Mountain biking with camera

[Karlos]

I've been into photography a little while now and have got to the point where I'd like to take a camera out with me when I'm out mountain biking, as I keep missing some great opportunities and fantastic scenery.

Currently the only camera I own is a D3000, I know it's not the most expensive camera in the world but I'm still a bit reluctant to bash it about, so I'm not opposed to using a compact or even a film camera if one can be had for not a lot of money and which fits the bill.

I really don't want to take loads of kit with me, so it would literally be just a camera and a lens cloth, no extra filters or flashes etc, and ideally I'd want to be able to get at the camera fairly quickly, which sort of rules out putting it in my backpack (not that it would fit anyway).

any thoughts / suggestions ??

 

[vchaney]

I use a tamrac top loading bag strapped to my chest to hold my Olympus E3 with 12-60 (so bigger than your D3000) while out biking. It's really quick to get out and I usually only need to be 30 seconds ahead to get pics of people riding by. Obviously longer if I want to set up a flash lit shot (I carry a flash, stand and skyports in my pack).

I use this one: Tamrac 5515 but I also have a smaller one like this: Tamrac 5514

I then use 2 Jacobs neoprene straps crossed across my back to hold it in place. I guess any pair of bag straps will do although the neoprene allows just a little bit of extra movement without bouncing around. It keeps it all independent of my camelbak and the whole lot is out of the way whilst riding. I take ride like this on the more technical Lakes routes (e.g. Borrowdale Bash). I've had a few offs and not caused any damage to the camera. It's very rare you land flat on your chest anyway!

Example here:

Edit: not the most useful picture as it's all black! It's the the only one I've got.

 

[Matt-P]

I do the same with a Loewpro TLZ1 and a D300 when mountain walking or mountain biking, I find if I have the camera anywhere else it just doesn't get used as much as it should

 

[grum]

I take out my GF1 with the 20mm pancake

Fits nicely in this lens case

And the velcro strapping on the back attaches it on to the chest strap on my rucksack, sits in the same kind of place as vchaney's.

 

[HuntMike]

Hi, when it's sunny I've been out on the bike with the camera and not even bothered with the bag. I've got one of the quick straps and it allows me to stop and get a photo without any hassle at all!

FWIW I'm using a D60 with the 35mm f1.8 lens which has a metal mount and is lighter than the kit lens too.

 

[zoidberg]

I take out my GF1 with the 20mm pancake

Fits nicely in this lens case

And the velcro strapping on the back attaches it on to the chest strap on my rucksack, sits in the same kind of place as vchaney's.

Which lens case is that one?

 

[grum]

lowepro 1N I think

I do have another one too with a waterproof cover - can't remember which one of these lowepro apex ones it is

http://www.mymemory.co.uk/Camera-Pouches/Lowepro/Lowepro-Apex-20AW-Camera-Case---Black

 

[Karlos]

I use this one: Tamrac 5515 but I also have a smaller one like this: Tamrac 5514

I then use 2 Jacobs neoprene straps crossed across my back to hold it in place. I guess any pair of bag straps will do although the neoprene allows just a little bit of extra movement without bouncing around. It keeps it all independent of my camelbak and the whole lot is out of the way whilst riding. I take ride like this on the more technical Lakes routes (e.g. Borrowdale Bash). I've had a few offs and not caused any damage to the camera. It's very rare you land flat on your chest anyway!

That kind of setup certainly seems to be the favoured method, and in your picture it looks like its not in the way too much.
The Neoprene straps, are they just regular camera straps or a special chest harness type of thing?
I'm off to do the Borrowdale Bash myself next weekend, which is partly why I wanted to get it all sorted beforehand.

I do the same with a Loewpro TLZ1 and a D300 when mountain walking or mountain biking, I find if I have the camera anywhere else it just doesn't get used as much as it should

Is that this one? it's only £12.99 at WE, might buy that later, if I can sort out some extra straps to secure it.

I take out my GF1 with the 20mm pancake.

The GF1 looks perfect for biking, quite a bit out of my price range at the moment though

Hi, when it's sunny I've been out on the bike with the camera and not even bothered with the bag. I've got one of the quick straps and it allows me to stop and get a photo without any hassle at all!

I wouldn't trust myself with it like that, plus I'd probably just sweat all over the camera

 

[RSMarco]

One of the reasons I just sold my D300s for a GF1.