Touring - Bike tent (with vestibule for bike)

I'm wondering if such an animal exists -- a lightweight tent made for touring with a special, dedicated "room" to put the bike out of the elements as well as a room for oneself. I've heard of it, but not sure if it was a custom thing, or if its commercially available.

Don't know about lightweight, but there are lots of tents that have a vestibule big enough to get a bike in. MSR Velo for example.

Your probably thinking about the Topeak tent. Search this forum and their site.

Yes, there are tents like that available, but I don't think they are lightweight, and I can't direct you to any right now.

I do often wonder what would attract someone to invest in a more expensive tent that weights more and is more complicated to erect, just so their bicycle is out of the elements at night. You also have to maneouvre around the stored bike if you want to get into and out of a tent at night, and in the dark, that can be interesting. For me, a tent is for human occupation. The bike is quite capable of looking after itself, and it doesn't mind riding through rainstorms during the day... so at night why should it be too concerned?

If it remains an issue, take along a light plastic or silnylon sheet big enough to drape over the important bits and tie off (sewing tie-tapes on to the sheet help). Usually, all I do if rain is threatening is pop a shower cap on the Brooks saddle, which is the most vulnerable part. I might consider something over the stem (quill) and computer (or remove that anyway). If it's security that's of concern, then you should have at least a lightweight cable lock, or if worse comes to worst, use a short length of cord to tie the rear wheel of the bike to a corner of the tent. Laying the bike down behind the tent is another base-level security measure.

The only real attraction for a "velo tent" for me would be the added storage room and fiddle-space that the annex would provide directly outside the tent opening... and it might be useful for stretching out in bad weather. I'm not so sure, however, the added weight and erection complications would be worth it.

We loved our MSR Velo on our tour down the west coast this past summer. You can see more phots and learn more here (http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikeTent.html).

http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/images/MSRVELORich.JPG

floorless silnylon pyramid tents. Lightweight, yes. what you are thinking of, probably not.

This Golite tent canopy weighs 1 pound, 12 ounces. The pole is another 3/4 of a pound, which you can leave it behind if you use a stick, a short adaptor off the bike, or hang it. It fits a bike, a person and gear. Black Diamond makes their venerated Megamid out of silnylon now as well- the Black Diamond Megalite.

there are also some large canoe tripper tents made out of silnylon that would foot the bill....I've seen them in other bikeforum threads about tents. If you want the lightest weight traditional tent with a large vestibule, look at some of the HILLEBERG tents with the extra hooped vestibule....very lightweight and top of the price scale for compact tents.

What worked for me was to just take black trash bags with me and cover the bikes "vitals" at night... this is also great camo for stealth camping...and need i mention cheap.

I will have to look for the book, but you don't need a "tent" per say if you have a bike and a big sheet of plastic or water proof nylon.

You use the standing bike as the frame for "tent". You have to anchor the bike down solid first, though.

There are at least two ways I have seen for rigging a bicycle tent. One is to have an open side on the opposite (non-tent) side. The other is to have the bike in the middle of the tent where the bike acts as the main pole for the tent. This seemed to make the most sense to me for protecting you from the elements.

I would experiment by getting some visqueen at the garden center (you know - those big sheets of plastic that you put over the garden). You can experiment with sizing and layout with the visqueen. Then, you can either use the visqueen tent, or use it as a patter to buy nylon.

I suppose another material might be those big nylon tarps that are so easily available in so many different colors at hardware stores. In my opinion, though, this material is heavier and bulkier than you really need for most weather protection. When you bike tour, weight and size is critical. I could see the bike tent advantages because you can eliminate carrying tent poles. However, if you aren't careful with the material and the pattern, you could end up carrying more weight and bulk than just using a small pup tent.

I bought an old fashioned two pole nylon pup tent. These maximize useable space and minimize weight and bulk. Free standing tents are nice, but they use a lot of poles and add a lot of weight and bulk that is really not needed for minimalistic bicycle touring.

If you want the lightest weight traditional tent with a large vestibule, look at some of the HILLEBERG tents with the extra hooped vestibule....very lightweight and top of the price scale for compact tents.

http://www.hilleberg.com/Home.htm

A chunk of Tyvek. If you cozy up to some house framers, they might just give you some. It's light-weight, waterproof, and cheap (or free). Put in a couple snap on eyelets, and away you go... I also like to use it as a mat in my vestibule to keep junk out of the tent and a place to park my shoes.

I'm with that one guy - my bike is fine riding in the rain so I don't mind leaving it outside at night. I lock it up and put a plastic bag over the seat so I don't have to get a wet bottom in the morning.

If you wanted to avoid the garbage bag-esque route, you might be able to use a groundsheet or something from a "ka-put" ultralight tent also. I leave my bike out in the rain and use my helmet rain cover on my Brooks.

Yes, but the OP is not asking about leaving the bike outside at night. He/she is asking about tents with bike garages. :)

You use a simple 8x8 tarp to keep your bike out of the elements when you camp using 4 tent stakes. Cost about 5 bucks. Weighs close to nothing.

The 9x9 Walmart tent will easily hold you and your bike inside. 29 bucks. Just make sure you seam seal it.... like you should any other tent.

Think I'd rather just get a large plastic bag to put over my bike instead of making a tent fit a bike.

If you must have it, get the lightweight motorcycle cover, waterproof it with one of the spray-on fluids. Some have elastic/strap things to help hold it in place.

If you do decide to cover your bike separately from your tent, Arkel and Performance both sell bike covers and a Google search for bike covers might yield more. I use a separate cover made of a Tyvek-like material made in Holland that I bought at Performance some time ago.

I don't know where you're from but if you're from Australia, Ray's Outdoors have this specially made bike touring tent which you and your bike are meant to be able to fit into. Only thing is, I reckon its heavier than it needs to be, about 2.5kgs from memory, so you're probs better off just going for a tent with a bigger vetabule (spelling?!)... Also it has a picture of a bike on the outside.

Or you can get a folding touring bike and just fold it and stash in the vestibule space of any tent.

I don't know where you're from but if you're from Australia, Ray's Outdoors have this specially made bike touring tent which you and your bike are meant to be able to fit into. Only thing is, I reckon its heavier than it needs to be, about 2.5kgs from memory, so you're probs better off just going for a tent with a bigger vetabule (spelling?!)... Also it has a picture of a bike on the outside.

Any chance you could find a link of this?

Any chance you could find a link of this?

mmm its not on their website www.raysoutdoors.com.au (www.raysoutdoors.com.au/shop/catalogue/c13) so it might not be online anywhere... I will keep having a look though. Honestly I couldn't see the difference between it and a small tent with a large vestibule (appart from the picture of the bike)... just mentioned it since the OP was asking... :-)

I found it on this page of their catelogue... http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/sales/12_xmas.html ... it is on the lefthand side of the page in the green section, its called "Bike and Hike" but unfortunately none of its specs are there. Sorry.

It may not be what the OP is looking for but one could use this (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=3&prod=661&cat=47&viewAll=False) as both a tent and a bike garage.


Mountain Hardwear Kiva...

Kiva, a floorless pyramid tent like the Golite i posted. very nice, but its not silicone nylon, so relatively heavy and bulky. the silpyramids by Black Diamond or Golite (and others) pack up about the size of a grapefruit when stuffed in a compression sack.

I agree with Bekologist that the Kiva is not nearly as light as the GoLite and BD silnylon tents but I like the extra weather proofness (if that's a word) of the Kiva. I have been using the Kiva for all kinds of things: out house, cook tent, and shelter for hiking the CA 14ers.

I recently looked at the GoLite tent to replace my Kiva and save a few pounds. I was not imporessed with the ground/tent interface of the GoLite. The Kiva has flaps that can be burried under dirt, rocks, or snow to keep in the heat and keep out the wind and water. The GoLite allows in wind according to reviews I've read on Backpack Gear Review (http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Shelters/Tarps%20and%20Bivys/GoLite%20Hex%202%204-Season%20Shelter/) and a few people I've spoken with.

On a recent trip to Mt. Langley we slept four adults in the Kiva and stayed nice and warm. By spreading the weight across four people the Kiva is not that heavy. Now putting it on a bike is another story. My $0.2 on the Kiva versus GoLite Hex.

Just found this!!!

Harley-Davidson® Riders Dome Tent with Vestibule

Definitely worthy of your next road trip, this H-D Riders Dome Tent
comfortably sleeps up to four people and your motorcycle! Breathable mesh roof panels provide ventilation in warm weather. 40" x 40" front and rear doors with mesh offer insect protection and include inside zipper storm flaps. Rain fly features "clear-view" windows for extra light and visibility on cloudy days and attaches with side-release buckles for easy set-up and tension adjustment.
Motorcycle vestibule is specifically designed for motorcycle storage in the campground and can be removed when not needed. Reinforced floor seams offer superior weather resistance. Socked corded fiberglass frame allows for easy set-up.
Includes 14 aluminum tent stakes and carry bag.
The rolled up measurements in the carrying bag is 22 inches by 6 1/2 inches.
Dimensions: Tent - 8' X 7' / Center Height: 52" (H)
Vestibule: 8' 4" X 8' 7" / Center Height 66" (H)
Weight: approximately 12 lbs.
$179.95 Harley-Davidson® Riders Dome Tent with Vestibule

http://www.fivestarbilliards.com/thestore/prods/HDL-10010.html

becnal, would be nice, but it weighs 12 lbs! lol

becnal, would be nice, but it weighs 12 lbs! lol


You're absolutely right Muttsta. I wouldn't use it on a solo tour. But when I go touring with my wife, I take a similar tent to offer as much comfort and luxury as possible for my wife.

And besides, I think most of these tents, (except the megamids) are at least ten pounds. And this one is only 190 bucks or so. I guess there's always a trade off.

Happy holiday Muttsta and everyone! :)

My wife and I use the Jack Wolfskin Worlds End RT, a bit heavy, but difficult to beat on comfort, for the price.

This isn't really what you're looking for but I was reading a cycling magazine and saw this in it:

http://www.topeak.com/2006/products/biketent/tentmain.php

some of the other posters sort of mentioned it earlier I think, but here's the link anyway...

That topeak is kinda goofy I think. Notice how in the picture it is holding up the tarp and the forks come pretty close to the wall of the tent. They happen to use a MTB for this picture. What if it is a proper touring bike with full fenders. Won't that be jabbing you in the head at night, or atleast causing some damage to your tent in a good wind.

Then there is the fact you have to take your bike apart to put this thing together. What if you want to cycle somewhere to get some grub in the morning. Just a painful design IMO. But, it might be right for some others. Just not me.

Even that Harley vestibule wouldn't hold my bike :rolleyes: (see attached).
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2043/hpim0636smallerkp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
So far, I have simply leaned it up to a tree, building, or something. Maybe I will eventually look into some type of lightweight cover that would go over all 11 feet. I don't really want to carry a heavy tarp, but this may be my solution. It could go over the stuff in the trailer during the day and then cover the bike at night.

For those of you who are likely to comment on how much stuff we have. That picture is a year old and we had less "backpacking" type stuff. It was a short trip (2 days, 50 miles each). We brought a heavy two burner stove, large foam pads, cheap heavy sleeping bags, folding camp chair (for the little one), heavy tarp, stuffed kangaroo, other stuff. Even with all the weight and bulk, the homemade trailer still tracked very well, and I hardly noticed the weight except on very steep inclines.

Since realizing that this is definetly something I want to continue, we now have a wisperlight stove, backpacking sleeping bag, colapsable pads, etc. Our next load will undoubtedly look much smaller and be considerably lighter.

I can't wait for a warm weekend for us to get out there again, the little one doesn't like to camp out if its much less than 50 in the morning.

That topeak is kinda goofy I think. Notice how in the picture it is holding up the tarp and the forks come pretty close to the wall of the tent. They happen to use a MTB for this picture. What if it is a proper touring bike with full fenders. Won't that be jabbing you in the head at night, or atleast causing some damage to your tent in a good wind.

Then there is the fact you have to take your bike apart to put this thing together. What if you want to cycle somewhere to get some grub in the morning. Just a painful design IMO. But, it might be right for some others. Just not me.

I agree, and Topeak apparently also agrees because they've redesigned the tent. Now it relies on two inflated inner tubes. Rather clever, since you have to carry spare tubes and a pump anyway. No poles. But this tent doesn't cover your bike.

http://www.bentrideronline.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=58&blogId=1

I use a Force Ten Serac absolutely awesome tent http://www.forcetentents.com/products/tents/tbsserac.htm it has loads of space to put your bike in as well your gear.

I like the MSR Velo tent. In addition to the bike vestibule it is an all season tent. The mesh panels can be zipped shut in cold weather to keep the tent warmer. Zip up the vents and fire up the candle lantern, should be cozy. It will probably withstand wind and rain better than a three season tent. There is a two person version without the bike vestibule that weighs a little over 6 lbs. My three season two person tent weighs 5 lbs.
Here's an idea for a cheap, light, and tough bike cover, contractor clean-up bags. The ones I have are 42 gallon but I've seen 55 gal. They are 3.0 mil thick and are difficult to rip or puncture. Mine measure 2' 9" x 4'. Take some scissors and cut along one of the sides and the bottom and you will have a plastic sheet twice that size. I'll bet it would survive a tour without any holes as a bike cover or a ground cloth. Take several, they weigh nothing and you never know how you could use them.

I like the MSR Velo tent. In addition to the bike vestibule it is also a all season tent. The mesh vents can be zipped shut in cold weather to keep the tent warmer. Zip up the vents, fire up the candle lantern, should be cozy. There is a two person version without the bike vestibule that weighs a little over 6 lbs. My three season two person tent weighs 5 lbs.
Here's an idea for a bike cover, contractor clean up bags. I have some 42 gal. bags that measure 2' 9" x 4'. Cut along one side and the bottom and you have a plastic sheet twice that size. They are 3.0 mil thick and are difficult to tear or puncture. Regular trash bags are 0.8 mil thick. I'll bet they would survive a tour as a bike cover or ground cloth. Take along several, they weigh almost nothing.

The mesh vents can be zipped shut in cold weather to keep the tent warmer. Zip up the vents, fire up the candle lantern, should be cozy.
Without diverting the subject too much... but I read not so long ago, and tried, and can confirm that in cold to really cold (below freezing) weather, leaving the vents somewhat open is a better proposition. You want to exhaust out of the tent moisture-laden air from your breathing, rather than trap it indoors where it dews on the inner walls, and makes things generally damp and colder.

Rowan,

The candle will dry the air. When you put out the candle you'll want to open the vents and be in the sleeping bag. With this design you can control the amount of venting. Open them just enough to control condensation. It's a nice feature.

Well.... yes... but my understanding is that one of the by-products of combustion is water. Likely that what you dry will be replaced by what's produced through burning the candle.

for wintertime, go with the vents open a little or however much is necessary to minimize condensation, AND a candle lantern. Doubt a candle will give off as much moisture as wet gear and a body's respiration.... winter camping when its cold out, 20-40 below, your inner tent will frost up regardless. and when you inadverdantly touch the walls or get moving in the mornings, it 'snows' inside the tent. really.

Candle lanterns even let you dry socks, gloves, etc, if you get them hung in your tent above the heat of the lantern. Definetly be very careful buring candles in tents.

Yes, inside snow *and* frozen zippers.

I think your point about venting *while* the candle burns is the key, so the moisture-laden air has somewhere to ventilate outside. Otherwise, if the tent is "sealed", the moisture will remain in the air inside the tent, heat from the candle notwithstanding, and condense on the cooler inner wall (or fly if you have noseeum-mesh walls). The more items you dry inside the tent, the more important venting becomes, in my opinion.