Abstract
Objective
The use of helmet cameras by outdoor and adventure sport enthusiasts has increased drastically. Whether their use influences the behavior of the users has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the effects of helmet camera use on mountain bikers’ behavior.
Methods
This is a prospective experimental study involving 35 local mountain bikers. Subjects rode a beginner-level course (a loop with multiple avoidable obstacles) 3 times. For the first ride, the subjects wore no camera; for the second and third rides, they wore a helmet camera. During the rides wearing the camera, subjects were told the camera was off for 1 ride and on for the other. Subjects were randomly assigned the ride during which they were told the camera was on. However, the camera filmed both rides. Data were collected from helmet camera video footage of the second and third rides and from surveys. All statistical analysis was performed using R GUI, and all statistical tests were conducted at the α = 0.05 level.
Results
Parametric paired t tests suggest a statistical difference in the time to complete the course between riders using a helmet camera and riders not using a helmet camera. The average time to complete the course for all riders was 224.50 (33.23) seconds while using the helmet camera, and 230.60 (34.35) seconds while not using the helmet camera. Twenty riders attempted the same number of obstacles, 6 attempted fewer obstacles, and 8 rode more obstacles while wearing the helmet camera compared with those not using a camera. No statistical differences were detected in the number of obstacles attempted across all riders or across different ability levels.
Conclusions
On average, subjects using a helmet camera completed the course faster than subjects without a helmet camera but were no more likely to attempt more technical features of the course. Overall, these results do not show a significant increase in risk-taking behavior among subjects using a helmet camera.