How it all Went, Part Two (Bicycling)

Continuing with my Wales adventure and the problems encountered when needed to carry and use photography equipment while participating in non-photography-centric activities.

Tredomen,Wales, U.K.  Taking a
break at the crossroads

The second photography related problem to solve was how to deal with the camera while on a rental bicycle.  Of course I could put the camera in the small bag and put that in the day pack to ride.  But every time I wanted to snap a picture, I would have to stop, remove the day pack, unload the camera, take the shot, then load it all back up again.  

Lens tucked into hip belt
of daypack.

Recall, the challenge was keeping the camera accessible.  It would be much more convenient to have the camera secured to my person in such a way that I could stop, un-secure, shoot, securre.

My solution to this dilemma was to cross carry the camera under a jacket, supported in place by the hip belt (added on post-purchase) of the day pack, tucking the lens into the belt to hold it still while riding.  Again, far from an ideal solution and one that required constant checking and adjusting as peddling the bike caused it to jiggle out gradually. Plus, it’s probably not real good for the lens. 

In the year or so  leading up to this trip (and for cycling at home as well) I had searched for a type of camera body harness that would work in this capacity. Nothing was quite right. I want something that will fasten the camera to my torso while allowing me to use the camera’s strap when I unhook it. I am almost to the point of making something myself to work in this capacity.

At the time of writing, I have discovered a product that looks like it might fit the bill. The Keyhole Harness by Back Country Solutions (http://www.backcountrysolutions.com/index.html) looks almost like what I have imaged as a solution to this problem. 

This sort of contraption would also be useful when hiking in rugged terrain, as the camera would not swing around and bash itself on nearby boulders or trees. It would also leave hands free while hiking for trekking poles.

A review of this product, generously provided by Backcountry Solutions, will be coming soon. 

National Cycling Route 8, Wales, U.K.  Somewhere to the east of Brecon.  Brecon Beacons in the background.

Part one of this series can be found here: http://www.p3newsreviews.com/2017/09/how-it-all-went-part-one-backpacking.html