Cycling with camera equipment

Crazyhorse

Crazyhorse

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Hi

Just ordered a new bike with 2 x 36 litre panniers on the back plus 5 litre bar bag.

Now, I won't be doing mountain biking across really uneven country and riding over ramps and all that stuff, obviously. :D. It'll be more a case of driving somewhere with the bike in the back and probably riding round country parks, that sort of thing.

I was just wondering if anyone cycles and takes their equipment with them. and if so, how do they carry their equipment. Also, even in a padded camera bag, would the vibrations (oh err missus) cause any damage? ;). I have two Lowepro rucksack type camera bags.

Lisa
 
I wouldn't have thought vibrations would a problem, good enough padding should damped them out :)
 
Thanks for the replies, I was hoping one of the camera bags might fit in one of the panniers. I'll have to wait till the bike arrives to try it.

Lisa
 
I took my bike to rathlin island this year and had a set of panniers on,I used these to carry all my gear except for the camera which was in a small rucksack.I didn't want to chance the camera in the panniers in case I fell

Cathal
 
What are you intending to carry? All that kit in your profile :eek:

As cycling is largely about travelling light, I modified my kit accordingly. I just take a Canon 350D with kit lens which does most things, and is very light indeed. There's a space for it in my bike bag, but I prefer to carry it in a waist/bum bag.

It's easier to get at there, too, and room for an extra lens if I want one. Plus when I leave the bike, the bag comes with me.
 
I do a lot of mountainbiking with my camera. I have a small camelback to which I simply strap my camera in its bag. I only carry the body and 17-50mm lens. I've never had a problem yet - I am just careful not to crash or get it wet (plastic bag to keep things waterproof). I dont take it out in really bad weather though.

I know that a lot of photographers who shoot for mtb magazines either strap a small zoom bag to their chest by dangling it from carabiners that attach to the rucksack straps, or they use a bum bag type camera bag and are simply careful not to crash!

In my experience no damage seems to come to equipment unless you crash. Also, whilst on a bike the area of your body you are least likely to land on is your chest/stomach - hence the chest strapped bag is good (and you get quicker access to the bag).

I know ortlieb do a proper camera chest attatchment system for their waterproof camera bag - look on chainreactioncycles.com or maybe wiggle.co.uk for that.

I have to say I would NOT cycle with a camera in panniers because they are much more vulnerable to impact - i.e. if you fall off the bike WILL land on a pannier.

I look forward to seeing your biking photos if you post any up :)
 
AlexW said:
The fall from bike check list in order of priority:

1. did anyone see me?
2. is my bike/gear ok?
3. am I ok?

Sorry for the derail!
Click to expand...


:lol:So true.

Lisa
 
HoppyUK said:
What are you intending to carry? All that kit in your profile :eek:

As cycling is largely about travelling light, I modified my kit accordingly. I just take a Canon 350D with kit lens which does most things, and is very light indeed. There's a space for it in my bike bag, but I prefer to carry it in a waist/bum bag.

It's easier to get at there, too, and room for an extra lens if I want one. Plus when I leave the bike, the bag comes with me.
Click to expand...

Hi

I guess it depends where I'm going and what I'm expecting to see really. I use my 70-200 as my walkabout lens most of the time.

Lisa
 
ScotlandTheScare said:
I do a lot of mountainbiking with my camera. I have a small camelback to which I simply strap my camera in its bag. I only carry the body and 17-50mm lens. I've never had a problem yet - I am just careful not to crash or get it wet (plastic bag to keep things waterproof). I dont take it out in really bad weather though.

I know that a lot of photographers who shoot for mtb magazines either strap a small zoom bag to their chest by dangling it from carabiners that attach to the rucksack straps, or they use a bum bag type camera bag and are simply careful not to crash!

In my experience no damage seems to come to equipment unless you crash. Also, whilst on a bike the area of your body you are least likely to land on is your chest/stomach - hence the chest strapped bag is good (and you get quicker access to the bag).

I know ortlieb do a proper camera chest attatchment system for their waterproof camera bag - look on chainreactioncycles.com or maybe wiggle.co.uk for that.

I have to say I would NOT cycle with a camera in panniers because they are much more vulnerable to impact - i.e. if you fall off the bike WILL land on a pannier.

I look forward to seeing your biking photos if you post any up :)
Click to expand...
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Thanks, I had thought about if I crashed and the bike went over. If the camera (even in a padded bag) was in one of the panniers, it would almost certainly fall on the camera side. :)

Thanks for the suggestion on a camera chest attachment, bag. I'll have to think about that as I guess it would be more comfortable for a chap to wear if you get my drift.:thumbs:

Lisa
 
Hmmm - yes I suppose a chest bag may not be quite as comfy for you as it would be for me! Like I said - I just strap my camera to my backpack and havent had any real problems...
 
Hi

I just thought I'd give you an update. I changed the panniers for 44 litre ones, they are top of the range and waterproof, the inside of the panniers are rigid. They fit securely on the rack. I've also attached a small chain and padlock on each pannier and that attaches to the rack just to stop any opportunist thieves from pinching them.

I put my 40d with 70-200 attached in one of my padded camera bags. I made sure the camera and lens couldn't move by moving the padding around. The bag went in one of the panniers, it was a little bit of a squeeze but it fitted ok.

Had a great cycle ride and took some shots.

Lisa
 
Having taken a D50 around Europe on a motorbike, I had a similar concern to yourself. I ended up just taking a sheet of bubble wrap and an elastic band - every time I put the camera in the bag I wrapped it up, and the camera was absolutely fine.

Glad you found something that worked for you! :thumbs:
 
I do alot of cycling and off road motorcycling and to be honest i would only carry my camera in a backpack , I wouldn't carry it on anything directly attached to the bike as i've seen what the vibrations can do to tools etc that are carried on bike.

I'm sure theres people who've had success with this but it just wouldn't be for me
 
Unless you're on a totally smooth road I agree with the backpack thoughts. I've crashed quite hard a number of times with camera/camcorder equipment and it/I have luckily survived.
For cheap crash or waterproof protection the cliploc tuppaware boxes are superb with a bit of foam inside for paddings.
Alternatively if you have a camera backpack, if you want to ensure everythings watertight Alpkit do good dry bags which roll down to keep everything dry.
 
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