Sony FDR-X3000, Endomondo, Virb Edit Exp. Part 2 Cycling.

https://d.tube/#!/v/kiwibloke/eaffn5dw

**The Ride**
I wasn't as well prepared as I should've been for this ride. I was too impatient to go out instead of doing a thorough bike check. Re-indexing the gears, correct seat height and angle, tyre pressures, chain condition etc things I check on my road racing bike meticulously and regularly. Most importantly, I didn't place a 1/4inch camera mount for the Sony FDR-X3000 camera anywhere on the bike (turned out to be brilliant). This was not an enjoyable ride, physically.

Apart from that LoL, I still picked up some helpful ideas while editing this video. All the riding video clips were taken with me holding the camera. And because I was riding so slow I got bored and started pointing the camera, up, down, sideways left & right, backwards; knowing full well my mobile phone was recording the GPS tracking data via Endomondo. I was praying that I don't drop the Sony camera AND hoping instant stopping doesn't come into play. I am actually pleased how the clips have turned out.

Watching how others use Virb Edit, I decided putting all the gauges in the bottom right hand side works better for me. Know this helps me decide where to point the camera while recording clips.

**Thoughts**
The way this overlay editor merges GPS data with multiple short video clips still amazes me. This is most likely going to be my overlay editor of choice. Although there is still a need to do some post processing in another video editor (because I like to have better control over audio and titles).

https://www.endomondo.com/
https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=6591

**D.tube Exclusive**

USO Kupe Ride, Korokoro to Haywards Intersection, New Zealand.

https://d.tube/v/kiwibloke/5o32czde

A typical Kupe group ride, hills and rotation work. It's always nice to ride with the elite riders in this club, who come out and support the social side.

This video is part of my new experience using Exhaust with Steemit. Not only that, I have always used Endomondo (android app for my Huawei P8lite phone). With this App I can export the workouts GPS data as TCX or GPX, which works well with Exhaust. If you use this App I'd be happy to add you as a friend, just drop a comment.

Android App: Endomondo
Camera: Sony FDR-X3000
Overlays: created with Dashware on Win10 64bit
Video Editor: kdenlive on Linux Mint 64bit
Bike: Specialized Allez 2018 (Entry Level Road Bike)

Exhaust: Log Fitness Activities with Steem.

Another part of the Steem phenomena , just joined now and will use tomorrows USO ride to find out how this works.

you can also add in your GPS files in the form of GPX or TCX formats instead of needing to add the time, distance details manually.

Perfect, I can test this:- 
camera1 (Sony FDR-X3000: video & GPS)
camera2 (Sony HDR-CX450: video)
- partial recording (for D.tube)
mobile phone (Huawei P8lite with Endomondo App: GPS).
- full ride (for Exhaust)

Sony Wind Noise Reduction Mod & Arduino Cycle RearLights.

https://d.tube/v/kiwibloke/yfu114iq

This modification to the Sony FDR-X3000 greatly improves wind noise reduction, and this is exactly how I record my rides. Even though I have the camera mounted on the handle bar, I really wanted to mount it on the stem (still haven't figured this out yet). I want to reduce the sideways movement and helm or chest mounts seem to restrictive to my own movements.

I really enjoyed creating my own rear lights for the bike. Using a Dual 18650 Powerbank case (these are really cheap on Ebay $1.60NZ), mounting an Arduino Mini Pro in 1 of the battery spaces, opens up many Arduino Project possibilities. Using the WS2812 programmable LEDS was an obvious choice, at one stage I was riding down the street at night with rainbow colours streaming all over my bike, yep totally illegal. Back to basics, red only (I did add a red yellow startup flash loop at the beginning, couldn't resist).

Photos: Huawei P8 Lite
Camera: SONY HDR-CX405
Video Editor: kdenlive on Linux Mint
**D.tube Exclusive**

Cool Down Ride: Petone to Oriental Parade, Wellington, New Zealand.

https://d.tube/#!/v/kiwibloke/h0obf15l

This is a more improved and shorter version of the same ride I uploaded onto youtube. This time it's been uploaded onto D.tube.

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On a typical Saturday morning I go out on the USO Bike group ride, afterwards I always do a cool down ride. Ending the day with a steep hill climb back over to Wainuiomata.

This is one of the routes I take as my cool down ride, which is usually another 40km but at a leisurely pace (between 15/35kmhr). I would only come out this way if it is raining, cold, windy etc when it's uncomfortable for people to walk along the Harbour, this place can get crowded where you have to get off your bike and walk.

Camera: Sony FDR-X3000
Overlays: created with Dashware on Win10 64bit
Video Editor: kdenlive on Linux Mint 64bit

USO Kupe Ride, Wallaceville to Boulcott, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

My 1st D.tube only Post

https://d.tube/#!/v/kiwibloke/hph22kis

This is the tail end of this mornings ride, from Arise Church, Petone, up the Blue Mountains Road, Pinehaven. Through Whitemans valley then back over Wallacaville Hill. The video picks up from Trentham and finishes as we head into Boulcott, towards our favourite coffee stop, Janis!

Camera: Sony FDR-X3000
Overlays: created with Dashware on Win10 64bit
Video Editor: kdenlive on Linux Mint 64bit
Bike: Specialized Allez 2018 (Entry Level Road Bike)

My Wainui Training Cycle Loop

This is a small street cycle loop around my small suburb of Wainuiomata (9.7km) that I ride on a regular daily basis. The goal is to do a minimum of at least 2 laps with a cycle interval workout lap.

Sony FDR-X3000 with Dashware Overlay Software

Back to trying to add overlays to my cycling videos, this time I bit the bullet and bought a computer with windows10 installed. I finally get to play around with both Virb Edit and Dash Ware.

Sony's inbuilt GPS tracking software had issues where the date and certain data types were wrong. I had to convert the .LOG file to .GPX which fixed these problems.

NOTE: The Sony FDR-X3000 does not produce GRADE GPS data, disappointing.

Another Mini Cycle Challenge

I've done a few rides to date but seldom posted them to this blog. Worse still, I haven't entered many challenges, so today to get back into things I joined this monthly challenge. I actually did 96.50km today which is probably why I'm showing high in the rankings.

It was perfect conditions to do a longish ride, cloudy not too hot, minimal wind and great company. We did have a few mechanical damages that needs urgent attention before using those cycles. A worn tire and a broken pedal.

Check out the Endomondo Challenges Page.

Taupo Cycle Challenge

It's official, entry completed and paid for, can't wait to hit the tarmac :-)

Official Website:
https://cyclechallenge.com/the-event/categories/on-road/half-the-lake/

Thoughts:
The 160kms looks really good but I really haven't done any serious training for this distance, maybe next year I will attempt the 160km.

WS2812 Cycle Lights Using a Arduino Pro Mini

Really simple project.
Arduino Pro mini, with an 8 LED WS2812 stick, a touch switch, finished with 1x 18650 battery all mounted inside a 2x 18650 powerbank charging case. Sketch includes the FastLED library.

Tested duration in flash mode: 14hours

Time taken to complete project: just under 1hour
Time taken to edit video: 8+ hours LoL (not good at this really)

Camera: Sony HDR-CX405
PC: Optiplex 9010 i5 8GB Ram running Linux Mint 19

Notes
This came out much better than I had expected, especially using the powerbanks case to contain all the components. It is also possible to replace the Arduino Pro Mini with the sketch uploaded onto a ATtiny85 and yes I've tried it and it works just fine.

Ideally it would've been nice to use another touch switch as the Power ON/OFF switch but I have no idea (yet) how to power up any Arduino board using an electronic switch such as these ones.

Bridging both solder points A & B means, as soon as power is applied, the switch in ON, next time you touch the case, it goes off ie it toggles.

This is where you get your 5V and GND power source from.

And yes, don't forget this is still a Powerbank. I would definitelty use this when I create Timelapses on my Sony FDR-X3000 action camera.

Thoughts
The possibility of using this concept has opened many idea opportunities and in my mind I have already formed 4 new projects:-

- Garage minder: detect movement in garage inform household via radio signal
- Emergency House lighting with Solar Panel backup
- Fishing Underwater night LED lighting rig
- WS2812 Christmas tree lighting https://youtu.be/if178oluID4

It has been a while since I've deleted all my old projects, I'll attempt to recreate them again and repost.

Aotearoa Bike Challenge Update

Failed goal, oh wow. Well it's Monday so lets get this Challenge up and running once more! Good thing to know when logging in this morning I have gained a few more badges :-)

Nice to see the Champion badge 1,000km recorded on this site :-)

New goal added, let's see if I can achieve this one!

Endomondo: Entered A New Challenge.

It has been a while since I've used Endomondo, especially over this wet winter period. Still nothing like getting re-motivated by joining a small challenge. Yes there is only 2 people in this challenge, myself and the challenge creator but I'm about to embark in creating my own challenges, especially targeted at local riders here in Wellington New Zealand.

First activity added to this challenge, it was a really wet ride as well I got totally drenched but still enjoyed the ride.

USO Whanau Ride, Round the Bays, Wellington.

I really enjoy these rides. With winter now here we get to ride in stunning scenery that only Wellington can produce on a good day! 1st time I rode using my motorcycles balaclava, so glad I did.

Whanau means family.

This time the Sony FDR-X3000 is mounted once again on the handle bars. I used the Sony HDR-CX405 to take shots from the car which produced poor results, but I doubt the FDR would fair any better. Action camera's don't do well in low light situations.

Solo Ride Wainuiomata

Now that Kdenlive has been restored, back to video editing. This is a few weeks old but still experimenting holding the Sony FDR-X3000.

USO Fresh Ride, Destination Pukerua Bay, Didn't Make it.

One of our worst group rides to date, 1 dropped chain, 2 tube replacements, 2 tire wall failures (1 was mine as seen in attached photo) and with the possibility of heavy rain, there was only 5 of us on this ride. In fact it turned to be a nice ride, cloudy, very little wind and no rain.

Due to the mechanical faults we cut our ride short.

USO Fresh Ride Eastbourne

Another enjoyable ride, I'm well used to going down this route. There are some places where the road doesn't allow a car and a cycle to be side by side, luckily most drivers are patient and give us preference until they can pass safely.

As you will see in the video, my nick name has been determined - Tarantino. I'm just grateful it wasn't Dumbledore or Gandalf.

Sunday Ride Whitemans Valley

All night it rained and Sunday morning it was a hit and miss whether to go out on a Cycle Ynui so we canceled it. Typically as the day progressed, the clouds disappear, the wind drops, so mid-day Iha and myself decided to ride into Wellington city. Invited a few people to come along at short notice so when we parked at the Woburn Railway Station we realized it was only going to be the 2 of us.

It was at this point I decided we should try Whitemans Valley, Upper Hutt. Neither of us have ever cycled over there and it is a favorite training route of my brother (who rides the Taupo Challenge). So we rode up to his place in Trentham and he gave us advice on which starting route to start out with.

Up and over Walliceville Hill, turn right at the intersection, straight on until we hit Blue Mountains Rd on the right, over the hill then into Pinehaven, Silverstream.

Really enjoyed this ride, somehow I need to work this into a regular routine, maybe do it once a month. Going up Walliceville Hill was a brilliant hill climb workout, not too steep but a good manageable distance I reckon USO Fresh could handle (possibly). Going down Blue Mountains Rd is a different matter LoL steep, long and windy. Feathering the breaks is a must and I doubt I would even attempt this if there was any sign of moisture on the road. Interesting enough, we saw a lot of cyclists going up this way, I know I'm not quite ready for that yet. Chances are the USO elite ride up here on a weekly basis.

USO Whanau Ride

I really enjoyed this ride, not only getting to meet a few seasoned USO members with their families, but was surprised to connect with new riders from Lower Hutt and Wainuiomata. Wellington is famous for it's wind and rain we never got it on this day.

This Endomondo image includes our ride out from Hikoikoi Reserve, Petone and along the Wellington SH1 motorway.

Thoughts

Making video content has become an issue, due to the fact I wish to hold onto the originals, which take up a lot of hard drive space. For example, this 1080p50 video is only 896MB (pre-youtube upload 4min25sec), created from a folder containing all footage, GPS information totaling 37.5GB (1hr44mins).

Does one upload to youtube then delete all originals/edited versions knowing that one day youtube will cease, and moment in time will be gone forever.

3 possible solutions come to mind.:-

• buy hard drives to store only original content (creating edited version to upload to social media platforms  is easy to do). Using these hard drives in a docking station makes them a permanent storage solution, there is always that possibility they still can fail.
• Use an on-line cloud storage service, if I went this route it would probably be www.mega.nz , from 200GB at 4.99euro/month $8.50NZ/month to 8TB at 29.99euro/month $50.95NZ/month. This is not cheap.
• Only keep the edited version, delete all originals. This is the practical solution and easily affordable. From a creative point of view, as time goes by, my editing/creative skills will improve and it would be nice to revisit some old videos and give them a new make over. Actually I'm going to do this shortly, I have kept all the original raw files from an Ironmaori ride in 2015.

It would've been nice to have uploaded this on the day, but it took me this long to free up some space to allow editing. I'm already way behind, Oh well LoL

USO Fresh Ride (yesterday): Porirua to Johnsonville

Enjoyed this ride now that I'm getting used to this route. We added a little bit more to the ride going up Raiha Street before heading on back to the Cafe.

While out in Porirua we got to visit the new re-opening of the Torpedo7 Cycle store. Some really nice outfits in there and on sale (still expensive).