Rearview camera

[cwah]

I remember there was a thread on endlesssphere about using a rearview camera on the bike. I've just come through that on ebay:

Wireless Car Reversing Rearview Monitor 4.3 Inch + Night Vision Parking Camera | eBay

Some of them even do TV!!

7" LCD Color TV AV VGA Car Rearview 16:9 Mirror Monitor | eBay


Has anyone tried it? Better or not as good as a rearview mirror?


Maybe worth having one as I'm tired of having to turn so much my head to check for cars behind me.

 

[Jeremy Harris]

Check that the screen is daylight veiwable - most of these fairly cheap ones aren't. They are just about OK inside a car, but hopeless if the screen is outside in daylight, especially bright sunshine.

The best idea I've seen is to couple a wide-angle rear view camera to a small helmet mounted type display. These displays are fine in bright light, as they are well screened and viewed close to the eye. If the display is mounted above the eye, then it need not interfere with normal vision, as you can just glance up to view it. A friend of mine has modded a display to do something similar, albeit as a view finder for his camera when flying a paramotor, have a look at his video for some ideas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqKC_HgARRI

 

[cwah]

Thanks Jeremy for the insight. I have to check for the sunlight!!!

You example is a bit too gimmick, and not stealthy at all. Too much for me, for now lol

 

[Miles]

It might have been about this one:
http://cerevellum.com/hindsight.aspx
http://bicycledesign.net/2012/06/cervellum-hindsight-35-first-impressions/

 

[Miles]

www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2939

 

[Jeremy Harris]

If you want a simple solution, then the small mirrors that mount to your helmet or sunglasses/glasses do much the same thing without the electronics. I used to have a bar-end mounted mirror on my old recumbent, but found it was always getting knocked, so not ideal. There are some views on mirrors here: http://www.icebike.org/Equipment/cyclingmirrors.htm . If you could find a daylight-viewable handlebar display, plus small rear view camera, then that might be OK, but it would probably draw a fair bit of power. Daylight viewable displays are more power-hungry than ordinary ones, as a rule.

 

[Miles]

www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11090

 

[Miles]

And there's the Reevu helmet:
http://www.reevu.com/view_rv_dlx.asp

There is also a special edition camouflage model available to those who really want to stand out...

 

[docnjoj]

I use a rear view camera and screen like the one the OP mentioned, and it is powered by a Lyen DC/DC converter set at about 14 volts.. It is poor in bright sunlite but very useful on cloudy, overcast days or at night. My system was about $50 IIRC, but a good rearview mirror (like one made for motorcycle use) might be more useful. On a recumbent trike a good rearview camera that works in sunlight would be extremely helpful. If anyone knows of one please post it!
otherDoc

 

[ddk]

I've considered using one, even going so far as to mount a monitor (with shade hood) on the trike.
However my mirrors turned out to be more than adequate for the task.
While the mirrors do get knocked about mounting and dismounting, they're easily readjusted before I go.
I still use the shade hood because I use dvm's to monitor my batteries.

 

[docnjoj]

Yeah ddk I have a "shade hood" made of duct tape about 3" deep and it really does not help in sunlight. Maybe if I made a hood one foot long it would help?
otherDoc

 

[The fingers]

I'm trying to win a GoPro on their website.

 

[cwah]

hmm... it seems that the biggest issue is the screen under sunlight. None seems viable for now..

I'm wondering if anyone tried something with its phone. Would be great to be able to use your iphone as rearview!

 

[ddk]

Yeah ddk I have a "shade hood" made of duct tape about 3" deep and it really does not help in sunlight. Maybe if I made a hood one foot long it would help?
otherDoc

because my handlebars raise my 'hood' up high enough (lowered more horizontal angle, etc) I only needed six or so inches of it for proper sun shading.
All situations are of course, different for different, er... situations.
...this does work well for the dvm's, btw

 

[ddk]

hmm... it seems that the biggest issue is the screen under sunlight. None seems viable for now..

I'm wondering if anyone tried something with its phone. Would be great to be able to use your iphone as rearview!

if I were still riding a bicycle with a somewhat normal configuration, the only thing that makes sense to me is helmet-mounted mirrors (or displays)
...but like my avatar sez- that's. just. like. my opinion, man

 

[The fingers]

8) I have trouble reading screens while wearing polarized sunglasses.

 

[www.recumbents.com]

Best solution for rear view on a bicycle:

http://www.amazon.com/Bike-Peddler-Cycling-Eyeglass-Original/dp/B000C17M26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341508990&sr=8-1&keywords=take-a-look+mirror

Get the "original" model. (longer arm)

-Warren.

 

[cwah]

Guys, I already tried the helmet mounted configuration. I actually purchased the rear mirror to be inserted on the helmet.

It's REALLY akward. I've been stopped on the street with people telling that I'm robocop lol.

I need something more stealthy :lol: