About finding a reliable way to mount a camera on your bike -- about
ten years ago, I was talking about a similar problem in one of my adult
classes. One of the students worked in the university's welding shop.
He came into the next class with a ... contraption.
He had welded several 1/4x20 screws onto a vise grips.
I've used the thing several times a year ever since. I've modified his
work only slightly by gluing felt pads to the inside of the teeth. This
lets me attach it to furniture and painted poles. I use it mostly when
I need a fill flash in an odd spot, but I've used it to hold a body
with a 200 mm lens. (I rig up a safety strap when I do that.)
You'll want to have it professionally welded, be careful about where
you attach it, and to make sure it's secure enough to hold the weight
of your 20x24 EbOny camera.... ;-)
Barry Kleider
Ryuji Suzuki wrote:
I agree- I did't have a bike when I traveled to Paris, London, Berlin
and other cities but next time I'll fly with my bike...
As a photographic tool, I think my bike was a much better place to spend
money than an expensive lens or camera, if I could afford only one. In
Boston, one can bring folding bike in all subway, bus and commuter rail
lines, regardless of rush hours, if it's folded. That includes Green
Line, which prohibits regular bicycles (but generally Green Line is
rarely faster than bicycle anyway).
One problem I have had so far is lack of an easy and reliable way to
carry a monopod or tripod. I'm still thinking about a way to stick in a
1/4" screw and a small ballhead to seatpost or somewhere on the bike...
Equipment is another issue... Ideally I want a well padded Pelican case
that can securely mount on the rear rack... But my current padded and
insulated rear rack holds 4 cans of Guiness or Belhaven (sorry neither
is from England) most of the time and cameras go into a Lowepro backpack
or a small handlebar bag.
On Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:38:28 +0100, "Peter Marshall"
<petermarshall@cix.co.uk> said:
Hi Ryuji,
If you ever come to London it's the best way to get around in the centre
here too, especially in the rush hour. If I'm not in a hurry and feeling
lazy I can take my Brompton on the underground too. I don't think I've
ever taken my 6x12 camera out without the bike as the front carrier is
great to carry this and other photo gear. Its particularly handy for
stopping on bridges and overpasses etc which often don't allow
pedestrians, but I find I can just pull up the bike and photograph
without problems (probably I've moved on before the traffic police
bother with me.) I bought the bike as a photographic accessory so this
is perhaps not entirely off-topic.
You can take it on all the trains here, although theoretically it should
have a cover for some services. I carry a lightweight one but have never
yet been asked to use it.
Peter
Peter Marshall
petermarshall@cix.co.uk
_________________________________________________________________
My London Diary http://mylondondiary.co.uk/
London's Industrial Heritage: http://petermarshallphotos.co.uk/
The Buildings of London etc: http://londonphotographs.co.uk/
and elsewhere......
Ryuji Suzuki wrote:
Speaking of regulation (not the public regulation though), I had some
experience to share... especially for cyclists and people who visit
NYC at least occasionally.
I went to pick up my Amtrak tickets the other day and asked the clerk
about bicycle regulations. My bike is folding bike that folds down to
a size of a suitcase and this is indeed smaller than someone's
camera. The clerk had no idea and sent me to the luggage handling
department. Although the guy there didn't anticipate any problem with
me carrying my folding bike to the passenger train, he didn't know
about the Amtrak regulation on folding bikes, and he told me to tip
red cap generously and tell him that this is a wheelchair parts to
help my disabled brother in NYC. He literally told me to lie.
When I came home... I googled on Amtrak and folding bike. It is
allowed to bring to passenger trains just like regular luggage. It
goes without saying that I printed out a bunch of copies of this page
and highlighted the applicable clauses and had it ready together with
my tickets... But there was no trouble at all both ways, and I didn't
have to show my printout, but I don't think anyone there knew the
folding bike regulation.
It was actually a good idea to bring my bike to NYC... The drivers in
Manhattan are a bit more predictable than Boston drivers (though
traffic can be a bit worse) and bike is actually MUCH faster to get
around in the city than taxi during rush hours. Plus, unlike Boston
area, there's no hills and you don't need 5 years of experience to
know the road. I didn't have any problem bringing bikes into
restaurants and bars (but I was ready to tell them this isn't a bike
but wheelchair parts). Maybe next time I'll try to get a trailer for
bike taxi so that I can move around with my friends...
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