to the 2291 filters, a vast improvement and likely more than adequate for pollution considerations. The OV/P95 Cartridges are overkill and are what professional painters and chemists use, plus they're more expensive.


Yes, you will get lots of condensation buildup, but I don't find that to be too problematic.

Here's what I put in mine!

A pair of wool socks, a package of tissues, a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a package of floss, a package of feminine pads, a tube of hand sanitizer, a package of wet wipes, and a protein-rich energy bar.

These are the socks I include, because they're durable and cheap - coincidentally, the socks I wear every day.

I don't bother with making male and female packages because pads are useful for other things - they can be used as cleaning rags, for example.

Yi action camera - very good go pro style camera does 1080/60 and has phone app for config, downloading clips, etc. Can do 2k/30 but I think that’s just upscaled 1080 so I keep it on 1080/60.

sample footage I discovered after posting this that iMovie wasn’t exporting at 60fps so this clip is only 30fps but you get the idea.

Great cam, cheap batteries, inexpensive for sure. Granted it’s the only action camera I’ve used but I’ve got no complaints.