Taller In The Saddle

Coming to the realization all my videos lack elevation, I ordered another ball mount for the camera and attached it midway up the right handlebar. Not only does this offer an elevated view, I can operate the camera without the remote, if need be, and possibly rotate it to the right or left without stopping first. That idea may not work as it will involve loosening one of the ball-mounted stems "just enough" to twist the unit without it being so loose as to cause jiggling/flopping or, worse, falling off completely.

The downside of this handlebar mount is that it might prove cumbersome to have the camera in my face mile after road-weary mile? I plan to leave the camera mounted while traveling, even though it will be turned off most of the time to preserve the battery, minimize boring footage and of course prevent filling the 16GB memory card before the day's end. Using it strategically but sparingly is the goal.... the challenge.



Handlebar Mount



Extension Clamped To Handlebar Mount

Lower Mount Between Auxillary
Lamp and Right Turn Signal

Camera Attached With Short Extension

Low On Right Crash Bar



Both Extensions Joined With Double-Ball Connector

Garmin GPS Mount

After that rainy ride home from Eugene the other day, we were blessed with one day of sunshine (it's now back to rain), which was a perfect opportunity to test the new mount with another ride to C T Beach.

Why not a different route than the familiar C T Beach road? Because most local roads are in the cold shadows where, not only is the road damp, moss is growing on the asphalt (only in Oregon). The ride to the lake and back is short and 90 percent sunshine, which keeps things dry, bright and enhances the color.

I have three choices in uploading videos ..... YouTube, Vimeo and Smugmug. Though I prefer Smugmug, I've received complaints about too much "buffering". That might be because of higher resolution or maybe Smugmug is just a moody site. There are three resolution selections accessible on Smugmug's video task bar, 640 being the best .... but perhaps the cause of the buffering? But if one has the patience to allow the video to struggle through to the end, the second run works fine. Perhaps, instead of watching the buffering struggle, go have a cup of coffee, come back later and watch the second run? Or, maybe I should start using YouTube instead of Smugmug and see if it works any better?

As for Vimeo ... I'm only allowed one video per week, unless I become a "paid subscriber". I don't like that dorky little smiley face Vimeo puts on each video. Perhaps that will go away if I'm a paid subscriber?

Smugmug Version:




YouTube Version:

Started Dry But Put Away Wet

To make sure things are in top shape before the big trip, I took my Harley to the shop a few days ago for its 5,000 mile service. (That's what I said in 1987) The appointment was for Friday at 10 a.m. but inasmuch as rain was predicted Friday, and possibly Thursday, I took advantage of the only dry day (Wednesday) to make the 40-mile ride and leave the bike. Sherry met me there and drove me home.

I mistakenly told the service manager there was no hurry with my Friday appointment (the procedure is a 4 hour job) because due to predicted rain I'd prefer to leave the bike until the next dry day. Aware of my hour long ride from Oakridge, the service manager agreed and said there was no problem leaving the bike for however long I wanted. Nevertheless, he'd give me a call as soon as it was ready on Friday.

Wednesday's dry weather was slightly cool and overcast but made for a pleasant ride to town. Along the way I practiced with the "GoPro" video camera, mounting it at various locations on the bike, as can be seen in the video inserted below.

I also experimented with my Garmin GPS, which I'll be taking on the trip and have recently installed a handlebar mount for it. It works fine. Though I don't have it wired to the bike, allowing for continuous display, its own battery is good for 90 minutes. My plan is to turn it on only when needed, such as when negotiating big cities and/or searching for a particular address. There will be little need for it on the open road.



Rear-View Mount of GoPro Camera



Rotatable, Ball & Socket Mounting and Waterproof Case

Remote Control

Time passed and our TV weather man changed his mind about rain on Friday. Rain wouldn't return until late afternoon on Saturday, he promised. It would be clear on Sunday and Monday (but the shop is closed on those days). Then, with a cold vengeance, rain, bordering on snow, will return Tuesday and will remain all week. Ummm? I thought. Perhaps I'd better pick the bike up on Friday after all. Or at least no later than Saturday afternoon.

If the 4-hour job started as scheduled, at 10 a.m., it stands to reason I should have received a call by 2:00 or a little after reporting its completion. When I heard nothing by 3:00, I called the shop. The service manager was out to lunch. At 3:00? He would call me back, they said. He did, and said the bike wasn't anywhere near ready. Because I said there was no hurry they weren't concerned when a previous job took longer than anticipated. Well, no problem, I said. Most of Saturday is supposed to be dry. The service manager said he'd give me a call as soon as it was ready Saturday.

At 11 a.m. Saturday morning, just as sprinkles started in Oakridge, the service manager called and said the bike had been inspected, serviced, tweaked, adjusted and passed muster. It was freshly washed and ready to roll. Sherry and I were en route.

After the wallet-draining ritual at the counter, I returned to the parking lot and retrieved my rain gear from the car as the boys brought around my bike, its sparkling surface quickly beading up in the non-stop drizzle.

I discovered my waterproof gloves were too small. I must've grabbed Sherry's instead of mine. Oh well, the 50-degree temperature shouldn't be that bad, I surmised, and figured I could make it home gloveless.

Two miles later my hands/fingers were numb. I wheeled into a gas station and dug out some fuzzy wool gloves. Even as rain-soaked sponges they are better than nothing and more flexible than wet leather gloves, my only other option. The stop was also an opportunity to extract the camera and give it a rain test. Housed in plastic, the camera is advertised as water submersible, so there should be no problem in the rain. It did quite well, recording my miserable ride all the way home.

Wednesday's Dry Run:

Wet Ride Home: (Select Resolution 640 On Video Task Bar For Best Viewing)