Hi Kent! Like Truman said it's great to have you here! Have followed your blog and earlier websites for years and it's been a great inspiration not only for cycling. I haven't tried a tarptent but I have a hard time doing without a stove and my trusted Hilleberg Akto. I live in Scandinavia so weather is quite unpredictable. Didn't get on so well with a hammock as I tend to sleep on my stomach. I have use the tarp/poncho that came with it and a cheap bivy without a net. So I it only worked well enough before and after the mossie season. The tent is ca 1.5kg but ad at least 5C degrees of insulation. For shorter trips I often bring a Trangia Westwind Stove, Trangia pot with a diy alu-can windfoil and lid instead of a gas stove. But I'm looking into making a woodstove.

I just got back from a three week tour of former eastern Europe (we should say "central"!). Not a UL-loaded trip but I didn't bring the full kit as I used an old converted sportstourer a neighbour gave me. But the Thermarest Neoair i got just before the trip really was heaven sent! My best buy in recent years but did have me worry as I often overslept while wildcamping.
Hope you don't mind that I post a link to your earlier GDR tour!
http://www.carsstink.org/peterson/Tu...ainTurtle.html
Keep 'em comin'!