After almost a decade of road cycling, it seems like it’s time to figure out the best camera for bike safety and make the investment. Yes, having a camera doesn’t stop an accident happening but it can act as a deterrent for bad drivers and should the worst happen, you’ll have evidence of the incident to report and / or make a claim.
You can also report a close call or any abuse – like the time someone threw a fizzy drink over myself and other riders when driving past. In recent years as a female cyclist, I generally avoid riding on the road alone for safety reasons and fear of other road users. And I’m not alone. Here’s a question that was asked in a cycling group I’m in:
“I’m wondering what body/helmet cams people are using while they ride? Looking at the standard of driving around me I’m starting to think a body cam on me when I’m cycling is as important as a dashcam in the car when I’m driving, but no idea where to start.”
I’m gonna lean heavily towards the use case of safety in this post, but looking on the brighter side, as like most content creators, I also love to capture my outdoor adventures so I can relive the memories and share on social media.
What Video Evidence Is Needed To Report A Driver?
In order to submit a police report, you may need up to two minutes of video footage before the incident and two minutes after. The video clip will also need to be unedited with good enough picture quality to identify number plates.
However, every area / police force can have different requirements and standards so your best bet (in the UK) is to visit NextBase – the National Dash Cam Safety Portal. You click on the relevant police area, and it then presents a form for them.
Try to do this as soon as possible because any notice of intended prosecution must by law be issued to a registered keeper or owner of a motor vehicle within 14 days of the alleged offence.
Best Cycling Cameras Recommended By Cyclists
When you’re doing your research into bicycle cameras, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. The main consideration of course is video quality, followed by battery life especially if your group rides are typically longer rides.
Additional features you might look for or consider include whether or not the camera has a waterproof design or waterproof case and cycling specific features such as a built in rear light.
Where To Place Your Video Cameras
The best way to capture the footage required is to have a rear facing camera in addition to a front facing camera. If you need to choose between one or the other, it might be a good idea to go for the rear view as someone shared “I’d rather catch the registration plate before the hit, as after you’re very doubtful to catch it with a front.”
When it comes to the front camera, you have quite a few options for placement. Although many people use helmet cameras as front cameras, I personally wouldn’t go for this. You can mount on your handlebars exclusively, or any computer mounts will have attachments underneath.
Rear cameras can be mounted on your seat post or on a saddle bag (dependent on model).
Garmin Varia RCT Range
The Garmin Varia is available as the Radar only, Radar Tail Light, and the Radar Camera Tail Light (Varia™ RCT715).
The Radar connects to your cycle computer to notify you of traffic approaching from the rear.
This enables you to make decisions regarding your road position knowing you have something behind you and can be very reassuring.
The camera is active when it detects a vehicle making it the top choice of safety cameras.
Chill Tech Bullet Cam
The Chill Tech 4k Bullet Cam with Image Stabilisation + App is great value for the money with clear video – neat and small too.
Unlike previous iterations, you can access footage via an app on newer models and they can be charged for longer recording time using a power bank. You get 2.5hrs recording time on one charge and uses a microsd card (any size between 32GB-256GB) which must be purchased separately.
Chilli Tech do also have a version with rear view camera and light. I’ve also heard that older Chilli Cam models can have issues on rougher roads and lower light levels.
insta360 Go
The insta360 may be one of the best action cameras but put it on a helmet mount and it could be a good option for safety too.
The only real downside is that the GO shoots 30- or 60-second clips at the press of the button which makes it a better option for content creation.
With the charging case, GO’s run time is 60 minutes for standard video.
Cycliq Fly 12 Sport
The Cycliq Fly12 Sport is a 400 Lumen front-facing camera and light in one with up to 7 hours continuous recording.
It also has Incident Protection Mode so it automatically locks and preserves segments upon detecting a crash.
Choose from 8 light settings to good quality footage even in crappy street lighting. The Fly12 Sport comes with a 64GB microSD card pre-installed.
Cycliq Fly6 Pro
The Cycliq Fl66 Pro is the Dual LED – 100 Lumen rear light and camera you can pair with the Cycliq Fly12 Sport (above) also with up to 7 hours continuous recording with the light in use.
Again, it has Incident Protection Mode so it automatically locks and preserves segments upon detecting a crash and comes with a 64GB microSD card pre-installed.
GoPro Hero11 Black
I myself have two GoPros (the 8 and 10 I think). They provide super clear video and offer lots of options for placement – on bars, chest strap, helmet mount etc – and they’re the perfect choice for a waterproof action camera that can be used in so many different situations.
You can also opt for the GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini which omits the touch screen but both use microSD memory card formats.
I’m not convinced a GoPro is the right camera for long rides due to battery life but it’s a great option for the highest quality content.
Akaso EK 7000
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INNOVV K6
Rider Recommendation: “I’ve got a front & back INNOVV camera and am really pleased with the footage. Unlike most other cycling cameras, this one uses an external power pack. Mine runs for about 10 hours!”
Olympus Tough TG-7
Reader Recommendation: “I have the Olympus tough camera. It’s water proof, drop proof, and takes great pictures. Bonus is it fit’s in my back pocket so it is always in easy reach to whip out. Also can transfer pictures to phone over its own wifi, if you want to post through your ride.”
TOOO Cycling Rear Camera
TOOO Cycling Rear Camera Light Combo – DVR80
Reader Recommendation: “We use the TOOO cycling rear camera. The footage is pretty decent.”
I think the best bike camera for me will be the Garmin Varia for the rear and then using one of my GoPro cameras for the front, especially for the image quality. Hopefully this post has helped you find the best camera for your bike ride and within a price range that works for you.
If you’ve for a recommendation then please do leave a comment below.
Elle
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