Bicyclists - how do you carry your camera?

[loquax ludens]

I am a very casual bicyclist. I cycle for exercise and just to get out of the house, short 10 to 20 mile jaunts, rarely longer, on streets and bike paths. No cross-country riding, touring, off-road, or long trips. Occasionally I see something worth photographing, but I don't usually have a camera with me.

I tried carrying my IIIc or M3 with me in a small shoulder bag slung across my chest, but it tended to flop around a bit, and the camera wasn't quick to access. I am not a fan of fanny packs, and I find them slow to access too. I found the IIIc with a collapsible Elmar 5cm lens is a much better camera for cycling since it is so compact and light. The M3 is a bit large and heavy.

Is there some system or technique for carrying a small camera while cycling so that it is held securely, protected from the elements and sweat, yet quick to access? How do you other cyclists carry your camera on short jaunts?

 

[doolittle]

Olympus XA in the back pocket of cycling jacket, along with phone and glucose sweets 🙂

 

[MartinP]

A small handlebar bag would do the trick for you. Something around four litre capacity and that can be mounted directly on the bars or with a stand-off bracket, for a little more hand room. Here in NL the Agu brand is a sort of standard.

 

[kxl]

There are many bicycle bags that attach underneath the bike seat, so it is easy to access. Or you can attach your camera directly on your handlebars with one of these

 

[Moriturii]

I bicycle everyday. Always have it around my neck if I want it ready, in my bag if I don't plan on using it. If I really want to take some proper pictures I'll park the cycle and walk around with camera in hand etc. Or get a camera with autofocus (Contax G2 et al) if you want to take pictures while on the bike (hit the brakes, take picture, keep cycling...)

 

[Noll]

For my short rides, I usually have a film point n shoot in the pocket, an SLR over the shoulder, or a TLR in a padded back-rack pouch.

 

[Borghesia]

I am riding a (race) road bike as much as I can, and then only a small camera can be taken with me in the back of my shirt. Only P&S fit in there, mostly it's my Contax T3 or a Oly XA2.
But I am thinking to find a way to bring a 6x6 camera along my trips. A small folder would maybe fit in my back pocket, but for a Hasselblad or an RF or a SLR the only way is a small backback.
For other kind of bikes there are plenty of alternatives to carry every possible gear.

 

[GaryLH]

+1 handle bar bag.. But also put padding around it...

Or go with a true messenger bag with the cross strap around the front to prevent the sliding issue. Or if camera is small enough a fanny pack.

I used to ride a lot when I was younger and the handle bar method worked best for me in general... When I commuted to work ... I needed to go messenger style due to carrying a laptop. I hated using a back pack approach, just gets too hot and sweaty during the summer.

Gary

 

[semilog]

Yashica T5 in jersey pocket. Weatherproof, to defeat sweat and rain. An mju or mjuII would be another option.

 

[krötenblender]

I'm a mountain-biker and use it every day, driving to work, sports, buying things at the supermarket... You name it. I always have my M9 or E-m5 around the neck/shoulder and never had any problems with that, although I am fast with my bike.

I often prefokus or use hyperfokus and just do a quick shot, mostly even without stopping (in fact, one of my favourite pictures "happened" that way).

When on longer tours or really going for a ride to sweat, I have one or more cameras in a small camera bag, which itself resides in a Ortlieb-Bag for the handlebar. This happens to be the ideal transportation for years for me.

 

[nikon_sam]

I always ride with a Camelbak hydration backpack and in it a bunch of stuff including an Olympus XA1...I also have my phone with it's camera too...sorry if that doesn't help but that how I carry mine...

 

[jcrutcher]

Center pocket of jersey, I'll carry a barnac with a 35mm Elmar, works great. If I carry digital (d-lux 5) i have a small case that velcro attaches to the top tube and seat post.

 

[ElectroWNED]

My seat bag holds a tube, tire levers, flat kit, ID and debit card, and my iPhone, which runs Strava and also acts as my camera on rides. Camera+ and Instagram work for my informal snaps.

 

[loquax ludens]

Olympus XA in the back pocket of cycling jacket, along with phone and glucose sweets 🙂

I forgot to mention. I live in Texas, and people cycle with as little clothing on as possible. There are something like 6 to 8 weeks in the dead of winter when someone might be wearing a cycling jacket. 🙂

 

[Peter^]

The other day I was riding through the forest with my new NEX 7 slung over my neck and shoulder and pulled around onto my back. Without a warning, a stick was kicked up by my tire and jammed right between may tire and the brake pad. The next thing I knew I was in the air, head over heels. I landed flat on my back, but some how the camera was thrown free and landed softly. It didn't get a scratch, but I ended up with some bruised ribs. Since then, the camera has gone back into the saddlebag.

 

[loquax ludens]

A small handlebar bag would do the trick for you. Something around four litre capacity and that can be mounted directly on the bars or with a stand-off bracket, for a little more hand room. Here in NL the Agu brand is a sort of standard.

I will investigate that. It sounds like a good idea.

There are many bicycle bags that attach underneath the bike seat, so it is easy to access. Or you can attach your camera directly on your handlebars with one of these

I have a bag that goes under the seat. It carries spare inner tube, tire tools, emergency air canister, cell phone, keys, money, etc. No room left for the IIIc, and a little too hard to get to for quick access. I consider such a bag a necessity though for those items I mentioned.

The handlebar camera mount is cool. Probably most people use it for a video camera, but with a QR plate it would make a nice place to attach a regular camera.

 

[loquax ludens]

I bicycle everyday. Always have it around my neck if I want it ready, in my bag if I don't plan on using it. If I really want to take some proper pictures I'll park the cycle and walk around with camera in hand etc. Or get a camera with autofocus (Contax G2 et al) if you want to take pictures while on the bike (hit the brakes, take picture, keep cycling...)

I tried having it on a neck strap around my neck. That didn't seem too comfortable, and I was worried about the camera getting knocked about. I don't shoot from the bicycle, usually, but I still want fast access to it just in case.

Don't really want to buy a special camera just for the bike. I'm happy with my IIIc for biking.

 

[jcrutcher]

Topeak makes this one which works nice.

 

[loquax ludens]

For my short rides, I usually have a film point n shoot in the pocket, an SLR over the shoulder, or a TLR in a padded back-rack pouch.

TLR, wow, I was thinking smaller. I think the safest way to carry a TLR would be mounted to a QR plate attached to that handlebar mount that was mentioned earlier. Now wouldn't that look cool?

 

[Elektrojänis]

I'm not sure if this helps anythin but I mostly use finnish army surplus gasmask-bag like this: http://www.varusteleka.fi/product/pienet-laukut/sa-kaasunaamarilaukku/_2IQ0WF002

It has one strap for hanging it over your shoulder and another around the waist. Shoulder strap alone is fine for just walking. Shoulder strap combined with the waist strap keeps it reasonably well on my backside a little over butt height when riding a bicycle.

I have used this up to single day bicycle trips of 127km.

The downside is that it has no padding. I usually just stick the camera in there without any extra padding and use cheap padded lens pouches (neoprene matherial) for extra lenses so the stuff will not bang agaist each other too badly.

Mostly I've been carrying Nikon F2 and one or two extra lenses in there, but sometimes it haw been Canon DSLR with 17-40 mounted and 24-105 in a lens pouch... Or the Canon with the 17-40 and a Fed-2... Or the F2 with one extra lens and a Lubitel-2... and sometimes even the F2 with an extra lens and the Canon DSLR with the 17-40 mounted (but that get's a bit heavy).

Anyway... That's my best solution so far. I've already worn out one of those bags, and the availability was a bit of an issue so I had to patch it up a bit... When the military surplus store nearby found some more, I bought three.

So keep searching for your personal good solution and when you find one, don't hesitate to buy a few.