Originally Posted by
Rowan
My one major experience with stuff falling off the back of a touring bike saw my tent disappear. I was using nylon straps at the time...
Fortunately, I backtracked and retrieved my tent, despite someone in a pick-up having stopped on the other side of the road and having his eyes on it. I was lucky, because I was on an extended tour at the time in a quite remote area, and the tent was a comparatively expensive one. I resolved not to use nylon straps again after that incident, and I think I bought bungee cords at the next town.
that must have been a moment upon turning and seeing it not there where the immediate air took on a distinct blue tinge. Very lucky for the timing getting back to where it was.
I did once own a bungee style "spider web" thingee that was kinda neat for holding tent and being able to lay stuff under it easily (wet clothes specifically) I got it thinking it would replace regular bungees and be more versatile, but I recall it losing its elasticity much sooner than I expected. I imagine because of the relatively thin "cords" of bungee stuff.