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Tour de France tech: Video cameras on bikes

By Ben Delaney/Immediate Media

published 6 July 2014

In first legal year at race, Shimano and Garmin cameras abound

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Shimano cameras are being used by most Shimano-spnsored teams(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Garmin Virb and K-Edge mount on the bars of Marco Marcato's Cannondale(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Garmin Virb and K-Edge mount looking forward from Marco Marcato's bike(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Small American company K-Edge provided the adjustable metal mounts for the teams(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

The angle of the camera is adjusted via the K-Edge metal mount(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Orica-GreenEdge mechanics taped down this Shimano camera(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

With the Shimano Di2 junction box, Garmin Edge 510 and Shimano TKTK camera each mounted on the cockpit, there's a lot of hardware hanging up front(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Lampre-Merida's José Serpa said Shimano asked each of its sponsored teams to put the camera on two riders' bikes(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

The Shimano camera has a smaller-profile body than the Garmin Virb(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Garmin Virb camera and K-Edge mount on Elia Viviani's bike(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

For the first time in Tour de France history, race organizers have allowed action video cameras to be mounted on riders’ bikes — and Shimano is leaping at the opportunity.

Shimano CM-1000 cameras are mounted on bikes for Bianchi, Lampre-Merida, Orica-GreenEdge and, not surprisingly, Giant-Shimano. Team Cannondale had the Garmin Virb video camera on a couple of bikes with the Garmin logo covered over.

Lampre-Merida rider José Rodolfo Serpa said Shimano had asked that each team sponsored by the Japanese component maker install cameras on two riders’ bikes.

BikeRadar asked Shimano about the camera's use, but only received a stonewall response: "Shimano cannot comment on use of its cameras at the Tour de France," Shimano spokesman Eric Doyne said.

Exciting race footage shot from the unique, inside-the-peloton perspective has gained a fair amount of attention on YouTube with videos like the one below from the Tour de Suisse.

The CM-1000 is an ANT+ and WiFi so it can connect with Shimano's new Di2 transmitter, power meters, smartphones and more. One benefit of this interconnectivity for viewers is the ability to embed a rider’s data, such as wattage and heart rate, into the video footage, so when a rider sprints full out you can see the numbers of which professionals are capable.