spending a full week out of doors on a bike in the winter will be challenging indeed. i have done long, expedition length ski and snowshoe trips, and the learning curve required to get comfy living out of doors in the wintertime takes a couple of years to get up to speed on all the little tricks.
I've been winter camping now for over 25 years, i started out sleeping in pine bough and snow shelters I made with a hatchet and a snowshovel when i was 12 years old. lots of trial and error since then!
Originally Posted by juha
If you're staying in tent for several really cold nights in a row, your main problem will be keeping your gear dry. Some people prefer taking their (wet) touring clothes inside the bag to dry during the night, some say that only results in slightly drier clothes, wet sleeping bag and a miserable night's sleep. A down bag is next to useless when wet and takes a long time to dry even with proper heating (which you won't have in a tent).
technique to dry clothes in tent: using TWO foam pads (which i bring for insulation anyway- you can bring thinner pads if you bring two), layering your midlayers, shell, gloves, socks, etc, between the pads. two pads slightly offset towards your shoulders also gives you more 'toss and turn' comfort in the tent.
This adds crucial insulation value underneath you, keeps them from freezing at night in a corner in your tent and dries them out somewhat, to the extent is is comfortable to pull them on in the morning versus a ice sheathed parka and shell pants.
also, a little candle lantern provides an impressive amount of warmth inside a tent, you can dry out socks, etc on a clothesline strung higher than the candle lantern. keeping the lantern lower also heats more of the tent. tricky but doable. You DON'T want to set the tent on fire in the winter.
as a Canadian, I'm assuming you already have a good down coat, Machka? this will become your best friend around camp. maybe bring the down longjohn bottoms for sitting around in camp with. using a winter down coat to thaw your shoes in the morning if you don't bring them in the sleeping bag with you, while doing breakfast and melting water chores.
a GREAT layering piece for winter camping are the sleeveless, stretch polartec bibs with the drop seat. fabulous secret weapon for outdoor winter living.