Re: mounting videocamera on bike

Song

I actually made an device (out of 6061 Aluminum) for this very purpose for
an engineering class. With panning/azimuth adjustment, elastomer damping,
and tripod-style quick release. Admittedly it was 70 hours' worth of
machining work so that could be a barrier, but it works pretty darn well. I
can even reposition the camera to point at my face on-the-fly to give mobile
commentaries.

For the interim, you could possibly emulate my "MkI" model, which was simply
a piece of plywood to which I screwed a 1/4 - 20 bolt for the camera mount.
I also screwed an old cateye headlamp clip [taken off one of their older
lights] to the piece of plywood, and used the corresponding cateye handlebar
bracket [so that it could be taken off the camera].

Link to the MkI image below:

http://www.stanford.edu/~weisong/cmtmki.jpg

Bike tour films made using the MkI (scroll down):

http://www.stanford.edu/~weisong/vidpg1.html

The biggest problems with this early version were vibration and lack of
adjustability, which were fixed in the Al version. Smooth roads definitely
required for useable footage. I didn't have access to power tools when I
made this, so you can easily make some improvements.

Next project: to integrate shutter buttons into the brake hoods so I don't
have to take my hands off at 35mph to film.

song