Updated>> There’s a more up to date story than this, head over to this link to check it out.
Updated>> There’s a more up to date story than this,ย head over to this link to check it out.
Nope, sorry, that’s not an early April fools joke.
British Cycling have announced that they will not allow riders to use wearable cameras such as GoPros, DriftHD’s or Contours at their events in 2014.ย
That means there will be almost no on-board footage at any events and fans won’t be able to see the action from heroes like Peaty, Gracia, Minnaar, Brycland, Danny Hart or others. Riders that are sponsored by helmet cam companies also won’t be able to represent by wearing their sponsored product. In short, if you turn up at the uplift truck or the start line this weekend with your helmet cam, you’ll be turned back.
We’ve known about this one rumbling around British Cycling for a few months but hoped that it would go away – but no luck – an official statement from British Cycling which we received first today makes it official.
“Strictly no helmet or action cameras permitted, both for practice and racing. As per regulation 3.2.7, all equipment not essential for racing purposes must be removed.”
The rule will be enforced at all British Cycling events – including road, off road, BMX and mountain biking.
It comes, we’re told, from British Cycling’s increasing nervousness about legal action following accidents at their events. Riders (allegedly) are using the footage as evidence to pursue legal claims against BC which is meaning they are being successfully sued.
We’ll be speaking to BC as soon as we can to make sure we get their side of the story.
Steve Peat, and his DriftHD. Photo by Duncan Philpott.
It’s worth pointing out that the ban won’t be absolute. Organisers will be allowed to apply for dispensation for cameras to be used, early in practice at each of their events and to be used by riders of their choosing. This will happen at the British Downhill Series in 2014 and will produce an exclusive “official” BDS helmet cam run, which will be sponsored by a single brand.
So what’s the impact of this ban? Well … obviously it means significantly less coverage for cycling. The British Downhill Series alone generates a huge amount of ‘on board’ footage that creates huge exposure for the series, for the riders, for their sponsors and for cycling as a whole. Danny Hart’s Fort William helmet cam run is currently at 180,000 views on Pinkbike. When you consider that each round of the BDS only gets about 400 riders that’s a HELL of a lot of people.
We asked one race organiser what they thought:ย “It’s hugely detrimental for racing”.ย
That huge, free coverage is suddenly about to be cut significantly short and a huge opportunity for non-racers to tune in and see downhill up close and personal will be chopped. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure that downhill can afford to loose that publicity.
Danny Hart’s helmet cam run from the Fort William BDS – currently at 180,000 views.
Kelly McGarry’s helmet cam run from Rampage – currently at 17 million views. Not a BC event, but look at the potential coverage one helmet camera can create. It’s massive.ย
Another thing to consider is the accessibility of cameras like Drifts or GoPros. They allow any rider who can afford a camera to produce high quality, easy to share media. It gives them a way to represent their sponsors and promote their riding. They don’t need to pay a videographer, pay an editor or have a big budget. For the privateer racer, it’s massive. Removing the racer’s ability to film like that feels like a massive handicap and widens the gap between the elite and the everyman racer.
Obviously there’s also the impact on riders that are sponsored by helmet camera brands – they’ll wear the camera to show off their sponsors product. Not any more. Any don’t think you can wear a dummy cam, an empty Gopro case or just not record. It’s all “non essential equipment”.
Wideopenmag’s Rich Thomas recording a race run on his helmet camera, Jacob Gibbins photo.
Tell us what you think of British Cycling’s decision on the comments below – and don’t forget to hit SHARE on facebook.
