[Leica] Photo bikes

[Nathan Wajsman]

Just a couple of points from someone who has taken more than 1000 pics so far this year while cycling.

A Leica is totally unsuitable for cycling. It is expensive and fragile. The rangefinder can easily be knocked out of alignment by the vibrations from the road bumps, and if you take a spill. A backpack is a bad idea if you are doing serious road cycling. Whatever equipment you carry should be on the bike, not on you.

I use a Ricoh GR as my cycling camera. I carry it in an Ortlieb handlebar bag, in a Billingham pouch. The camera is small and light but it takes pictures that are as good as those from my Fuji X-T2 or Leica M8. 

As for the security aspect, obviously your mileage will vary depending on where you live. I had two mountain bikes stolen from my backyard this spring, while a much more expensive road bike parked in the same area was untouched. When I go for rides in the mountains etc. I do bother with a lock since I do not take breaks except to pee or to have a Coke with the bike next to me. When I use a bike to go shopping, I just use a regular lock, the kind that would be easy for a professional thief to defeat, but we do not have many of those in my neighborhood.

Cheers,
Nathan

Nathan Wajsman
Alicante, Spain
http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/>
http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/>
Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator>
YNWA













> On 14 Jun 2017, at 21:52, Larry Zeitlin via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> 
> First, unless you have a very good suspension system on a bike, any container or bag attached to the frame will be subject to jolts and severe vibration unless you are on the smoothest of roads. Particularly bad are bags attached to a carrier over the rear wheel. Suspension systems are designed to ease the ride for the rider, not the bike itself. If you carry a camera on your bike trip, keep it in a small day bag or pack worn on your back. Clearly weight is important so get the lightest equipment you consider adequate.
> 	Second, bikes are low security vehicles. In many venues you cannot leave a bike unattended for more than a few minutes and expect it to be there when you return. In several decades of riding, I have had entire bikes stolen, wheels removed, and expensive components snatched, even through the bike was tethered to a rack or lamp post by a presumably unbreakable lock or cable. A bicycle thief wielding a chain cutter can steal a bike in 15 seconds. Moral - do not leave your new Leica in a bike pack while you relieve yourself in a pissoir.