Touring - Integrated Bike Tents

It is an unpolished idea worth further development.

The Topeak Bikamper (www.topeak.com/bikampernews.php) tent uses your bike instead of poles. The specific design seems likely to bury the fork in the mud at the first sign of rain, causing the fly to lose tension. The front wheel is intended to be inserted into a sleeve at the front of the tent, as you can see at the Topeak site linked above. The total package weights 2lb 6oz.

This was mentioned in the 'Keep Thieves Away' touring thread. Anyone seen anything like this before?

Anyone want to admit they've used one?

http://www.mds.co.jp/hp/topic/bikeshow/inter2004/04interbikephoto/04interbikephotol/tpeaktent400x300.jpg

Boy, that is wild! Great idea though, that would really save some weight to integrate a bike into the tent...

that seems like a really cool concept, but I would rather have my bike protected from the elements, especially the rear deraileur.

Interesting idea that should work as long as it doesn't rain (skimpy fly) and as long as you don't want to bike while encamped. And daily removal of the front fender and low-rider rack would be a pain. I think I'll stick with my 4lb tent that's rain-worthy and includes a vestibule.

Is it me, or does that tent look like it's only long enough to sleep a munchkin? Neat idea though.

In any case, I have no serious complaints about my little Zoid 2, so I'm sticking with it.

It just looks like a very bad idea.

It's a little too clever for it's own good.

That Topeak tent weighs as much as my Hennessy Hammock. The idea itself is not bad. A good solution would probably have to be homemade, but the effort would be worth the increased security. If I was to attempt something like this, it would be starting with a dome tent and only altering the fly.

It would be easy to add a bit of material to the fly to create a vestibule to hold the bike.




It's a little too clever for it's own good.

Edit: Yes, this tent definately appears to work best when pitched on the sales floor. There aren't even any guy lines to keep the bike from tipping sideways!

I would think that you could rig something better, although not completely enclosed. The bike would have to have a kickstand though (which can be nice on a touring bike anyway). Then have a sheet of plastic, maybe about as wide as the bike is long, and about 12 feet long. Attach the corners of the plastic sheet to the handlebars and seat (top of the front tire / rear rack would work too, but less head room). Run the sheet diagonally away from the bike, fold after about 6-7 feet, and run on the ground back to the bike. This would act as a groundsheet, and vertical coverage. If you cut the plastic right, you could have a couple flares on the side for side coverage too, a couple stakes and you would be pretty good in all but hard downpours and heavy mosquitoes... add a couple of grommets here and there for some tiedowns and you'd be set.

You mean like this?

You mean like this?

That's an interesting idea, but I was thinking of puting the high end of the tent right up against the bicycle, and then sloping down away from it. That way you may not need any poles at all, you would have your head up by the bike. You could either sleep paralled to the bike, or out from it, like in you picture, depending how it was set up.

I like way124's bike-tripod-tarp-tent better then the topeak one... I can't figure out what I find so wrong with the topeak tent but my imaginary friend says its a bad idea.

I like way124's bike-tripod-tarp-tent better then the topeak one... I can't figure out what I find so wrong with the topeak tent but my imaginary friend says its a bad idea.

If your bike had lowriders on it, it doesn't look like it would work. Also the one shown in the picture would work for someone 6 ft tall if you stuck 3 feet of 'em out the door. Or is it designed for touring yoga cyclists ;) ?

:D I'm 178cm (5'10"). The tarp tent fits from head to toe (literally). I changed it to a 60cm (2') longer version now, and it's much better. I still have to wonder about the bike's stability. I don't want to wake up with broken shin bones. Having the bike lay down may not give me a big enough opening for ventilation...

You mean like this?

Nice!
A little more material would allow the bike to be covered in the same fashion. By starting with the material under the tires & flipping it up over the bike first then making your shelter. That would give access to the covered (dry & protected) bike & panniers.

I,m working on a design right now for a bike tent. One that doesn't require the removal of the front wheel. Wish me luck eh!

my latest bastardized partial-DIY bike tent, just putting the finishing touches on the door fastener....

The bike is %100 removable, so it isn't really integrated but the design is to allow the bike going inside the tent... big enough to stand 6 feet tall in, and weighs about 5 pounds.

I would think that you could rig something better, although not completely enclosed. The bike would have to have a kickstand though (which can be nice on a touring bike anyway). Then have a sheet of plastic, maybe about as wide as the bike is long, and about 12 feet long. Attach the corners of the plastic sheet to the handlebars and seat (top of the front tire / rear rack would work too, but less head room). Run the sheet diagonally away from the bike, fold after about 6-7 feet, and run on the ground back to the bike. This would act as a groundsheet, and vertical coverage. If you cut the plastic right, you could have a couple flares on the side for side coverage too, a couple stakes and you would be pretty good in all but hard downpours and heavy mosquitoes... add a couple of grommets here and there for some tiedowns and you'd be set.
I've been thinking about a setup very similar -- what I would call a "bike lean-to". But I would drop the sheet down the side of the bike as well to have full coverage. Also thinking that with a collapsible tent-pole tied to the handlebars and the seat (velcro) the "tent" could be as long as you wanted it (not droop down at the front and back wheels). For stability, a round plastic garden stake could be tamped into the ground at an angle matching that of your seat tube. The bike could be lifted onto the stake with the entry point at the opening just behind the BB. Then velcro the stake to the seat tube. Also velcro the front wheel to the downtube to prevent side-turning (I do this whenever I need to make sure the bike doesn't slide down a parking meter).

I'm not seeing any images with way124's postings. Maybe a server went down?

My front wheel is set up so it rests on the low riders and the fender dowsn't touch the ground. I just don't know if the Topeak tent ads enough. The best aspect might be to deter someone messing with your bike.

I have used my bike as a pole with my tarp, and it worked fine. It meant in a pinch I could use something that would hold the far and and the bike alone, though in that format is was pretty low.

Okay, one good wind will blow that thing down. Just get yourself a camping hammock and be done with it. You cak make your own tarp about 10x12, and put the bike under it.

I've got one of these tents on the way for testing.

It seems like a great idea, if executed properly. We will see....