The last two years has seen this regularly updated blog pretty much halted as I got sucked into the world of being a YouTuber with a monetised channel after I bought my Royal Enfield Classic 350 and a fiIm i made after 4 months ownership whet viral and I started to get payed to post films!, sound great doesn't it? get paid to do your hobbies and pasttimes....
Well a year later and despite loads more subscribers - 5000+ now and a few new subs joining daily I am making exactly the same amount despite doing a hell of a more filming, editing and replying to comments left - which I do not mind doing so and is the least you can do when folk take the time to leave a nice comment, but it seems having an overload of films after the NC250 motorbike trip gave me the realisation that it does not really pay for the time your actually putting in, when I am still earning the same amount as last year,
And I am cutting back the amount of time spent filming and posting etc and want to actually get back to posting simple blog posts and have a record of pictures to look back on,
The blog hardly gets comments left and a hell of a lot of spam crap and I know the Google Police will prob scald me as they own YouTube but I think the only people actually making any decent money is folk who use Patron and sites like that, and YouTube is now just full of Adverts you cannot skip, too much adverts!, 30 second long adds now...
I have also proved a few things regarding view numbers on films I unknowingly to you used exactly the same title and wording as similar films which one has had 4 million views!, I changed the title to my own title after 36 hours but just wanted to see if it got mega views and it did not - that was the WW2 Gerry can film by the way that has stalled at 800 odd views...
Maybe I am just being jealous or bitter about other channels getting massive views?, I am not a jealous or bitter person if you know me... more just a bit disappointed...
Anyways here is a ManCave update where I mention all this ...
I promise to try get a weekly blog post back up again folks,
Here is a well made film my Niece was involved in as part of her Uni studies...
Making easy YouTube films with a Go Pro in my hand or on my bike I really appreciate the wrk that went into the making of this short film, the light, sound and editing is very well done and I wish all involved not just my niece Eva all the best in whatever there collage days lead them too...
Most folk probably think a petrol can is a petrol can... well it is and is not when it comes to quality made petrol cans for safe storage and use without spilling, something you don't want to do with the extortionate fuel prices these days...
Somethings are done the best first time round and if its worth doing, its worth doing right...
I recently purchased a genuine WW2 1940 German Jerry can, to compliment my WW2 British 1945 can and 1950s USA can.
I bought one after watching a fascinating informative film by a YouTuber I follow - Callum from Rassey Island near Isle of Skye and I bet you someone could not make a 20 minute film about petrol containers more informative and interesting than this...
You will find out a few interesting facts about the original design that has yet to be bettered , but has also been very badly copied, genuine ingenuity like recessed welds for strength and did you know a Jerry can floats even when full with 20 litres of fuel?, I never did...
The original design was perfect from day one, so perfect that when the British got their hands on them during the Desert campaign they were soon churning out there own version identical except with the WD stamping...my British Jerry can lives on the Jeep as USA can is pretty useless needing a pourer to avoid spillage and is a weaker manufactured design...
Luftwaffe Original...
British copy...
USA version...
Machine Mart modern version, better than most new cans esp the Chinese cheap options with weak spot welds on handles and no proper inside to prevent rust...
Enjoy a rather informative film by Callum on Rassey Island...
My 2 year old Go Pro HERO 8 Black whilst having fantastic image stabilisation has been bugged with a few recurring glitches that whilst small can be real irritating when they happen as they will inevitably when your filming with other folk and/or in weather that you don't want to be opening the side door that accesses the battery. Numerous times I have factory reset it and had updates via the Go Pro App - I even phoned the help line and had a helpful conversation with someone but the camera was soon back to its old trick of freezing and not starting up requiring the side door to be opened - which usually comes off and drops onto the beach to pull out and re install the battery...
Now imagine if you were out paddle boarding or out cycling in horrific weather be it rain or a real windy day on the coast with sand blowing everywhere?, yeah you can see the dilemma... so when Go Pro Annouced a deal on the HERO 10 of £299 if your a Go Pro member -that allows you amongst other things to store your files on the Go Pro Cloud instead of filling your PC I went for it and it arrived a few days later...
Like the older HERO 8 and previous HERO 9 the new cameras require linking with wi fi to the GO Pro App and checking for updates since manufacture. This also registers your Go Pro with its serial number so if there were any recalls by Go Pro you may/could get a new replacement. There are loads of set up how to YouTube films so I won't go into all that here, but I did buy a second battery with my order as the newer cameras have less battery life time with the increase in tech...
Finally I got to try it out after a weekend of no cycling and today with both batteries mains charged as recommended (not on a PC) I used the bar mount to carry it and mostly filmed using the selfie stick mono pod which had a diy stable stand for leaning in on logs or posts etc for point to point shooting...
1st big improvement on the HERO 10 is the raised buttons allowing operation with 3 season gloves on and you can even swipe the back screen and change function wearing gloves...
I previously switched off everything I will prob not use to help save battery life, so that's the wi fi - I never use my phone to operate my cameras, the voice control, the front screen which is for using for vlogging - I actually hate YouTube footage of peoples face all the time instead of seeing where they are - walking Vlogs are esp irritating when you want to see the scenery or trails!, anyways with all that switched off I last night set my standard film mode and Activity mode - again this is simple to do - again watch some of the many Youtube vids...
My Standard setting is going to probably be 4K Wide (I used to use the lower 1080 on the 8 camera), with 60 frames per second...
And for the activity again 4K Wide but with 120 frames per second for doing some slow mo scenes...
While filming mostly using the Standard setting for point to point and hand held on the mono pod , I swapped easily to Activity setting for where I wanted to add some slow mo scenes with the camera stationery on an object. I easily switched to Camera Setting and took a couple of pics, these look good, certainly good enough for using on the Blog...
So far overall the camera has been more user friendly than my 2 year old HERO 8 Black which has had continued glitches as previously mentioned, with easier to operate buttons when wearing mountain bike gloves and a larger easier to swipe back screen to switch functions...
Back home and I checked how much battery I had after doing the usual amount of filming and it was at 66% remaining, along with all the other things I doubt I will ever use will help save battery life, but they are there if I want to experiment, I prob will try 5K and see what its like but mostly I will use these settings as today as watching the film on the TV it looked good!...
Update; Unknown to me until I uploaded the film my PC did not publish the film in 4K but 1080 as it has to be 4K by 60 frames per second in the first frame and I started with pictures!, anyway here it is in 1080 and hopefully the next film will be in 4K!
So time to see a published film with cool slow speed action without any jittering of picture,
What would/could you do if you really wanted a Willys Jeep but cannot find or afford one?, well you could build your own, as this gentleman did in his shed... Stunning work and shows just what can be achieved in a regular shed with minimal tools...
Following on from the `Chasing The Bullet ` Documentary posted a few weeks ago here is another cool film on YouTube about Enfield Bullets... love the swearing! lol!
If like myself you rode BMX in the 1980`s, and also owned SE racing bikes, i owned a 1983 PK Ripper, then a 84 Looptail Quadrangle BMX, then you gotta love the current offerings in recent years by SE racing...
Latest is a 27.5+ BMX - The OM - Duro...
Lovely shot film with some cool riding...
I have not had a motorbike for 5 or so years now.
With anything retro being cool these days-post soon on my new commuter bike, the itch to save and buy a British motorcycle has returned,
Having escaped death over 20 years of riding motorbikes i`m happy these days to look at a bike to plod along country lanes.
Although i used to ride rip snorting 600cc Enduro motorcycles on the road (and off) i always fancied a Bullet in pre65 trials trim for said plodding along lanes.
Maybe some 25+ years after they went on sale in the UK i may buy one once i save the pennies.
In the meantime here is a cool film on the Motorbike that originally launched as an offroad trials bike won more competitions than any other British Motorcycle...
Have to post this as it`s absolute bonkers!,
I wonder what the Scotsman Kirkpatrick Macmillan - inventor of the pedal bicycle approx 177 years ago would have thought of this...
Friend Jeff is not long back form his week in the Outer Hebrides, a trip which i had planned to do with him but what with this years changes in work circumstances i could not get the time off, The islands will always be there to explore again...
Folk in Scotland like to moan a lot... it`s like they think it`s their right...
Like this now some folks are moaning about the clocks changing and the dark nights arriving,
I like to take a positive on everything, yeah sunsets now around 4.40pm now - but it`s been warmer than average temperatures this week!, that`s a big bonus!.
Still they moan...you say `it`s a lovely day`... they respond `Aye, but it`s to rain later`... jeez it`s Scotland!, where the weather can change every 20 minutes!...
I ran 5 miles after work in the pouring rain, then changed and cycled home in pouring rain getting all the lights on the bike flashing etc and my waterproofs kept me bone dry - i was buzzing when i got home!
Same with the seasons... the negative comments about the end of summer and Autumn, then the winter...
yet winter and early spring can be fantastic weather, when high pressure brings clear skies and blue skies above fantastic snow clad hills...
Only 2 1/2 hours driving from Edinburgh and East Lothian on a clear winters day can see all this...
I need to get up North again, this was from several years ago...
So you seen we went bike packing last weekend,
First off here is Jeff`s film from last weekend, i added Jeff`s film to the end of my previous blog post, though some folk won`t have looked back in on the post or their mobile decices take ages to upload 300 odd pics to bother. I gave Jeff my SD card so he would have a lot of footage of himself. Unlike my film where i ran out of battery life by mid afternoon on the Sunday, Jeff captured the amazing `magic hour` of sunlight before sunset we so often get here in East Lothian, Jeff and Mike were blown away by the Harvest scenery, and our legal right to roam here in Scotland, Freedom indeed!...
Jeff makes fantastic film which you can look through here on his YouTube channel; Summit Toppler
It is indeed a wonderful life we have here in the UK :)
Bikepacking...It`s the new golf in cycling!;
Wondering what it is about?, what you need?, need some advice?, here is a film on Youtube published in May which is a good informative...
I always remember how i thought it would be cool to make a camera small enough that was also waterproof that you could film your rides, then the Go Pro was launched... Last year on a ride i said to a friend `imagine a rotor copter that would follow you filming`.. how cool would that be?
Well careful what you wish for...
When this thing becomes available here in the UK, and it is affordable too, then this will transform filming while cycling...
I live in East Lothian, S.E. Scotland.
I fill my time with my hobbies, interests and passions. Often cycling along the coast here. I ride steel bikes with big wheels, I like to enjoy all interests of the coast, Its scenery, wildlife, local history, with my other interests in art and music when out and about...
I was diagnosed with Relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis in August 2018, it`s early days but i plan to continue to live my life as i have and show that having a medical condition like MS does not mean you need to stop enjoying your life,
Please excuse the bad grammar, i am working on it!
