Depending on where you live, the roads you ride, and the time of day you’re on your bike, you may be among those who feel like being a cyclist is not always the safest activity. Statistically, it is very safe, but running a camera can make some riders feel safer, or at least that bad road behaviour will be held accountable if you have the proof.
There are plenty of cameras suited to bike riding out there already, from £20 Amazon buys to GoPros or Cycliq setups that cost hundreds of pounds. The Tooo Cycling DVR80 is both a rear light and camera, and comes in a neat little package. The good news is, it’s significantly cheaper than many named brands and costs around £149.
I’ve used some of the cheaper and more expensive cameras after trying to find a solution to filming some of the driving I was encountering on a daily basis when commuting into Leeds, but the Tooo camera is definitely up there in quality. I had the chance to ride it earlier this spring, which turned out to be a bit wetter and windier than anticipated – perfect for testing the weather sealing on this unit (which turned out to be very reliable).
It’s IPX5 rated so reasonably weather resistant, and I never felt like I was chancing it by leaving it on my bike and going for a wet ride. The battery life is equally as impressive. I would only need to charge it properly once a week, even doing about 10 hour weeks on the bike.
The quality of the filming is also pretty decent. And importantly for those who commute year round, it works well in low light conditions. The 105 degree wide angle lens captures a good amount of what’s going on around you, without having a fish eye effect.
The only thing I thought it missed was a beeping or something to let you know when it was low on battery – but that’s more of a me being lazy and forgetting to charge it rather than a problem with the device. If you’re after something that’s reliable and won’t break the bank, I can highly recommend this light/camera combo.
York Cycleworks has it in stock here as well as other lights (front and rear) for you to stay visible with this year on your bike.
