• Bike Camera Mount + Snow

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    Snowy Trail

    Earlier I gave my impressions of the ATC3K waterproof video camera. I recently built a custom mount to attach it to a bike, tested the mount as well as the camera’s waterproof claim.

    Disc Tab Camera Mount

    The mount utilizes the rear disc tab on the UK-14er (I knew I had that tab added for some reason). The mount is very simple and consists of a piece of Lexan and some mounting hardware. The Lexan is 0.10″ thick and seems fairly rigid. An aluminum plate would make a more rigid mount, but it probably isn’t necessary with such a light camera. Anyway, the hardware is some cut 1/4-20 threaded rod, a few washers, nuts and wing nuts for easy adjustment and assembly. Bolts could and probably should replace the threaded rod and nuts, but I didn’t have any 1/4-20 bolts around and I wanted to make sure none of this hardware ended up in the spokes.

    Disc Tab Camera Mount

    The camera is just out of range of my heel when clipped into the pedals. While this is good for the camera’s longevity, a constantly spinning pedal/foot in the middle of the frame is a little distracting. The mount does allow the camera to mount forward or backwards as well as tilt up and down so foot-free angles are an option.

    Disc Tab Camera Mount

    As far as the waterproof testing goes, I tested the camera mount during the first snowfall we’ve had this year. I suppose I only tested the water resistance of the camera, but either way it didn’t seem to mind being covered in mud and snow. This is a pre-ride photo, but you get the idea.

    Disc Tab Camera Mount In Action

    Finally, a video from the new mount:


  • Phoenix Bikes

    Phoenix Bikes

    Some how I’ve gained a reputation for wanting bikes and related parts. In the two years that we have been in our current house I’ve amassed a collection of somewhere around nine bikes and several boxes/piles of parts. As navigating the basement has become difficult, I’ve been gathering some of these parts and bikes with the intention of donating them to Phoenix Bikes in Arlington, VA. Phoenix Bikes is an bike shop/community youth program with the goal of providing affordable bikes and repairs for the ‘greater DC cycling community’.

    Phoenix Bikes

    I stopped by yesterday morning and the small shop was packed with bikes and people. Most of the people were inside, so I suppose the above photo doesn’t really look ‘packed’. You’ll just have to trust me. Anyway, this was impressive considering it was about 15°f outside. Even the Potomac was frozen. Phoenix received a nice Schwinn hybrid and box of tires, tubes, a seat post, derailleur, and probably some other stuff I already forgot about, and I was able to clear out some valuable space in my basement. If you look closely at the photo below you’ll see the Washington Monument in the upper left above the frozen Potomac:

    Frozen Potomac


  • 2009 Inauguration Site

    Inauguration Capitol Sign

    I was in DC this afternoon and took a stroll by the Capitol building. This is about as close to the inauguration as I’m getting, and I bet the same goes for you too. Anyway, those 500 port-a-potties look like a lot of fun for the however-many-million people who show up. Other than that, the most notable change were the recently cleaned Metro tracks (very nice). The scene today as seen through my camera phone:

    Inauguration Capitol


    Inauguration Capitol