Video cameras - what's the point

GilltownJoe · 17-05-2014 9:57pm #1

Having almost been knocked off my bike today due to someone messing with a go pro type camera on their bike, can someone explain to me the point of these cameras? Do people go home and watch the footage of their cycle afterwards?

carthoris · 17-05-2014 10:20pm

They probably spend hours making their "home videos" ... which consist of them sitting on a turbo.

Based on anecdotes they are probably recording their trip in case they encounter a problem or that they have a particularly eventful trip. I reckon the former is far more likely than the latter.

But we are not in the business of divining the motivation of random individuals so it may not be the reason in this case.

Lumen · 18-05-2014 6:37am

The purpose is to capture footage of incidents and accidents, hints and allegations.

The causing of such incidents and accidents just adds to the return on investment.

ratracer · 18-05-2014 7:39am

I'd be willing to bet that if the other cyclist had caused you to fall off, the footage of that cycle would have quickly disappeared or 'not recorded'.

CramCycle · 18-05-2014 7:43am

Lumen wrote: »

The causing of such incidents and accidents just adds to the return on investment.

Some definitely do, which is annoying as everyone who cops I have one asks am I one of those lunatics.

I have one for accidents, I see stupid sh1t every day but have better things to be doing than making YT videos or worse still instigating pointless confrontations.

CramCycle · 18-05-2014 7:44am

ratracer wrote: »

I'd be willing to bet that if the other cyclist had caused you to fall off, the footage of that cycle would have quickly disappeared or 'not recorded'.

Get it now, didn't properly read OP

GilltownJoe · 18-05-2014 9:37am

I thought the very same myself, if I had fallen off, at speed down a decent, then I have no doubt the guy would have said the camera was not on.

idiottje · 19-05-2014 9:23am

I got one as a present a while back, and thought I would record a cycle or two. Then I read the nasty crash thread on here, and started wearing it on the commute. I tend not to look at the recordings. If I am on a group cycle, I might take a few pics. The one thing I have noticed is that people who drive for a living react and treat me totally differently if I have not got it on. These people tend to be driving large blue and yellow vehicles which have the ability to carry many many people, or cars that have a sticker on the front doors, and sometimes a light type contraption on the roof.

I tend to take care when I am on the saddle. I don't think it was the camera at issue here. I think the problem exists between the saddle and the handle bars. In the last few days I have nearly been taken off by people drafting me. One gob****e today on the way into work nearly ran into me about 4 times. Would he do any of the work and take a go upfront? **** he would!

Anyway, that's why I wear mine. I usually delete the footage every couple of days unless I know there is an image I want to keep, like the flock of swans flying alongside me this morning.

CramCycle · 19-05-2014 9:27am

idiottje wrote: »

like the flock of swans flying alongside me this morning.

Who won? if they ran a red you win by default

idiottje · 19-05-2014 9:29am

CramCycle wrote: »

Who won? if they ran a red you win by default

They did. Had to slow down and stop for a gate on the Grand Canal Greenway. There was about 10 of them. Pretty awesome!

GilltownJoe · 19-05-2014 9:31am

idiottje wrote: »

I tend to take care when I am on the saddle. I don't think it was the camera at issue here. I think the problem exists between the saddle and the handle bars. In the last few days I have nearly been taken off by people drafting me. One gob****e today on the way into work nearly ran into me about 4 times. Would he do any of the work and take a go upfront? **** he would!

I understand the logic behind them for commuting. Not sure what you mean by the 'I don't think it was the camera at issue here.....problem is between the handle bars and the saddle'? Are you suggesting i was at fault for drafting.

In my case the guy was about 20m in front of me, his camera fell off so he stopped without warning or looking around and then turned 90 degress blocking the road, causing me to head for the ditch to avoid hitting him at 35kph.

idiottje · 19-05-2014 9:35am

GilltownJoe wrote: »

I understand the logic behind them for commuting. Not sure what you mean by the 'I don't think it was the camera at issue here.....problem is between the handle bars and the saddle'? Are you suggesting i was at fault for drafting.

In my case the guy was about 20m in front of me, his camera fell off so he stopped without warning or looking around and then turned 90 degress blocking the road, causing me to head for the ditch to avoid hitting him at 35kph.

I am blaming the guy with the camera for being an idiot. 20m seems like more than enough gap to slow down and react. The guys I have issue with are the lads who stay less than 1ft off your back wheel. Does not matter how much notice you give them, they are up your hole. Particularly when commuting.

cjt156 · 19-05-2014 9:36am

GilltownJoe wrote: »

Not sure what you mean by the 'I don't think it was the camera at issue here.....problem is between the handle bars and the saddle'?

Might mean the problem is the idiot connected to the camera, not the camera connected to the idiot? Or disconnected from, in your case.edit; beaten to it!
I can understand frustrated commuters resorting to cameras, but the youtube crusaders just seem to re-inforce the 'them and us' approach.

daragh_ · 19-05-2014 9:46am

This is the only reason to have a camera on your bike.

thebouldwhacker · 19-05-2014 9:59am

One of the giro lads had a camera on his helmet on the tt warm up, to watch on the bus pre race I'm guessing.

CramCycle · 19-05-2014 10:00am

cjt156 wrote: »

I can understand frustrated commuters resorting to cameras, but the youtube crusaders just seem to re-inforce the 'them and us' approach.

Which is a pity, I think its a useful tool. I have only had one issue since starting to use my camera, I have had more pleasant conversations with taxis, MCs, other cyclists then ever before asking questions, about the camera. The likes of Wolf Simpson really reinforce the idea that if you have a camera you are looking for trouble, the motoring forum dash cam thread have a load of his videos going ballistic over either non events or events that he creates but blames everyone else for.

Some YT videos I really enjoy eg the red bull tricks/stunts, Danny Askill etc. but the ones of a cyclist provoking another road user and then blaming the other road user for an issue they caused are stupid. Obviously this is not always the case and some are very informative, and show drivers certain things that are dangerous but no one should be putting up a video every day of incidents, if they are, then the common factor is them not other road users.

idiottje · 19-05-2014 11:27am

I think Mr Simpson is going to end up in an early grave. Either from stress or an altercation. Just watched a few of his videos, and while he is looking, he still goes into junctions at times I would not.

CramCycle · 19-05-2014 11:34am

idiottje wrote: »

Just watched a few of his videos, and while he is looking, he still goes into junctions at times I would not.

I think his road observation skills are woeful, he rarely looks behind, and the few times he does its to clarify how close he can cut it because he can hear a vehicle preparing for an overtake, constantly ridiculous behaviour and as soon as someone points it out to him he goes either more ballistic or he acts like a child. He complains that the Police are ignoring him but I really hope that they stop ignoring him and arrest him/have him sanctioned for being a danger to himself and others.

Video cameras - what's the point

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