First 2022 Update!

Hello everyone,

So been awhile since I have updated this and a few things to report.

Over the winter I did a few short trips on the bike to visit family in the area, and the usual riding around town, so nothing really new on actual travel, but really got to doing research into gear and seeing what others were doing on their longer travels both in country and overseas.

Following several people on YouTube and Facebook has opened up lots of research topics and lead to some interesting changes in perspective and even choices in gear that I was looking at.

I recently completed most of my home improvement projects I had setup for last year and am now able to start moving funds towards the cycling projects.  Have been saving and setting aside incoming funds from various sources to be spent on this project and this last month I finally started to spend those funds.

I will go into a bit more detail on them in a future post on each, and have photos/video, but have finally acquired a new helmet and proper riding jacket and pants to use.  So now have a complete outer layer.  Also trying out a few options for base layer and mid layer clothing to see what works so I can get some of that purchased.

I also picked up quite a few additions to the GoPro products to enhance my ability to use the GoPro Hero 9 in various capacities.  Some selfie/wide view poles, various types of tripods and mounting points to put on the bike or myself and ability to keep power to the camera and charge batteries, along with more batteries and SD cards.  So should be able to film in lots of different ways using the same camera.  Also picked up waterproof casing so I can use it in hard rains or even dive with it (not a diver, but might be something I pick up along the way lol). 

I then picked up the GoPro Max which will allow 360 degree filming, lots of interesting applications I can see for this based on some usages I have seen from others, will be fun to try it out and learn to use it and the footage in my stories.

I am still researching a drone, but that will probably be a later in the year purchase, lots of things to consider there and some legalities on using them I need to check into first to make sure I will not run afoul of any laws without knowing about them.

I also sent off an old point and shoot camera to convert it into a Infrared camera, seen some footage done by another photographer and it was amazing, so thought that would be something I would like to try and see if it can add another layer to images I take on my future travels.  Hopefully have it back next week.

I also picked up a new helmet mounted camera/comm system that should allow me to film from my helmet viewpoint and I will be able to narrate right into that video what is going on, and save time having to voiceover it later.  Really liked the results I saw from some other riders using it and think it will be a useful tool, and should I ride with other riders at some point, may be able to link them up and stay in communications with them.

Next month I will settle on some of the bike updates like luggage and other storage, some minor enhancements to things on the bike, hooking the GPS up to power (it is mounted now, but not yet connected the power leads to battery).

Will also get some of the crash protections installed, maybe some extra lights...not sure I need them yet or not, and working on some custom mount ideas for things like the GPS, phone and other items that I would like to have easily usable on the front of the bike.  Not sure when I will move on buying them, but will at least get some research done.

In the bigger news, I am pretty sure my big riding trip to India will finally take place this year.  Borders are open, tour leader seems to be positive it will go forward and things are looking clear for the trip, so I booked my airfare today! Worst case I have to change the tickets to something else, but a few other options for trips I could use it for, though not all bike related, but any travel will work.

So hopefully in the next few weeks I will get some good short day trip and maybe even weekend rides in with the new gear and cameras at work and start putting something other than words up here!  Will start working on learning how to edit video as well, got some software today that was recommended by a friend who uses it for doing videos and the results have looked good, so hopefully I can make it work, otherwise, lots of other products out there.  Bigger challenge will be learning the tricks and figuring out how to use the application.

I may try to make the trip to the Overland Expo in Flagstaff again this year, though it is moving back to its normal time frame in May, so might be a bit close to my India trip, so not sure yet, will decide in a few weeks.

So will end this for now, and will try to get a few videos up going over the new gear and discussing some other things in the next month or so, practice fodder for the video editing if anything LOL.

Till then