Another question that was posed in my original email was how would you transport the equipment? I'll have a Camelbak, so no backpacks... I *could* add a cargo rack to the bike, but I don't know how well that would hold up, and I'm not too sure I'd even want the camera fastened to the bike. Is there not any kind of camera bag made for "extreme" usage? I might have to engineer something myself.
Back when I rode bicycles a lot (early 1980s, before my hip gave out), I used to carry a Nikon F2 with two lenses in the equivalent of a small Pelican box, bolted onto a custom bracket that fitted behind the seat. Light, dust- and water- proof. Get a box large enough to allow 1-1.5" of sponge padding in all directions around the equipment components you want to carry.
Never had a problem with any of the equipment I carried this way. Modern MX bicycles with suspension probably give the equipment a somewhat better ride than my Cinelli Criterium racer did on pavement.
Godfrey
