awc380

Alright, tourers,

What side are you on for this one?

I don't know who else does this, but what does everyone here think about covering the bike/panniers/trailer/whatever at night. I mean, I always lock up my bike on tour, but on my last tour I brought along a tarp and covered up my bike everyday. Many reasons, I guess; security, camoflage (lots of very illegal freecamping), protect it from...rain?, etc.

Has/does anyone else done/do this? What are everyone's thoughts on carrying along a tarp/sheet to cover up some of your stuff at night. (Ie: the things that you can't put in the tent or vestibule.)

jamawani 

I don't lock - I don't cover - I don't bring my panniers in the tent.
I just leave a extra-stinky item of clothing just inside the zipper.

But really - Why take all your city habits with you on a tour?
I do, however, tour in remote locations.
When I stay in a town - the hostel folks beg me to lock my bike.
Sometimes I will just to mollify them.

zoogirl

I'd go with a cover- a simple sheet of thinnish plastic would do. There's nothing worse than a wet seat, especially if your saddle tends to soak up and hold water.

Camel

I just cover my seat. My waterproof panniers stay on my bike, the non waterproof ones go in the vestibule.

Riding through rain/after is much worse for a bike than just sitting in the rain, and I ride if it's raining.

I could see covering a bike while stealth camping if it's highly reflectorized.

IronMac

I lock the bike up but no cover.

paul2

I throw my panniers in the tent and/or vestibule, lock my bike, and don't cover it. A little rain isn't going to hurt it, so why carry the weight of a tarp?

supcom

No cover except for the seat if it looks like rain. If your bike can't get wet, it's the wrong bike to take on a tour.

Michel Gagnon

I lock the bike and install a plastic bag over the 3 saddles. That's it. A drop of oil each year in the recessed head of Allen bolts is a great way to prevent rust spots.

gregw

Shower cap on the Brooks every night for dew and rain and a leaf bag over the handlebars when it was supposed to rain. That's it. Never locked my bike at night, never had a problem. Actually only locked it a few times at large department stores, when I would be there for a while, this was over four months.
Greg

gpsblake

When stealth camping, I found no need to lock up the bike. I covered the seat and where the cyclometer mounts just to keep them dry. I always laid my bike on its side which makes it harder to be seen from the road (reflectors). Since I don't use panniers or a bob, I brought in my clothes bag in the tent with me at night which I used as a pillow.

Now when going into a Walmart, yes, I locked the bike. It only takes a few seconds to do and if anything, gives me a little piece of mind

pur1138

Last weekend I got back from my first tour. A month plus, camped a lot.
I usually covered the saddle and the handlebars, including the Lumotec lights, with shopping bags. Didn't really worry about the rest of it unless I knew there were thunderstorms coming, then I would cover the whole thing with a tarp.
The biggest thing about the rain I found was the way it spattered mud and grit onto the wheels and lower parts of the bike. Sometimes I stayed in state parks or over-used campgrounds where this was a real problem. The raindrops hitting the ground can really splash some stuff around. I started parking on a tarp to stop that.
I also found that ants could be a problem. They really developed a liking for the lube I used. (BreakFree CLP) And would cluster on the chainwheels and cassette. The plastice tarp seemed to discourage the worst of that.

Kevin