A question for Serobot, Al fron N.H. and others... do you use / recommend any special software for making/editing your videos? I just got an ebay special digital recorder that usb's right into the computer but my microsoft media seems very limited (and I'm making lots of mistakes I need to edit out) Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks
Dan

I have a program on my laptop, don't remember what its called. My daughter has my laptop at the moment. I haven't tried windows moviemaker on  windows 7.

AL

Thanks for the tips 'bot. I have xp on one of the computers downstairs. I appreciate the editing tips also. I'd like to make some videos of favorite runs while I can still make 'em. That way if the knees ever go down for good at least I'll have a record of how I got here.    Good Lord willing, I'll be riding another 15-20 years then I'll be looking for one of those old guy carts...with a spoiler.

Artist, this is what I bought, though the price seems to have gone up about $10 from what I paid. Figure an extra $10-$20 for a memory card but its a nice set up.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110775786000?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m...

It uses a usb port and a memory card (not included) for direct download to my computer. So easy a Southpaw can use it. It comes with a handlebar mount which I have chosen to put on my turn signal post as my windshield was obstucting sight lines and I don't intend to remove that until spring. Ebay has plenty of options for these types of cameras. I chose this one for versatility. I can shoot my trips during the day and my future son in law, who makes custom snowboards, can put a helmet or armband adapter on and show off his latest creation that evening! My only complaint with this unit is the audio is very inconsistant, but I plan on doing videos to music anyway so that part didn't matter to me.

LostArtist wrote on 01/24/12 at 18:23:05:

Price/quality seem to matter very little on ridecams... don't pay more than you're willing to lose...
A Go-Pro mounts well, and gives a good image, but they are very wide angle, ... a wide angle lens's will smooth the bumps and ruts, but also make a very curvy road look relatively straight... and Go-Pro's are pricey... $100 to $300...   24mm or less...
Cheapie, keyring cams can go for $3.00 + flash card and still give a good image, not so wide angle,.. curves look realistic, but very bumpy video... $15 to $20 total cost... 35mm to 40mm... (guessing)...
My best shots come from my still camera,.. set on video mode... (not too bumpy, but still shows curves).. . $100 to $150... 28mm...
You will get smoother video from a helmet mount, than a bike mount... (your body is a shock absorber.)...
Any camera can be mounted on a helmet with a little ingenuity and duct tape...
You need 4 to 8 gigs of flash memory, to give 1/2 hr to 1hr of descent video,..
...audio will always be boogered by wind noise if you go over 30mph...
... and a camera lens equal to 24 to 36mm (on a 35mm camera) ... less than 24mm will be very smooth, but everything looks bent and curves look straight... more than 36 mm and road bumps jar the image like crazy...
28mm to 32mm is about perfect.... if you can helmet mount that,.. it will look great...

In other words,.. it's all about the millimetre of the lens angle, how you mount the camera... on your body, is always better than on the bike... and wider angle lens, is smoother on bumps and vibrations than narrower lens's...

Note.. shooting video on a bike is distracting... it's tapping your head, and rubbing your tummy...,
Be safe... you can edit out your camera boo-boo's, but not your riding boo-boo's...
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