http://is.pinkbike.com/photo/4558/pbpic4558079.jpg

Crell, I had the original VHoldR model 1&2, they both had a narrower angled lense than the 1080 by 50%. I've got to say I much preffer the new wider angle. It allows a bit more of the track/bike into shot as well as giving and added feeling of speed as the tress or whatever zipped out of shot toward the edge of the frame. MY you tube page has footage from both cameras on it so you can take a look to compare.
http://www.youtube.com/user/dbtoyrobot
The vid which shows as you enter is the HD one, the rest are on the original

+ if you ever mount the camera on an uneven surface like the side of the helmet this is where the lazers come in. If you simply click the lens into one of the notches then, you will get footage which is also uneven. All you have to do is stand infront of a wall/tree/friend and slightly twist the lens till the 2 dots are level and you're guaranteed nice & level footage.

Oh, and I can also recomend the "dusk" setting on the lighting options for when you are in low light such as over cast days in the woods (most days). The old models didn't have this option and really struggled in those conditions.

Ah, thanks guys, they are indeed the DX lights and it also appears that they have been covered somewhat. I actually have a set of lumicycle lamps which I think need some new bulbs. (though it appears several people are having trouble with lumi, both here and on bikeradar. I've mailed 'em tonight so fingers crossed)

HA ha, leggyblonde, we had to try and make ours a bit secrative. I suspect that wasn't a concern for you?

Do it!
We've talked about it for ages, tried a few little bits here and there. A couple of weeks ago we got a spade, a rake, a fork and a small saw (for branches, didn't cut anything down) within a few hours we were looking at some track. Within 2 days we were riding top to bottom. It still needs a bit of running in but we should have some pretty good summer days up there.

I'd recomend Riders Refuge, amazingly good food, great people and that close to the Pleney lift that I was able to get up the hill and have the trail to myself first thing in the morning whilst my mates were showering and getting their kit together, and still be back for breakfast with the boys. I did also wonder if these prices seemed a bit high.

Thanks, that's brillaint, really made me laugh.

A normal exercise bike? The saddles on them are torture after 45 minutes

Why are exercise bike seats like those on vintage tractors? I've been hitting the gym since new year and I've managed to get up to about 50 minutes on the bike. Not because of fitness but because by that point my legs feel like they're going to seperate from my arse. We've even been under the thing to see if we could quickly remove the bench they've got on it an slip a proper seat on for the duration of our stay.

Some photoshop / illustrator skills, a printer and some thin, clear SB plastic and you can do it yourself. I know it sounds a bit blue peter but if you know any designers or the like you're laughing.

Goog, you got the 1080 too? Got any footage we can have a look at?

Once whilst stopping at an ex's house I couldn't sleep and was looking up at the ceiling. I slowly became aware that I was looking up at a woman who was laying as if on a bed but on the ceiling. I wasn't scared though it sounds hellish scary, I rolled slowly onto my side and the woman stayed infront of me so now she was on the side wall. Again I rolled the other way and again she followed my gaze. I gave up here and pulled the quilt over my head. Eventually I fell asleep but didn't have a great night.
In the morning when my ex came in and asked if I'd had a good nights sleep I told her the freak story. Turns out her Grandmother had died in the room some years before. Her parents were religious (hence the seperate rooms, me sleeping alone) and she made me promise not to tell her parents.
I still completely believe what I saw but at the same time I'm sceptical about ghosts. Conflicting opinions I know. If conversations turn to ghosts at first I argue against then remember the experience and have to jump to the other side of the fence.

The lazers on the contour are more useful, in my experience, for rotating the lense so that the footage is level rather than checking if the camera is pointing hi/low enough.
If you try to aim the camera down a trail and use the lazers to see if its aimed ok, you'll have a job spotting the tiny red dots amongst the trees.
A simple ask of a friend has always sorted us out ok and once it's straight it stays there, no matter how many times you take the camera on and off the mount. The helemt mount is ratcheted so it's simply a case of one or two clicks up or down to get it facing down the trail. The new lenses are also 50% wider than previous models so it's pretty easy to get what you want from the view.
(I swear I don't work for VholdR, just know how useful these forums can be when making £300 plus choices.)

MAd Pierre, nice footage. Looks like a chilled day out. It was a well chosen tune too.

Smashy, I wish I could say I'd come. Went to Morzine last year for some DH and it was amazing. Anyone reading this and thinking they might give it a go,- DO IT! You won't regret it.

I know this addition comes way after this thread was last used but I've had some experiences that might helpsomeone out.

Northwind – I have to agree with what you said RE VholdR's first cameras being 'testers'. We bought one of those and it did indeed appear to be a work in progress. So much so that very soon after buying it, we opened the back panel only to find the power button had fallen off. This and the rediculous microphone had us returning the camera to the shop feeling like the guinnea pigs we were. To VhodR's defence they did send us out a new model very quickly and we could see several changes in build including a bulkier power button BUT that model, it soon became apparent still had the super (over) sensative microphone AND one of the 2 lazers wasn't working. So we used it for a while and returned it, again, before the guarantee ran out. Just last month, a week after returning number 2 we were sent a brand new contour HD 1080, we've been bumped to the top of the pile for our troubles.
I've got to say this one appears to be a much better unit. The microphone no longer produces ear bursting wind noise as soon as the biker moves. I think the whole thing is much lighter than previous models and it also takes up to 16gig SD, 8 times more than when we started on this journey.

So, yeah, the first camera was a bit of a swizz and the cameras appear to evolve monthly so what you get when you buy might be slightly different to someone else BUT if you do have any problems I can't praise VholdR enough. Very quick turn around, they don't repair they replace and now the quality of the 1080 is fantastic. We're very happy(as long as it lasts!?!)

My youtube page has examples of the old camera and one new video of the 1080.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gCeJeVDklk

So if anyone has problems with a camera from vholdr, get it returned and see if you can get upgraded too.

Ha ha, GW, not only was the riding to slow, the footage too crap but we also used the wrong route down. We really did let the side down on that holiday.

bruneep, what camera was that? We also have a go-pro with the wide angle. That works pretty well. We were up at fort bill and had a crack at the red route in the summer but it was so misty and wet on the day it was actually easier and safer on the black. (more fun too)

GW, which one was almost unwatchable? One of mine or Bruneep's fort bill? A bit harsh me thinks, either way.

benji_allen, I wasn't in front. That's me behind, riding right through his purple/brown haze.

Like, Cheers.
Buzz' Which one do you mean? It's a bit of a pain getting the angle. We only have 1 mount so the camera's usually taped to a helmet. Once on you can't adjust that.

Pretty much all the land is indeed owned by Buccleuch estates, they have in the past made the right noises regarding the use of land but as you rightly point out, pheasant and grouse are the boss. There is a small group who work through Buccleuch estates trying to gain communities benefits from the land on which they live. It would be their job to try and ascertain any benefits which biking might offer the community and then also their job to get the funding etc. I think the estate actually have some obligations to communities where they own as much land as they do around places like Langholm. Many projects are currently underway which encourage and educate people of the wildlife and land they live on, I think they see biking as an extension of this but maybe don't understand the longterm commitment required.
I can however tell you that there are plenty of routes around the hills which surround Langholm, your OS maps don't tell you everything which I suppose gives us something to work toward.

No takers?