Pole-Cam - initial testing

After a long period of night-riding, finally got out for an afternoon, yesterday.  Others in the area had reported Allestree to be a bit wet so decided to give Darley Park a go for the first time in a long while.  Unfortunately, conditions proved to be just as bad, if not worse with most areas either slow and boggy, or wet and slippery.  Shoved a set of 9 inchers on which improved things slightly, but still nothing much worth writing about.  Got some interesting shots though using the new pole setup for the Contour cam whilst rolling down a couple of the footpaths.  Most of the camera footage recorded so far lacks the interest of having someone in shot, so the options are to follow someone else, or to film yourself from behind (so to speak).


The pole itself I've taken from an old electric power mop.  It features an ergonomic handle, handy grip section half way down the shaft, and ready made holes at the bottom to attach the camera bracket.  For the custom camera bracket I've taken the mounting that the camera was originally packaged in and firmly adhered this to a wooden block.  This provides a firm object to bracket onto my power mop pole.  Overall, it's relatively heavy, but easy to handle and transfer from hand to hand mid-ride.  It can be held mid length as shown in the video above, or at full length to put even more of me in the shot.  Image quality looks nice and smooth filmed at 60fps and I hope to film a bit more once conditions improve a bit.

[ergonomic handle]

I've been warned by Contour not to use the mounting bracket due to the possibility of it shattering, so care must be taken not to clip the ground when using, or wiping out generally.  Hopefully the wooded block mount should improve the overall strength a little.

 [camera mounting block]

[comfy handle]

So, making the most of a bad riding day.  It's not something I'd do that often either as it distracts from the riding a little, restricts body movement a little and I'd have to move either the pole or the brake to the left hand if filming some of the faster tracks.  Still, provides some nice effects so all good.  Hope to film some more soon over the holiday period.  Really hope it will snow, but I wont hold my breath....

Lazy afternoon session at Darley Park

So, when the wife says that she's meeting her mate down the park to walk the dog and push the pram round for a bit, and I was welcome to bring the board and just ride for an hour or so, there seemed no good reason not to.

Darley Park, for those that haven't been is a great place to learn to board.  A large open grassy space with a reasonably shallow 100m decent with the occasional tree to slalom should you desire along with the odd undulation here and there.  Popular with people to sunbath, fly kites, play football, push the pram or jog.
Now this is fine spot for beginners but a bit boring for anyone who's been on a board more than a couple of times.

This got me thinking about how best to spice up a tame slope or your regular spot that you know far too well....

1: Ride switch!  Always a useful skill and another thing that I am totally useless at.  Something that I plan to write about in the future under the title: 'Riding Switch - The wii fit method for success!'.  Watch this space...

2: Take a ramp!  I used to have a nice little ramp that I found one day in the grounds of an abandoned Harry Ramsdens Fish and Chip restaurant.  I figured that as the site was recently sealed off, that whoever had left it was unlikely to come back and it was mine for the taking.  Donated the ramp to KMC as I was there most weekends and didn't have the space at home at the time.  KMC closed and I forgot to take my ramp : (  I might have to build a ramp at some point....

3. Take some cones and set up a slalom course.  I saw some mini ones once in a supermarket for sale for kids to dribble a football round.  Intended to buy some.  Forgot.  Admittedly not the best anecdote ever.

4. Ride someone else's board.  We did this at Hemlock Stone the other week and I got to ride both Marvins board (Comp 16 with loose trucks with white egg shocks front, green trampa dampas rear IIRC), and Jaspers board (Comp 95 with F2 bindings IIRC) and scared myself silly.  Good suggestion Roger!

Erm....Can't think of anything else right now.  Feel free to add your comments below on how you spice up your local spot!

So, in conclusion, how did I spice up riding Darley Park yesterday?  Did I use this excellent opportunity to become proficient in either regular or goofy stance?  Did I bollocks.  I did what I always do when there's a crowd of impressionable teenagers at the park - bomb the hill as fast as possible rather than do anything that'll leave me landing on my arse and looking a right wally.  Why????  God knows.  Still, it's all good exercise and pint afterwards went down lovely - Cheers!