How to identify Bikes

mercphoto

I've been asked to shoot a charity bicycle "race" again this year. (really its just a long fun ride). The problem was last year I went with 1" tall numbers that people attached to their helmets. For one they weren't tall enough. But worse, unless they looked right at you I could often not determine the number at all, even zoomed in. And when you are trying to keyword and catalog 1,500 riders you can't go zooming in on each shot anyway.

So, how to keyword bike riders so the customer can then search for them? Anything that will whittle down the possible riders to some smaller subset. Does not have to pinpoint down immediately to just them.

Any ideas? Thanks.

FatNakedGuy

Small RFID tag worn by each rider (wrist band, tennis shoe laced, etc).

As the rider goes by their unique rfid number and date/time is captured via radio receiver and then written to a database on laptop PC. Later the database entries are matched to photos shot based on date/time.

http://rfidusa.com/

or you can google rfid evaluation kit to find examples

David_S85

mercphoto wrote:

Any ideas? Thanks.

Are you shooting the riders from one vantage point (angle not changing) as they go by?

Will you have an assistant or is this a solo shoot?

mercphoto

David_S85 wrote:

Are you shooting the riders from one vantage point (angle not changing) as they go by?

Will you have an assistant or is this a solo shoot?

The RFID tag is a neat idea but too capital intensive. I only do this type of shot once a year.

I will be shooting from one vantage point and will get them coming and going. Generally a head-on shot or front three-quarters. I may or may not have an assistant.

Jeffro

Okay, how about less tech.....red bikes, white bikes, blue bikes, green bikes....

David_S85

Head-tube badge perhaps? A unique number, with two faces angled 90º apart. Could be held on some cheap way... rubberband or similar.

mercphoto

Jeffro wrote:

Okay, how about less tech.....red bikes, white bikes, blue bikes, green bikes....

I thought about that but I was surprised at how many bikes were not monochromatic from last year. And clothing colors, forget about that too. Nice idea though. Low tech, use something already on the rider or bike.

Jeffro

mercphoto wrote:

I thought about that but I was surprised at how many bikes were not monochromatic from last year. And clothing colors, forget about that too. Nice idea though. Low tech, use something already on the rider or bike.

Kind of sounds like a nightmare.

mercphoto

Jeffro wrote:

Kind of sounds like a nightmare.

It is, actually. I've told the guy I won't do it again this year unless I can figure out how to group photos for people to find themself. Last year I got more than a few emails from customers about this issue. I'm not really interested in just throwing up a few thousand photos and hope people can find themself.

Let me post a few dozen example photos tomorrow from last year's race to see if it gives some ideas. But its too late right now.

mercphoto

Ugh. It's only sleep, right? I randomly chose about 28 or so from last year. Clothing identification is out. So is helmet. For that matter I think you'll agree bike color is hard to discern.

A few thoughts about those numbers you see. Not everyone used them. Sometimes they ripple on the helmet and are not legible any longer. Sometimes they lose contrast if the light hits them right. Sometimes the rider looks up and I lose sight of the number. Sometimes they are just fine.

http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/2516853

Thanks for looking and thinking. Oh yeah, and 3700+ total frames taken last year between myself and a helper! So I also need something quick and easy. :shrug

UT Scott

I'm probably missing something here, but what about using a type of pen (like the ones they use for marathons) to write a number up the riders arm or something

Good luck finding something!

Edit: I just looked at your pictures again, I see not everyone was wearing a short sleeve shirt, I guess the number on the arm wouldn't work.

gsgary

mercphoto wrote:

It is, actually. I've told the guy I won't do it again this year unless I can figure out how to group photos for people to find themself. Last year I got more than a few emails from customers about this issue. I'm not really interested in just throwing up a few thousand photos and hope people can find themself.

Let me post a few dozen example photos tomorrow from last year's race to see if it gives some ideas. But its too late right now.

Go to the pub instead

cornerketch

There are 2 other possibities:

Time the picture was taken , could be elapsed time of the race or clock time . Put a picture of the time in the series of pictures.. it allows people roughly ID the time. and bracket the picture. But with a large number of riders it could be difficult.. You coud get a idea by looking at the times from the pictures from the previous ride.

or

Tape with large number or letter to put on the handle bars.. even if it's only 0- 9 numbers, at least you can bracket down to the number on the bike.. maybe letters would be better..

Both are low tech - low cost..

Just some ideas..

Good luck,

ian408

I was going to suggest elapsed time. I think that's about the easiest
thing to do. Riders will usually remember when they passed a given
point during the ride. Especially if it's a consistent location.

Airedrifter

Time line
Whitewater photographers do it all the time.

They will shoot all day from one or two rapids. They have runners taking CF cards back to the retail store. During the day, about every 10 minutes or so when the river traffic is high, they photo one frame of a small battery powered clock.

Customers come by the retail store and figure out about when they went through that rapid and browse them on a counter computer.

Just make sure you set up at a noteable place with a known distance from the start.

The riders, even 3700 of them, will be able to narrow it down pretty quick.

JMHO

David_S85

We are assuming this is a mass-start timed event. The OP said it is a "fun ride." Timing might not be important, or possible.

So, is this a timed event?

mercphoto

David_S85 wrote:

We are assuming this is a mass-start timed event. The OP said it is a "fun ride." Timing might not be important, or possible.

So, is this a timed event?

I **thnk** it is timed but its more of a fun event than anything. Lots of good answers here but alas I'm being called out of town on business that weekend. Day job comes before camera job.

maczippy

Bill,

You might want to think about an armban, say not too tight and about 3-4 inches in height? Or the combination of an armband and sticker on helmet as before.

Andrew