Cyclist down on my commute home

[PhilDawson8270]

Surely the YouTube nobbers all already have cameras?

Plenty more nobbers without cameras in the comments section though.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I've got a dashcam in the car and am considering one for the 'bent too. Very useful tools in the event of a mishap.

 

[Slick]

I must admit, I've thought about it myself. This just strengthens the case for us all.

 

[dim]

Fly 6 on the back, and a GoPro mounted on your helmet ....

off topic .... another good gadget is the Garmin Varia Radar unit .... I've had mine from earlier this month and have only done a few rides with it ....

Brilliant if you cycle on quiet B roads as you can take a more central position on quiet roads and concentrate about cycling fast without being very concerned about whats coming from behind.... mine has never missed a beat (detects cars 150 meters away and gives you a beep on your garmin .... a little dot appears on the garmin at the bottom r/h side, and as the car approaches, the dot moves up on your garmin. Once the dot gets to the top of the screen, the car is next to you ...

If there are several cars, there are several dots (each one depicting a car) .... if you see a red dot, it means that a car is approaching at rapid speed (over the speed limit)

well worth the money IMHO and I'm well pleased ... not only is it good for safety, it also takes away the stress and makes cycling more enjoyable

 

[steve292]

Just as an aside GC, How do you find the fly12 ? would you buy another?
I ask because i'm thinking of one, but its a big outlay....

 

[EasyPeez]

Without quibble they have replaced the bike and agreed an injury settlement of over £2k

Blimey, that was quick. So video evidence = instant settlement generally?

 

[vickster]

I expect more that the injuries were deemed healed. I'm at nearly 3 years, no dispute from driver. Just I've not recovered and organising to see specialist experts takes a ridiculous amount of time at least for me. I've been waiting 9 months to see the shoulder guy! It'll likely now be Feb earliest!!

 

[mjr]

Brilliant if you cycle on quiet B roads as you can take a more central position on quiet roads and concentrate about cycling fast without being very concerned about whats coming from behind....

Nope, don't get it: shouldn't you take a more central position anyway if that's the safest? It's up to the overtaker to pull out where it's safe, not the cyclist to dive towards the gutter.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Just as an aside GC, How do you find the fly12 ? would you buy another?
I ask because i'm thinking of one, but its a big outlay....

It's good at what it does but I think it's greatly overpriced - I bought mine when it was still on Kickstarter at about half its current cost. I also have the Fly6 which currently sells for around £100. I can't see why they didn't stick with that format and put a white LED in it to make it a front light and sell it for the same price. If I didn't already have a Fly12, I'd buy a 6 and tape over the LEDs and mount it on my bars.

Pros:
Good daylight footage
Long lasting battery, 10hr as camera only
Recording can be reviewed via smartphone
Waterproof
Solid build
Powerful light ( I never use it, I have a hub dynamo but it would be a useful backup)
Solid mounting gives rock steady footage

Cons:
Bulky
Night time footage isn't great, but workable
Very expensive

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Blimey, that was quick. So video evidence = instant settlement generally?

Don't know but I'd doubt it. I suspect perhaps his injuries were agreed as being short term and likely to heal fully so there was no point in dragging things out. Maybe the video sealed the deal with regard to any dispute as to liability being fully that of their client.

 

[dim]

Nope, don't get it: shouldn't you take a more central position anyway if that's the safest? It's up to the overtaker to pull out where it's safe, not the cyclist to dive towards the gutter.

maybe one should? ....

I've only recently got a proper satnav, so I'm now exploring areas where I've never been before. I'm choosing areas with good hills but the flipside is that if there are steep uphills, there will be steep downhills here in Cambridge (I am exploring areas South of Cambridge)

I'm nervous when I'm cycling at speed (especially when I'm on a road that I've never been on before, and it has steep downhill and bends), as I'm never sure what's around the next bend

If a car is approaching at speed from the rear, I prefer to move to the left and let him pass (even if there are no cars approaching from the other side)...

I use to ride motorcycles in Johannesburg during peak hour traffic for many years (it's hectic there) , and I'm very careful when I ride.

In the city (Cambridge), where traffic is a lot slower, I take a more aggressive/central position when it's needed (like at traffic circles)

So, the Garmin radar unit has made it a bit more pleasurable as I have 'extra' eyes behind me.

 

[HLaB]

My mate has my camera (leant it to him for London - Paris and he still has it I may ask for it back. Not that I want it to catch anything but I've been right hooked a few times when I use the cycle traffic lights at this junction or to be precise the junction on the left just after the spire. When I use the lights by the time I get the junction there's been a gap in traffic and drivers who have been sitting in the queue go for it on the wrong side of the road. Whereas when I take the junction in two stages, I am there just after their opposing left turn which is blind to them so they can't see a gap and I proceed safely.

 

[steve292]

It's good at what it does but I think it's greatly overpriced - I bought mine when it was still on Kickstarter at about half its current cost. I also have the Fly6 which currently sells for around £100. I can't see why they didn't stick with that format and put a white LED in it to make it a front light and sell it for the same price. If I didn't already have a Fly12, I'd buy a 6 and tape over the LEDs and mount it on my bars.

Pros:
Good daylight footage
Long lasting battery, 10hr as camera only
Recording can be reviewed via smartphone
Waterproof
Solid build
Powerful light ( I never use it, I have a hub dynamo but it would be a useful backup)
Solid mounting gives rock steady footage

Cons:
Bulky
Night time footage isn't great, but workable
Very expensive

Thanks for the info

 

[Smokin Joe]

I'm not greatly in favour of more and more gadgets in cars, but I do think front and rear cameras should be mandatory on all new vehicles and required to be kept in working condition at all times, same as lights have to be. It would cost next to nothing to supply and fit them at point of manufacture (My aftermarket one was just over thirty quid, full HD and night vision) and they would not only prove a drivers innocence after a prang but would also prevent the guilty party from trying to wriggle out of blame.

 

[Tin Pot]

Well done.

I'm thinking of getting a GoPro for this and for the car.

Don't want to attach it to a helmet though.

Mostly it's because I've seen people come close to murdering my mates, rather than myself.