Helmet cam race videos

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I posted in another forum but wanted to share here. I have some helmet cam vids from this and last year as well as a "regular" vid.

The Bethel races listed below are all Cat 3-4. The 2005 Nutmeg State Games is a Cat 3 race. The "sprints" tape is just me.

Disclosure: I co-promote the Bethel Spring Series.

This year helmet cam vids:
2007 Ronde de Bethel, March 4, 2007, Bethel, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U10YfGT01JI)
2007 Ris Van Bethel, March 11, 2007, Bethel, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thl9HqTzBsg)

2006 sprint "workout":
2006 Summer Street Sprints, Stamford, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYVNScVS6bM)

2005 vid (not helmet cam):
2005 Bethel Spring Series Final, April 17, 2005, Bethel, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkgmQWyipQo)

Hope you enjoy, I'll be adding more as I convert and edit the tapes I have, mainly 2006 tapes. I'll be posting 2007 races as I do them.

Also, if anyone has music I can use, please let me know. Means not copyrighted or you own the copyright.

thx
cdr

Nice work. Please keep posting!

helmet cam video - 2006 Nutmeg State Games, New Britain, CT, Cat 3. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiMfxE14yaQ)

for your enjoyment,
cdr

I posted in another forum but wanted to share here. I have some helmet cam vids from this and last year as well as a "regular" vid.

The Bethel races listed below are all Cat 3-4. The 2005 Nutmeg State Games is a Cat 3 race. The "sprints" tape is just me.

Disclosure: I co-promote the Bethel Spring Series.

This year helmet cam vids:
2007 Ronde de Bethel, March 4, 2007, Bethel, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U10YfGT01JI)
2007 Ris Van Bethel, March 11, 2007, Bethel, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thl9HqTzBsg)

2006 sprint "workout":
2006 Summer Street Sprints, Stamford, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYVNScVS6bM)

2005 vid (not helmet cam):
2005 Bethel Spring Series Final, April 17, 2005, Bethel, CT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkgmQWyipQo)

Hope you enjoy, I'll be adding more as I convert and edit the tapes I have, mainly 2006 tapes. I'll be posting 2007 races as I do them.

Also, if anyone has music I can use, please let me know. Means not copyrighted or you own the copyright.

thx
cdr
Nice videos. Can you tell me what kind of camera you were using? I've been looking into doing this, there are cameras by Oregon scientific for sale that look like they'd be good fo it, but I don't know how the picture quality would be. GF

Nice videos. Can you tell me what kind of camera you were using? I've been looking into doing this, there are cameras by Oregon scientific for sale that look like they'd be good fo it, but I don't know how the picture quality would be. GFBasics:
1. Chasecam.com bullet camera (no they don't sponsor me but they are excellent to work with). This is on helmet. I got a 120 degree lens - shows more than the 92 degree "butt and ankle" lens.
2. Canon ZR100 camcorder. ZR200 would work too. Not sure of the new ones - I know ZR500, 600 don't work. The camcorder acts as a VCR, recording the image from the chasecam.
3. Misc things - mic, batterypack, cables. They all sit in a Camelbak bag on my back.

More details, pics:
helmet cam how-to (http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2007/02/how-to-helmet-cam.html)

hope this helps. I think these types of clips are great for showing non-racers what it's like to be in a race. You catch people talking, handing each other bottles or whatnot, giving little pushes, etc.

cdr

I like. I want to set up a cam system too, then I'll post up a few vids of all out sprints, jumping to match speeds with passing trucks, taking corners fast (in city traffic) and drafting an 18 wheeler up to highway speed, maybe some takes of the more interesting parts of a practice TT run.

-bikeguy

Those are great! The commentary made it fun. Perhaps you could add some of your stratagy/thinking as you were racing. I wondered why you allowed yourself to be so deep in the pack near the end of the race in one of the videos.

Thank you for making them available to us.

I wondered why you allowed yourself to be so deep in the pack near the end of the race in one of the videos.Typically I'm suffering quite a bit in the races. I'm not as fit aerobically as the others so I have to meter my efforts very carefully. In fact, the next clip (of the March 25th race, still to be finished) vividly portrays this.

It's very hard to move up and maintain position when I'm being buffeted by the wind. FYI on the Bethel course on the flat sections (headwind) we're typically holding 27-30 mph, on the slight downhill (after the right turn) we're doing 32-35 mph. The hill is 18-25 mph. The last laps are faster. To go into the wind at that point is difficult.

In the races I've posted for 2007 so far (Ris, Ronde) I was sick. So I felt terrible, the Ronde especially so. In the Ris, you'll notice some head shaking - I was busy trying to uncover my ears for the last two laps of the race. The headshaking is me wrenching my headcover stuff out of the way. This distracted me and let me fall behind a few spots.

The 2005 race I was more fit and it shows - I was near the front for virtually all the race and entered the last lap in the top 10. I think the ideal position at that course at the bell is about 10 back - enough shelter in front but close enough to respond to moves. And I figure I can pass a couple in the sprint.

On the tactics/commentary - it takes me a lot of time to put in the words in a synchronized manner with the video. I'm using a free movie editor (MS Movie Maker) and it has some limitations. A big one is if I change the length of the video bit, the overlays (commentary) does NOT move in sync. So I have to re-sync the whole clip. So I try and put in what I can.

thx
cdr

Last Sunday's race:
2007 Bethel CDP Gold Race, March 25, 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVw1Dom_wfo)

Last Sunday's race:
2007 Bethel CDP Gold Race, March 25, 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVw1Dom_wfo)
Great race footage. Sorry about your luck, as it looked like you really hit a wall near the end.

Summer Street sprints was funny. keep up the good and entertaining work!!

Summer Street sprints was funny. keep up the good and entertaining work!!

LMAO :D

Well, that sure was fun. Reminds me of the old days when I sued to ride in packs.

speaking of riding in packs...

2007 Criterium de Bethel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-teN9UWFMg)

By far the tightest riding I've caught on tape this year.

I didn't catch the crash that the photographer caught here (http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2007/Q2/photos/bethel067.html). I'm the fifth full helmet from the left, blue sleeves, and the black helmetcam is visible on my mostly white helmet. The crash happens on the next picture.

enjoy
cdr

helmet cam video - 2006 Nutmeg State Games, New Britain, CT, Cat 3. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiMfxE14yaQ)

for your enjoyment,
cdr

I see guys using disc wheels... are these USCF races? Is that mass start legal???

speaking of riding in packs...

2007 Criterium de Bethel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-teN9UWFMg)

By far the tightest riding I've caught on tape this year.

I didn't catch the crash that the photographer caught here (http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2007/Q2/photos/bethel067.html). I'm the fifth full helmet from the left, blue sleeves, and the black helmetcam is visible on my mostly white helmet. The crash happens on the next picture.

enjoy
cdr

Nice video, I did enjoy it very much! :D

I see guys using disc wheels... are these USCF races? Is that mass start legal???The disc wheel is actually a wheel cover - J-Disk - I think they're long gone. There was only one in the race and it was ridden by Paul Curley, a many time cyclocross national champion and a very strong rider - he actually won that race. He uses the wheel all the time (and usually a eyeglass mounted mirror). Disc wheels are mass start legal, same as the covers. The latter were made legal as allowing only discs discriminated against poorer racers.

hope this helps,
cdr

Disc wheels are mass start legal
Hmmm I did not know that... I wonder why no one uses them on smooth courses... especially considering a cheap disc (i.e. Renn, HED) is much cheaper than an 808 or something else really aero...

I can only speculate as I used to use a disc rear until I got cassette type rear wheels (my disc was a freewheel type hub wheel). I can't afford any of the current discs, or rather, I'd rather not have to afford replacing one after a crash in a mass start race.

There are disadvantages:
1. When leaned way over and wind hits you, you have to be prepared.
2. They are noisy and give your position (or pedaling action) away.
3. They ususally cost a lot.
4. Other wheels will be comparable in performance for less money.

Advantages:
1. They're a bit more aero (good for those that like to break away)
2. A lot of good discs are light.
3. They look cool. lol.

cdr

I really enjoy this Thanx, Eric