Road Cycling

Hopefully the more drivers get reported the less likely they'll be to drive like dicks.

My bar tape is basically peeling off around the hoods so I took it as an opportunity to tart the bike up. Pink bar tape has been ordered :D
 
fez said:
I think thats whats putting me off some of the other makers. Lack of image stabilisation or resolution. Our roads are junk and my eyeballs struggle at times to see straight so I don't reckon a non stabilised camera would do very well. What series of GoPro have you got? Main thing putting me off the GoPro is just the cost.



I had heard that they weren't very well stabilised but I just checked now and it suggests they are. I'll have to have a look at some footage from them. Anything that makes my life easier reporting and managing the footage will be welcome. I don't really want to do it at all but I've just had enough.

Tis digital IS, not mechanical.
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I've seen plenty of adverts for the Chilli Bullet Cams - anyone have any experience of them?
 
Junglist said:
Hopefully the more drivers get reported the less likely they'll be to drive like dicks.

My bar tape is basically peeling off around the hoods so I took it as an opportunity to tart the bike up. Pink bar tape has been ordered :D
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Nothing else is going to do it. Would be nice if they punished drivers properly when they drive dangerously but thats not going to happen any time soon so the best we can hope for is the threat of points and fines and the proliferation of cameras makes people scared enough not to drive badly.

Interestingly when I told my partner about our ride yesterday she said the abuse shouted at my mate would have annoyed her most. I think thats probably because she is terrified of riding on the road to the point she doesn't do it. Ever. So she doesn't understand what its like despite her fear. I couldn't care too much less if randoms shout abuse. Thats not going to kill me. The guy overtaking within 30cm of my bars going at 50mph will.
 
Trifid said:
Just an older Hero 7 which has first gen hypersmooth but does well on the bike.
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I think cycliq and other cameras the like should have better battery life than gopro...unless you are okay changing battery eery 1h.
might work for short cycles
 
fez said:
Nothing else is going to do it. Would be nice if they punished drivers properly when they drive dangerously but thats not going to happen any time soon so the best we can hope for is the threat of points and fines and the proliferation of cameras makes people scared enough not to drive badly.

Interestingly when I told my partner about our ride yesterday she said the abuse shouted at my mate would have annoyed her most. I think thats probably because she is terrified of riding on the road to the point she doesn't do it. Ever. So she doesn't understand what its like despite her fear. I couldn't care too much less if randoms shout abuse. Thats not going to kill me. The guy overtaking within 30cm of my bars going at 50mph will.
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my other half is scared of cycling in city...

me and some mates were shouted at few times in our times....one time one guy tried to grab one of ours bars while we were cycling...that would endup badly... that one time guys gopro wasn't switched on - he was going through a phase of recording all rides and making vids...

i agree, punishment should be harder.
 
I have this issue with my partner. I'm a confident road user. Always cycled on the road, motorbike/car licenses etc so it's never really bothered me but my partner isn't as confident (rather put she's more risk adverse than me) and it realy limits how many rides we can go on together that isn't just the Bristol - Bath cycle path. She's got a really nice road bike and I know she would love some of the local loops I go on but dodgy drivers getting close to her on occasion have totally put her off and I've no idea how to get her back on the roads.
 
bastic said:
i agree, punishment should be harder.
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The punishment should fit the crime but for some reason, being in control of a multi-tonne lump of metal moving at speed isn't considered much of a responsibility and the punishments for doing it badly are suitably soft. You have to be doing something really really really stupid and usually a number of things before the punishments start even starts to fit the crime. The sentences for killing cyclists and pedestrians through dangerous driving are just shockingly lenient.

Junglist said:
dodgy drivers getting close to her on occasion have totally put her off and I've no idea how to get her back on the roads.
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I don't think you can really and especially if they don't enjoy it because of the knobs. I think that perhaps people like your partner are the rational ones sometimes honestly.
 
As a more positive bit.. Saw the recent Cade Media video with regards to the new Van Rysel RCR bike. Looks nice but I'm more interested in the helmet and glasses. They seem like amazing value.

I may actually try out some of their bib shorts. Quite a bit cheaper than Assos.
 
fez said:
So guys, what cameras are you lot running on your bikes. I've had enough. Had probably 7 incidents on a 40km ride today with very light traffic and I'm ******* sick of it. I didn't want to bother with a camera but **** it, if drivers want to act like bellends I'm happy to record and report them.
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Gen 1 Garmin VIRB. Got it from IWOOT in December 2014 and it's my only Garmin device which has lasted more than a couple of years. Used for probably 80-90% of my rides since...!
www.dcrainmaker.com

Garmin VIRB & VIRB Elite In-Depth Review

When Garmin announced the VIRB action camera late this past summer, it represented further expansion into the outdoor market, due to it’s significant product tie-ins with other Garmin products. Most notable however, is that they’re squaring off directly against the
www.dcrainmaker.com www.dcrainmaker.com

But my VIRB is VERY old now, 16MP with no image stabilisation, but bombproof and get 5-6 hours out of a battery (I've got 3). Amazing device for the £72 it cost me back then - it was comparable features as the GoPro Hero 3, with longer battery life and cycling orientated (design & features) without reliance on an 'app' so seemed a good choice (I did wear it helmet mounted snowboarding - worked well but bulky and stuck out too much). When the Hero4 came out I was convinced I got the wrong device... But could never justify the costs involved to change to GoPro! Since then Garmin changed the design & rehashed it (VIRB Ultra 30 in 2017 was a great device) trying to compete, then dropped out of the 'sports camera' market sometime in 2018 (before kinda starting again with the Varia but it's been plagued with problems). GoPro since have really became the 'go to' camera for cycling (or any sports in general). Lots more hype about the Insta360 for cycling these days, but the fact you can get the older GoPro's still I'd go that route and the Hero11 Mini they did (or the original Session) would probably be my choice when it becomes time to replace my VIRB... But if I needed a rear cam I'd likely get the Cycliq - for the cost they're just a sensible option as I have no need for an action cam for anything else. If I did I'd go GoPro.

Good example of my footage - although that was 720p in the rain so not good, was more than enough to identify the numberplate - before the upload to YT decreased it further - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX-iTJBf2q8&t=31s

Here's one from a gloomy morning where my front light catches the plate:
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Fairly normal - me running it in 720p 'ECO' mode so my 64gb card lasts me a few weeks before it's full...
mTASwIl.png


That is me actually looking through footage to find a 'gloomy' looking plate. The brighter and more sunny the weather the even clearer they are. The lens is quite big on the VIRB and sticks out, so on a wet/misty day it gets covered in droplets and can't see a thing. But is also easy to wipe as I ride if I remember...

fez said:
I've not really heard anything but negative reviews of that unfortunately. Expensive and poor image quality. I have a Varia already as well.
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Yup, pretty much every review of the varia with a camera is poor. The footage I've seen is barely better than my 10+ year old 16MP VIRB! And they have less battery life! Who cares about extra functionality if they can't nail the fundamentals of what a bike mounted action camera should do - be running for long periods & enough clarity to pick up bad driving.

Trifid said:
I use a Gopro, the battery lasts 60-90 minutes and longer rides I take another battery to swap during my snack break. But inevitably, I only both to have it going irregularly. But I do see that Essex Police are taking poor driving around cyclists a lot more seriously lately.
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Have to say with some previous shocking passes - including two I submitted where I've been clipped/ran off the road & nothing got done (some of you may recall this one! It got featured on road.cc 'Close Pass Of The Day'). I kinda lost faith in things and didn't report anything for several years. Until on a whim I reported someone for a stupid pass during covid and got a response back saying they'd sent the driver on an awareness course. Since then I've submitted probably 5 or 6 and they've responded within a couple of days to every one and probably over half of them saying they'll be followed up with driver awareness!

With WMSP the submittal form/online portal has changed a couple of times (NextBase). It's actually been pretty good (& fairly quick) the last couple of iterations, but certainly the 'human' side of the process - responding to submittals has dramatically improved since covid times. Big props to 'Op Snap' and Sian Price on the Road Safety Team! :cool:
 
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Yeah. Maybe I should be more committed to recording and actually submitting evidence. I have only reported one video where the incident was so dangerous. Someone overtook me as I began slowing for a guy on a zebra crossing. Said car then pinches me towards a metal fence to get on the correct side of the road while the car behind him skids to a stop on the opposite side of the road. Guy on the zebra crossing was livid at them, I managed to only swear once and not get involved in any further altercations (something I try really hard to not escalate a situation, I don't want to be associated with Cycling Mikey).
 
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Sweet baby jesus Roady, that pass from the tractor should result in a conviction and I'm not talking points and a fine. That was nearly fatal for christs sake. Thats the sort of thing that the police should be hauled over the coals for if they ignore it.
 
Junglist said:
As a more positive bit.. Saw the recent Cade Media video with regards to the new Van Rysel RCR bike. Looks nice but I'm more interested in the helmet and glasses. They seem like amazing value.

I may actually try out some of their bib shorts. Quite a bit cheaper than Assos.
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I've been trying to get van rysel bike before it was announced they will be in the Tour...
there was no stock anywher for months...
amazing value those bikes. excellent spec for few k under other brands prices
now that i've got my S6 im not looking again so no idea if stok is finally in stores
 
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other bike that was on my list was Vitus Venon EVO-RS Ultegra Di2 Aero All-Road Bike
but as wiggle is goind down, its hard to get vitus bikes in uk.

there is 2xl one at 2999, with ultegra di2...

those bikes got great reviews and was on top of my list for a while
 
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Martynt74 said:
Not sure if anyone is in the market, but i seem to have lost my bike helmet (don't ask) went to look for the sizing of my old helmet on Wiggle and it's reduced to a fiver!

dhb R3.0 Road Helmet | Wiggle

Buy your dhb R3.0 Road Helmet from our Helmets range at Wiggle. £5.00. Free delivery available.
www.wiggle.com www.wiggle.com

Well worth it as a spare!
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Not got a helmet at all so was definitely in the market. Also got some new gloves, windproof this time at £15 to round the whole order to £20 for free delivery. My current dhb gloves are crap in cold weather.
 
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