Camping with the bike
Discussion
Feeling some winter blues so thought I would start looking towards the Spring/Summer and I'm looking to get some camping in on the bike.
Im a fairly regular camper and have been so for the last 3-4 years now but never done it on the bike (only in the car with everything including the kitchen sink and a 5 man tent.....for 2 of us)
So as I wont be taking the missus, Im looking to pack light, travel and stop. I can use the sleeping bag/roll mat that I already own and I have a single burner stove which I can take away with me. I might take a frying pan (brekkie) but thats about it. If I need to eat, Ill stop at a Cafe or Pub to fill up.
Anyone on here regularly go out on the bike camping? If so, what tents have you guys got? Im looking for something small, probably 2 man (1 man looks too claustrophobic), packs small and light.
If you are going away this year, where you thinking of going?
Im a fairly regular camper and have been so for the last 3-4 years now but never done it on the bike (only in the car with everything including the kitchen sink and a 5 man tent.....for 2 of us)
So as I wont be taking the missus, Im looking to pack light, travel and stop. I can use the sleeping bag/roll mat that I already own and I have a single burner stove which I can take away with me. I might take a frying pan (brekkie) but thats about it. If I need to eat, Ill stop at a Cafe or Pub to fill up.
Anyone on here regularly go out on the bike camping? If so, what tents have you guys got? Im looking for something small, probably 2 man (1 man looks too claustrophobic), packs small and light.
If you are going away this year, where you thinking of going?
ive got a huge (oo err) 2man dome with porch. not the easiest thing to get on the bike but so worth to have space when camped up. last time i went away i also had a coleman petrol stove, two days food (on average), sleeping bag, sleeping mat & various other things i didnt really need. heavy stuff in the panniers, clothes in the tailpack, sleeping bag on top of that wrapped in bin liners & the tent on the side with the sleeping mat on the other. looks ungainly but there is sod all weight above the bike so it rode absolutely fine.
My tent
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-delta-300-...
My bike, Tents and mat across panniers, 1 weeks worth of overpacked clothes on top
Were having a weekend in the Lakes mid July, Fri Sat night with a blast around the borders Saturday day.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-delta-300-...
My bike, Tents and mat across panniers, 1 weeks worth of overpacked clothes on top
Were having a weekend in the Lakes mid July, Fri Sat night with a blast around the borders Saturday day.
I use a Khyam Biker.
It's not small or particularly light (6kg, I think), but it doesn't bother me when it's strapped onto the bike. It's worth it because it has a big vestibule at the front that's perfect for keeping dirty gear, boots and panniers etc out of the tent. And it has a quick erect system which means I can have it up in about 2 or 3 minutes and because of the way it's designed, the inner tent is fixed inside the outer. I had a regular dome tent, but hated after a long day's riding spending 10-15 minutes messing about feeding poles through sleeves and stuff. And my old tent had to go up inner first, then the fly sheet last, so if it was raining, the inner would get wet...crap design.
For ultra light and small, Vango and MSR have some really good ones, but they're not cheap.
It's not small or particularly light (6kg, I think), but it doesn't bother me when it's strapped onto the bike. It's worth it because it has a big vestibule at the front that's perfect for keeping dirty gear, boots and panniers etc out of the tent. And it has a quick erect system which means I can have it up in about 2 or 3 minutes and because of the way it's designed, the inner tent is fixed inside the outer. I had a regular dome tent, but hated after a long day's riding spending 10-15 minutes messing about feeding poles through sleeves and stuff. And my old tent had to go up inner first, then the fly sheet last, so if it was raining, the inner would get wet...crap design.
For ultra light and small, Vango and MSR have some really good ones, but they're not cheap.
You want a tent with plenty of storage space. I know a couple of people who use one man tents, but I prefer a 2 man so I can have my bike kit and lid in the tent with me, and I still don't think mine is quite big enough. A few mates have got the Khyam Biker which is 2 man tent with a large porch which looks to be a good bit of kit, though it is a fair bit bulkier than mine. The door flap even props up so you cook breakfast out of the rain.
Frying pan is a good plan but also take a kettle/pan so you can have a cup in the morning, and a thermal mug with a lid is well worth it. I'm also a fan of Lyons coffee bags, real ground coffee in a bag, don't like instant coffee and went off it even more the lid came off my jar of nescafe in my (not completely waterproof) pannier in Ireland a few years back.
Ortlieb bags are brilliant, very tough and completely waterproof. Get yourself some throwever panniers and the strap a big ortlieb across the pillion seat. They even make proper motorcycle luggage now.
If you're away for a week you might want to think about fitting a fag lighter socket so you can charge your phone/iPod/whatever. If you've got an optimate with the leads fitted to your battery that job's easy, just make up a connecting lead.
Going to a get together near Berlin in June and was planning to make it a 2 week trip comming home via the alps, but with the current exchange rate and an owners club meet in the Dordoigne in July I might do a week in Scotland instead of the Alps.
Hard luggage gives you bad habits, I tend to pack to fill it
Frying pan is a good plan but also take a kettle/pan so you can have a cup in the morning, and a thermal mug with a lid is well worth it. I'm also a fan of Lyons coffee bags, real ground coffee in a bag, don't like instant coffee and went off it even more the lid came off my jar of nescafe in my (not completely waterproof) pannier in Ireland a few years back.
Ortlieb bags are brilliant, very tough and completely waterproof. Get yourself some throwever panniers and the strap a big ortlieb across the pillion seat. They even make proper motorcycle luggage now.
If you're away for a week you might want to think about fitting a fag lighter socket so you can charge your phone/iPod/whatever. If you've got an optimate with the leads fitted to your battery that job's easy, just make up a connecting lead.
Going to a get together near Berlin in June and was planning to make it a 2 week trip comming home via the alps, but with the current exchange rate and an owners club meet in the Dordoigne in July I might do a week in Scotland instead of the Alps.
Hard luggage gives you bad habits, I tend to pack to fill it
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 3rd February 22:53
I bought this for my week in France last September, only me in it so I went for small and light. The rest went in the Givi box or strapped to the back.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/backpacking-tent...
The tent was just about liveable with for a week but it did start to feel small as I've had a Kyham Biker copy one touch dome tent for years (its almost dead now, hence the new one). The Vango will take anything nature can throw at it of course, and packs down small enough to fit in the top box if required (ie if the wife comes next time).
The only advice I'll profer would be: pack as light as you can, you can manage with less than you think
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/backpacking-tent...
The tent was just about liveable with for a week but it did start to feel small as I've had a Kyham Biker copy one touch dome tent for years (its almost dead now, hence the new one). The Vango will take anything nature can throw at it of course, and packs down small enough to fit in the top box if required (ie if the wife comes next time).
The only advice I'll profer would be: pack as light as you can, you can manage with less than you think
I used to do a lot of camping on a bike. It was all done 2 up and we’d go away for up to 2 weeks at a time. We could get 2 weeks worth of clothes and camping equipment (including double air mattress and sleeping bags) into a tank bag and panniers with the tent strapped across the rear rack and panniers.
We used to use a Vango 3 man tent for the two of us and I would recommend getting a tent that is designated at least 1 person more than the number of people that will be using it. Bike clothing is pretty big and bulky so can take up quite a lot of space in the tent (especially when wet) so you need to make sure you have somewhere dry to store it.
One of the best buys we made was SnugPak sleeping bags. As good as any other sleeping bag as regards warmth etc. but they pack down really small.
We used to use a Vango 3 man tent for the two of us and I would recommend getting a tent that is designated at least 1 person more than the number of people that will be using it. Bike clothing is pretty big and bulky so can take up quite a lot of space in the tent (especially when wet) so you need to make sure you have somewhere dry to store it.
One of the best buys we made was SnugPak sleeping bags. As good as any other sleeping bag as regards warmth etc. but they pack down really small.
I've been camping on both my Thunderace and, more predictably and recently, the FJR.
I've got a 2-man, Northface Westwind which is a proper expedition level tent, but it can get a little too warm in sunnier weather.
I've also got a 1-man Northface Canyonlands, which is much lighter, smaller when packed (loaf of bread, if that), and isn't too claustrophobic.
With soft lugage and in more moist climates, I use the 2-man, as I can then keep my luggage in the tent where it's dry, and don't have to go outside to get stuff off the bike if it's raining or wet underfoot.
When in sunnier climes, I'll use the 1-man, as I can leave stuff on the bike and not worry about it getting rained on, and I can walk about barefoot in my shorts without getting cold and wet.
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I've got a 2-man, Northface Westwind which is a proper expedition level tent, but it can get a little too warm in sunnier weather.
I've also got a 1-man Northface Canyonlands, which is much lighter, smaller when packed (loaf of bread, if that), and isn't too claustrophobic.
With soft lugage and in more moist climates, I use the 2-man, as I can then keep my luggage in the tent where it's dry, and don't have to go outside to get stuff off the bike if it's raining or wet underfoot.
When in sunnier climes, I'll use the 1-man, as I can leave stuff on the bike and not worry about it getting rained on, and I can walk about barefoot in my shorts without getting cold and wet.
a
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