What's the best MTBing camera?

I want to take better mountain biking photographs. What camera is best?

Here's the deal: I have a Nikon digital SLR. I'd *love* to take it with me on the trail, but it's just too big. I know I could take some great shots with it, but it's just impractical to take it on most rides.

So I stuff my tiny Casio Exilim in one of my front MTB shorts pockets. I hardly notice it's there, and I can pull it out quickly. But the photos are mediocre, and with only the LCD and no viewfinder, I find it to be next to worthless for framing a shot when it's bright out. And it's only got a 3X zoom.

I know Yann will have some suggestions. He rides with his camera on his chest, ready to shoot anytime. But his camera shoots higher quality than the Exilim, though it's not as compact.

What camera do you think is best for MTB photography? ... And lack of shutter lag would be a key thing on my wish list; the Exilim's shutter lag drives me crazy whenever I try to shoot moving objects.