Night ride video footage

[EL34]

I went out the other night to do some night riding/mountain bike filming with a buddy.

I gave him a couple SSC P7 LED lights for his bars and helmet to use and I had two Marwi P7's on the bars. I also had one of my early home brews P7's on my helmet.

I killed my main camera trying to screw it into a new housing I made that mounts to the bike head tube right above the front wheel. Ran a screw right into the circuit board and cracked it. Had to dig through a drawer to find an old security camera as a last minute replacement. I have a new camera on the way, cause the camera I used to shoot this video sucks.

It is a pretty cheap camera, not able to keep up with the low light levels around the edges very well. You will see that it looses the light around the edges and creates a tunnel effect sometimes. It also was not in focus so the picture is slightly blurry.

Another problem is that the P7's are so damn bright that they create super hot spots that the camera can't handle. It's a good thing to have while you are riding, but not filming.

Anywho, I will mount up the new camera and get some better footage next week.
These are windows media files. They should start streaming in windows media when you click on them.
Or you can right click on them and download them.

320 x 240 lower quality version
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/Video/P7Test1.wmv

640 x 480 higher quality version
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/Video/P7Test2.wmv

This was my first night ride this season and the Marwi P7's blew me away.
This night ride season is gonna be fun.

[Dynaflow]

 Wow, that was cool. Pretty darn bright! Cool effect with the camera mounted on the bike, I expected a Ewock to hop out or something like the speeders flying through the trees... 

Regards,

Dyna

[madison]

I was worried about those trees!
One of my favorite VH tunes and just when I am going though all my VH albums recently for a revisit.

How fast are you going?
It's really hard to tell that close to the ground.
Got a speedometer?

Looks like a blast!
I was totally into BMX when I was a kid.
Probably could still pull off a bunny hop if I tried.

[tubesornothing]

Looks like fun fast cross country riding there...  all we got is rocks and roots.

[EL34]

I hav filmed a bunch of bike stuff in the past.
Have tried the camera in 3 spots

Camera on the helmet - does not work well because you can't tell where the camera is actually pointing. It's hit and miss if you actually get good footage.
Camera on the handle bars - works ok, but the handle bars are always swinging back and forth in turns, etc
Camera on the front frame tube - This where that footage was shot. It seems to work great because the frame does not swivel like the handlebars. It also cool because you can see the front tire pop up now and then on the big hits.

Hard to say on the speed. Sometimes 20+ mph. Just a guess, don't have time to look at a speedo.
The terrain here is failrly evil, we were just on some fast stuff for this filming. Some of the stuff was rough, it's hard to see because I was on my Yeti 575 that has almost 6 inches of cushion, front and back. It rides as smooth as a couch.

[tubenit]

VERY cool!  That was a fun viewing and I bet would be a great ride on a good bike!

That light works ........... really lit stuff up.

with respect, Tubenti

[madison]

With my luck, if I tried something like that a rock would kick up from the other rider's back wheel and hit my camera.
I'd think a piece of plexi glass in front of it.
Heck a plexi case for water tight under water shoots.
I mean, that is, when you ride your bike under water.............

[2twang2]

Great stuff, Doug. Sure looks different from the view on my road bike.

[EL34]

I ride road bike also.
Off road is way more fun for me personally.

Got the new camera, should be able to get some better footage thursday night

[2twang2]

I'll be looking forward to the next moive.

I've been following the development of your LED lights. Making my old NiteRider light look pretty puny.

[EL34]

I'll be doing some filming Thursday night (tommorow)
weather permitting.

[EL34]

I got a new camera.
Only problem is that the merchant sent a black and white camera.
It has better resolution than the other crap camera and so I kept it.

Here's some more night ride video's from Thursday ride.
We had 6 guys on the ride

Night ride - Filmed on 10/22/2009

http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/Video/BlackMountain1.wmv

http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/Video/ThriftCove.wmv

http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/Video/GrassyRoad.wmv


I set up a page here with video links
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/Video.htm

[2twang2]

Doug, I love these! Watching them is kinda like a video game without controls.

Thanks for posting.
Pete

[EL34]

They are fun to watch
I have a bunch from 5 years ago also.
It's fun to look back at them once in a while.

Just think how fun it is sitting on the bike doing it! 

[2twang2]

I was trying to imagine that while watching them. I've never ridden trails, but it sure looks like you need good reflexes and bike handling skills. I road ride all year 'round and live in a hilly area near Portland, Oregon. In fact, my neighborhood is built on the slopes of an extinct volcano. So, ain't nothin' flat anywhere near here.

During the winter, going down some of the hills when they're wet and the slimy algae-like stuff coats the edges of the road can get intense at times. But what you guys are doing is a rush the whole time. I like it!

[EL34]

yes, it is a hoot
You have to have to develope your balance for off road riding.
It takes a while and you can loose it if you don't ride off road for a long time.