Hello Velo This all assumes you are in places where it is wooded enough for you to find a stick if you did not bring a tent pole with you. The pictures you have shown all show these tents are put up where there are trees in the vicinity to put up a tarp or stick that can be found somewhere. That is why a person when picking a tent has understand if I want to do this, what can happen? I may want to tent up at a gas station,trailer park or on ground where it is concrete or paved roads. IF that is the case, what is the likely chance I can find sticks and somehow anchor the tent to the ground. If you know for sure you will be in areas where a tarp will always be functional, then a tarp is a good choice for it's low weight, quick set up, openness to the wild and etc. If you are unsure where you will be and the type of conditions you may find yourself and a tent is necessary, then you have to think of other options.
On Sat, Oct 15, 2011 at 11:45 AM, velomann <velom...@gmail.com> wrote: > Lee, > > If you have poles - I use trekking poles when I'm backpacking, but > sticks or tent poles work fine too - you can stake a tarp tent out > just fine, I've done it plenty, including on te beach and at Joshua > Tree. Of course, perfectly spaced trees are the ideal, but not > necessary. Nor is it necessary to be able to pound stakes, so long as > you can find rocks (or panniers) as anchor points. Using a tarp tent > certainly involves more creativity and careful scoping of the site, > but to me that's part of it's appeal, it's part of the craft of > camping. > here's a picture of my tarp tent staked out with sticks. > > https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/116897251123335733984/albums/5642421845211455281/5642422532541239122?hl=en > > And Ryan, I had a little sewing experience but it was still a pretty > big project and took the better part of 2 days to sew. But the thing > is, like making anything, there was an immense satisfaction in the > process. There are imperfections (that don't affect function) but they > are MY imperfections and part of the story of making My tarp tent. If > one doesn't have the time/patience/sewing machine, there are several > ready-made tarp tents available. Or do what Kent Peterson does. > http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2009/08/compact-comforts-of-home.html > > > On Oct 14, 5:40 pm, Lee Legrand <krm2...@gmail.com> wrote: > > The tarp solution is limited to the condition that you will always be in > a > > wooded area with trees and ground soft enough to stake your tarp up. > What > > if you are in plains area where you want shelter but there is no trees to > > hold up the tarp? I think if you are going to purchase a tent, you have > to > > consider what condition you plan to be in while bicycle camping. If you > > plan to be only in a certain type of area where conditions allow you to > use > > trees, then a tarp or other non-free standing tents are available. If you > do > > not know what kind of condition you will be in, a tent that can be set up > > anywhere will be your best bet. It may be heavier but at least you know > you > > only need a spot to put a tent up and not be restricted the conditions of > > the surroundings. > > > > L. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Oct 14, 2011 at 4:58 PM, velomann <velom...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > I know I'm in the minority here, but I really think that for the > > > majority of what people need when bike camping, a tarp tent is an > > > excellent solution. There's a learning curve to setting one up, but > > > it's not a steep curve, and getting it right gives the same sense of > > > satisfaction as, say, successfully truing a wheel. I made my own 2-man > > > tarp using a Ray-Way kit and am thrilled with it. Plus I made it > > > myself, which just adds to the pleasure every time I sleep in it. It's > > > roomy, totally dry, gets excellent airflow, and if I think I'll sleep > > > in buggy conditions, I've got the inside net-tent with floor that > > > attaches to the tarp. I usually hunt up sticks for pitching (or > > > between trees works great) but have been considering getting about six > > > 18" tent pole sections to take with me so I don't need to rely on > > > sticks. Silicone-impregnated nylon - silnylon - s pretty amazing > > > lightweight stuff. My roomy tarp, with titanium stakes and guylines, > > > weighs just over a pound, and with the bugnet and stakes I'm still > > > barely over 2, in a really small package. > > > > > Like I said, not for everyone, but if you have a strong DIY ethic - or > > > you're just cheap - it's a great way to go. > > > An added benefit most people are not aware of is that the air > > > circulation you get with a properly pitched tarp means less > > > condensation inside so you actually sleep warmer than in a tent, and > > > don't have the moisture issue to deal with when you pack up in the > > > morning. > > > > > See info here:http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Tarp-Kit/index.htm > > > > > btw - Ray Jardine used one of his tarp tents for his 2010 trans- > > > america ride, the same one (I think) he used for his through hike of > > > the Appalachian trail just before the ride. > > > > > On Oct 12, 7:34 pm, Ryan J <rmerr...@murraystate.edu> wrote: > > > > I am in starting the "looking" phase of purchasing a tent for bike > > > camping > > > > and was wondering if any of the group had any recommendations. I > need > > > the > > > > tent to fit two people at most (I may go with the wife sometimes) but > > > > usually it will just be me. I guess top priorities would be weight, > I > > > would > > > > like it to be free standing if possible, I have often camped in areas > > > where > > > > staking would not work, and rain proof, I just hate getting wet at > night. > > > > Any thoughts? > > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups > > > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com > . > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > > For more options, visit this group at > > >http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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