Lot's of Playing with Video - More Joy to My Commuting

I continue to play around with experimental camera shots - the above is an example of my hand-held while riding adventures. The sense of speed is higher than my actual speed, but I like these shots, I mean, you can only take so many of the same Portland buildings and bridges, especially when the light and weather are basically the same day in and day out.

Here's one on the Radac. I like the coloring on this as I forgot to reset the white balance and the image was originally shot for tungsten light, so the original was very blue. De-bluing created a different image than if I had shot with an outdoor white balance mode.

Maybe you noticed an odd, wired thingy attached to the Radac's stem? It's my latest toy, a bullet type point of view (POV) video camera - woohoo! A bit more on that later, though (feel the tension).

At work we have a VP who is occasionally biking into work, and so she has expressed full support for any recommendations on improving our bike storage woes. Not bad. I have a meeting with her in a bit over a week - VPs are so hard to get a meeting time. In the interim, I do track issues and have become somewhat of the org's bike advocate. So, I arranged to meet with John from OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University) from their Transportation Options group. OHSU has done some cool work in new building incorporating bike storage, both for staff and for their clients.

Above is their free bike valet parking with approaching 200 bikes! There are staff (riding up the tram from here near the Willamette River up into the west hills where the main campus is) and client bikes. For after hours, the bikes are brought into the parking garage to one of the many bike storage cages which are key card access only.

Here's one area of lock-it-yourself near the tram. I am so impressed with the number of people biking to work and to their appointments. These racks are basically staple racks with a secret - there are 5 staples welded to heavy steel flat bar. These are not attached to the ground which allows for flexibility in placement on an on-going basis. Pretty cool idea. Again, I was in awe of how many bikes were all over, including I had to lock my bike to a sidewalk post and cable fence. Bikes were locked to benches, every where and anything. Truly supports the notion, if you build it, they will come.

In their garage (part of the local services building) there are several cages, which all have vertical racks. These were not full, but all had bikes in them. I have some great ideas to bring back to my work and see how we can maximize the spaces we have to accommodate bike commuters.

So, about the new video toy. I have played around with both bike mount and helmet mount configurations. I like the bike mount for image predictability and I like the helmet mount for flexibility.

My Vimeo - Shadow Video

I have a couple of other videos there, as well, enjoy.

Bike Video Camera Going Serious Now ...

Mornings are still my favorite time, riding in to work, quiet, fairly peaceful and serene. Here's Portland on Thursday morning and, as I would later discover, with the sun serendipitously reflecting off "Big Pink" onto the Willamette River. The downside? Actually having to go inside a hermetically sealed, atmospherically isolated office building (read: no opening windows for fresh air ventilation). <bleh>

My experimentation with mounting my point-and-shoot camera on the bike's fork has been interesting. They are so handy for typical point-and-shoot (duh) picture-taking but only if you are holding them in your hands. When I shoot while riding, and holding the camera, I can feel the auto-focus point, pause for just a bit, then take the picture. I found I can't as easily tell when I am at the auto focus point which means the camera is not well focused to take my 4-shot set.

Case in point, the above is one of 4, all of them not quite in a level of happy focus. Taking video with that camera was  bit better, though because of its mass, it tends to create a bit shaky videos. Here's a sample I threw together as a test of mounting my camera.

Fork Mount Test at Vimeo

It's not all bad, I did get a few good shots in there - reminds me of my 35mm film days, take a lot to get a few good images.



Here the camera is mounted on the right side fork. Same as when I hand-held my moving wheel shots.

Here is a shot from a different day, but with the camera mounted on the left hand fork. I like these better since here we ride on the right, this just lets the wheel be the framing device rather than parked cars and curbs.

All this while and for some time now, I have been researching the various portable video cameras, also called POVs (point of view) and helmet cams. The one I really liked was also the most expensive - bummer. Well somehow I came across a discount gear site and found one at 40-some percent off - too good to be true? Turns out it was an open box unit and was missing a couple of cables, but those are cheap, so I done bought it. What is it? A V.I.O. POV HD.

I test rode it mounted to the bike on Friday. Will do some helmet mount tests. The one thing I find with a bike mounted camera is I can only shoot in the direction the bike is going. Will see how I like a helmet mount which would give me move shooting directions. I'll do up a test set - ha, when I get some time.

It's been fun to have a creative project, it's been quite a while since I had photography goals beyond taking pictures of my son. Okay, I have been taking commuting pictures, but this latest activity has me pushing beyond the "stop the bike, look at scene, take the picture, get back on the bike" scenario.

Well, that's the highlights, hope you all are out enjoying some great riding and other adventures!

You know you are a bike geek when ...

99% enjoying our warm, dry summer weather - starting to get spoiled for sure. That 1% is dealing with being more sweaty than I would like when I get to work - and I've been pannier'ing it to help. I'm just sweaty - I am trying to ride easy in the morning, too, really.

Well, I have to lighten up some more about judging cyclists who do not respond to my hi greetings, I just encountered the same thing at work with an unknown co-worker. I said, "hi," he said nothing. So, therefore, it appears it is a people phenomenon and, again, not a transportation thing. Hmmm.

Okay, on to the reason for the title of this blog entry. Actually I have two proofs, ha.

1. Felt there was too much black around the stem/handlebar area because of my thumb shifter mounts, soooooo - I sanded off the top of the clamps removing the powder coat. Then I fine grit sanded to smooth them up and then I hand polished them. Oooo, me like much better as there is less black showing. Cool.
   
   
2. With my experimenting with low angle photography, I felt I needed something that was a bit safer, sooooo - I built a custom mount for my camera, big surprise, huh? With another armrest clamp, more aluminum flat stock and a ball head, voila'. Oh, just for my own sense of safety, since the fork is tapered, I used a fender strut to act as a stop to prevent the mount from sliding downward.

Now, I can have the camera ready and just reach down and push the shutter button. I can also set the camera for video, but the image is pretty shaky. What I have been doing is using the multi-shot mode, set for about 5 consecutive shots. Once I have done some fine-tuning/tweaking then I'll clean it all up and paint it up black.

And that's getting my bike geek on ... hahaha.

Extra Special Sunday Parkways

Experimenting with changing things up a bit, including how I take pictures on my commutes. Here I am playing around with taking pictures while riding and holding the camera for different perspectives. This one, of course, taken holding the camera at a low angle to include the front tire. I definitely need to keep practicing on getting the right aim point down. I do like the motion expressed by the tire, though.

Unlike most days these past couple of weeks, my ride in was quite peaceful and quiet, since we just had a spell of showers and my ride actually started at the tail end with a few drizzle drips. Temp-wise, it was still comfortably warm, so I actually had to stop and take off the rain gear. I'm sure once I figure out the perfect warm and wet clothing set up we will be back to colder temps - so it goes, I suppose.

I think I have finally got both pairs of shoes' cleats adjusted so the pedalling feels the best, what a chore. I was able to find a set of new old stock (NOS) Dura Ace rear cogs so I could finally extra fine-tune the gearing on both bikes (both have uniglide cogs). So, both now have nice 2 tooth steps for consistent shifting (SUB=11-13-15-17-19-21-23; Radac=12-14-16-18-20-22-24). What's cool is Evan's bike also runs a uniglide set of cogs so I can fine-tune his, when he is ready, which for now he is happy with his current set up.

I continue to try and do different home-ward routes, so I do not get overly bored with riding the same route day-in and day-out, that feels good. On one day after stopping at my pharmacist's, I explored one of Evan's routes to high school next year. It was quite pleasant and was actually pretty straightforward, very few jogs and mostly neighborhood streets. At least I feel better about that route for him.

Last week was no riding, since I was off from work and felt compelled to mostly just relax with my son, did catch up on other non-riding things.

Yesterday, one of our warmer days of this, so far, short cooler summer, I rode the Sunday Parkways NW Portland. They had a new route this year, much longer than last year's inaugural one. Most of the route was great, though the Naito Parkway bikes on one side, cars on the other was confusing and there was little traffic control by either volunteers or the Portland Police. This seemed to create odd intersection traffic since the lights were still going, pedestrians were trying to cross, cars trying to get to their side and the Naito traffic seemed to ignore most of the signals and pedestrians.

Overall, it was fun. We had super weather and riding with out a lot of traffic to deal with was such a treat. Part of the route included part of my standard commute, so I have a pretty good comparison. The best part was I finally got to meet someone I have only known on a cycling forum I am a member of. We spent some initial time visiting and chatting it up, then rode about half the route together as we continued to chat. I am sure we will ride together, again. Who knows, maybe we will get to see more of the Portland area members of the forum, which is hosted by a local cycling business.

Human Behavior from the Bike Seat

Image: Sailboat passing through the lift of the Burnside Bridge, Steel Bridge in the background.

I have to say, I am getting spoiled with this warmer and so, so much drier weather we have been having here in Portland! I do not have to carry so much extra gear and I feel like I can actually slow down a bit and enjoy the ride rather than getting from A to B with the least amount of wetness. I think people seem to be in cheerier spirits as well, since we can finally get out and enjoy a jog, walk, or just plain sitting out in the open, fresh air. On my usual morning route, I slow along the Eastbank Esplanade for two main reasons, 1) to cool down so I am not so sweaty arriving at work; and 2) it is nice along the river, peaceful, mostly quiet and a wonderful view.

I am now at 1700 miles of commuting and, at times, feel overly in a rut, route wise. So, I now occassionally change my route home, to see other parts of inner southeast Portland and to break up the commuting monotony so it does not become boring or I forget to enjoy the journey. Plus it is probably good to have different terrain to ride on.

I think I have actually adjusted my new Time ATAC cleats to where it is feeling both neutral and comfortable for me feet and knees. Oh, speaking of knees, the last few days I have had to stay in lower gears as I mildly injured the right knee and pushing too  hard kind of hurts. Other than that, I like the Time pedals and the fact the float is in the pedal and I have less adjustment considerations for the cleats.

Being on a bike allows for much better people (life?) watching than when I was in a car every day. I read a lot about the bike-car-pedestrian issues, the struggle for domination and "rightness". Human behavior being what it is and believing that "my" group is the right one, my observations seem to be that mode of transportation, as I have said in the past, has nothing to do with who is right or wrong. Maybe it goes back to the judge the act, not the person philosophy?

Cars do not like cyclists because they make them go slower, so sometimes drivers make poor choices. We know about these and hear stories all the time. I wonder, though, what pedestrians would write about? I see some cyclists ride like some drivers - in their own world, expecting everyone else to watch out for them and get out of their way. This group typically never even slow at controlled intersections, rush to pass through before the pedestrians steps off the sidewalk and, sometimes, plain scare the bejeebers out of me. I recently saw two cyclists who were crossing a bride on the shared bike-ped walkway lift their bikes over the safetly railing and ride on the roadway. While probably legal, in their goal to not be slowed down by pedestrian traffic, they themselves slowed several cars.

I try to ride not with a focus on right or wrong, legal or illegal, but on courtesy, consideration and respect. I have come to not like the idea of "sharing" the road, because that denotes someone or some group has ownership, you know, like when we were kids and were told to share our toys. How can we share what is is everyone's? It has been fun to have a pedestrian thank me for stopping to let them cross, even when there is no other traffic around and we both saw each other and the person would have been just fine waiting until I passed.

While someone watching from the outside might not think so, I also think it has been funny a few times as I am waving a driver at an intersection and they are waving me - I have done this in a car, as well. So, yeah, I ride with a different focus, one that sees all the spaces as MUPs, since the reality is they truly are and no one mode of transportation has any more right to the space than another, because it is not about the things we use, but about people themselves.

I hope you all are enjoying your riding and are getting out there.

Sunday Parkways = 36,000 Cyclists, Peds, Others

I think we are finally in summer, though we are still a bit below average temperatures. I'll take the partly, mostly, all sunny days and certainly will take the dry days. I am definitely in the rhythm of commuting, not bike commuting does not even cross my mind anymore. The morning commute continues to be my favorite time as I tend to head in earlier than the rush hour riders, which gives me time along the Esplanade to slow the pace, enjoy the quiet and settle the mind before I cross the Steel Bridge and into work.

I have started a new habit now. As I pass or others pass me I give them a verbal greeting like, "Good morning." What a difference, though I am still amazed at how many do not know how to respond. For those coming toward me, I think I sometimes see a look of "she is crazy or something" from them. But, hey, who cares, right?

We seem to continue to have our psycho weather. Would you believe the two pictures above are from the same day? The sunny left is the morning, the mega-cloudy right the afternoon. Each has their beauty, and the whole day was comfortably warm.

All the confused weather cleared away for the weekend's Sunday Parkways North Portland on Sunday, though. Amazingly, happy sunny day all day. Their estimated count is 36,000 people were out! It definitely felt it, too. Near the parks and some intersections the pace slowed to, basically, walking or inching rather. But that was cool, I so enjoyed seeing the all walks of life people out enjoying the day and the mostly car free streets for 8 miles.

Intersection Hero - Sunday Parkways, North Portland 2011 from Paula Funatake on Vimeo.

One fun highlight was watching this person direct traffic through this offset intersection. She was having fun, increasing the fun of those coming through. I am glad I biked from home (18 miles roundtrip) as it would have been a challenge trying to find somewhere to park. Hopefully we will have great weather for the next parkways, but regardless, I'll be there.

So far this week we are in clouds, but that is better than the initial chance of rain/drizzle that was predicted. I have to now figure out the clothing combo for warm and drizzle/rain conditions. Homeward is less important than going into work.

Wow, 2 Weeks Since Last Post, Really?

I must be rolling along in zombie commuter mode or time has just sped up and the moment I stop to catch my breath it has been about 2 weeks since my last entry. I prefer to think it is the latter, of course.

We (Portland) are starting to dry out and our river levels are a bit lower, at least the Willamette River is low enough that our floating section of the Eastbank Esplanade is re-open. Gee, I really missed riding along this section. Of course, coming up with detours has also been nice for breaking up riding the exact same route day in and day out. Perhaps there is a subtle hint there.

The drier weather has also given me the incentive to bring the road bike (Bridgestone RADAC) out again, and that has been fun. I mean, being 10 pounds lighter, it is sweet riding. I have found, though, the ride feeling is pretty close between my two bikes now and that has me pretty pleased. I can easily go from bike to bike with very little adjusting.

I'm so so with the Power Grips pedals on the SUB. They are nice in that I can ride any shoe and has some level of attachment to the bike. I went with them because I got tired of struggling to adjust the cleats on my Keen shoes, not to mention I was starting to have some minor knee pain. So I took a break and enjoyed infinite adjustment while riding to get my feet in the "right" place on the pedals. I think it is also the fact the pressure is spread across the pedals rather than in the tiny spot where the SPD cleat is attached. The downside is getting my left foot back in from a stop takes more time.

Not to be outdone, the RADAC now sports Time ATAC XS carbon pedals. I have ridden them all thhis week (hahaha 2 days) and so far really like them. The cleats strictly align the fore-aft position on the pedals. Rotational float is handled by the pedals themselves, which is nice. I also like that the shoe actually contacts the sides of the pedals spreading the pressure points across a broader area. I am using my carbon bike shoes so that also means carrying an extra pair of walk around shoes for work. But, since I am not carrying extra rain gear, it is okay.

Tomorrow, I'm testing the pedals on the SUB and see how I like them on that bike. If good, then I'll get another pair of ATAC pedals.

When the clouds really clear out and there is nothing but blue sky, everyone seems to be in such better moods - especially given how grey we have been. I have also been enjoying stopping just before getting to work at the Breakfast on the Bridges (one at the Steel Bridge and one at the Hawthorne Bridge). Last friday was great and everyone was so happy because it was sunny and warm, plus the hosts are always happy and pleasant.

Today, as if to celebrate the official start of summer, a fireboat was out and entertaining everyone with its huge spray from the water guns. Definitely, everyone seems to be in a summery frame of mind. Of course, if it stays mostly nice we will start saying how hot it is or humid or too dry - funny we humans is.

Work commuters have been cool and we pretty much have a full main bike storage room. We even created a bicyclist email group so we could all share our accomplishments and other bike related information with each other. For me, I just use our first overflow area as my primary, saves moving around once I am at work. It is nice to see the new commuters especially since our Bike to Work day event. It's cool.