Bikamper bicycle tent?

[badgercat]

I looked around but didn't find any previous mention of this in the forums--has anyone heard of the Topeak Bikamper before? My boyfriend, who has been researching getting into bicycle camping/touring just stumbled upon it on the REI website:
http://www.rei.com/product/732405

A few things strike me as impractical: it lives on your handlebars, where I would imagine you'd want a much more immediately practical handlebar bag (I guess you wouldn't HAVE to keep the tent there while you were riding, but it would still force you to swap it out with your regular handlebar bag), and you can't have a pitched tent and a functional bicycle at the same time. Also, you think if they figured out all that crazy geometry, they could have included a way to keep your chain dry. Regardless, it's still kind of a neat idea... *shrug*

ETA: I'm just now noticing that all the provided pictures have mtb's. I wonder how/if it would work with drop bars. Interesting.

[ridebikeme]

I looked at this tent last year myself. After looking at it a bit, I ended realizing that I could buy a lighter weight tent simply by buying a backpacking tent. (which I already have) Great idea though!

[Tri Girl]

That seems like a really cool idea! I think for mtn biking it would be more practical. Once you set up camp in the wilderness, it's not likely you would need your bike to do much- you could go hiking to explore, play, etc.
However, with a road bike, when you set up camp, you might want to ride to the store, or go explore the area- and your bike would be all tied up (literally).
Plus, for $200, you could get a really light freestanding backpacking tent (like ridebikeme said). I do like the idea, just not sure of the practical use for road touring.
Just my thoughts. Thanks for posting that tho, as that's the first time I'd seen something like that. Pretty clever!

[Ha(m)mer]

If you go to topeak's website, they have a second version of the tent. It's slightly smaller, maybe 10 cm or so smaller... But, it's freestanding. It uses tubes for support. Like a mountain bike tube at one end and a small 16 insh ish one on the other end. You use a pump to inflate it. If you used it while mtn biking then the tube could be a spare for the bike. They say that you could use a patched tube for the tent too. Then it also has a few stakes and cables to tie it down too.

In the images that I've seen illustrating the tent, they show it on the handlebars or on top of a trunk rack.

I think that I too would look for a backpacking tent, though the bikamper models sound cool.

[Zen]

This tent looks interesting. I wonder how much it costs, though...
i just threw a dollar store shower curtain secured by a couple of clothespins over my bike.

[PamNY]

i just threw a dollar store shower curtain secured by a couple of clothespins over my bike.

I hope you didn't have much wind. Guess you didn't have to worry about condensation, though.

Pam

[Zen]

I hope you didn't have much wind. Guess you didn't have to worry about condensation, though.

Pam

Not to use as a tent,is that what you thought? No,to keep my bike dry!
I used a tent for me i

[PamNY]

Not to use as a tent,is that what you thought? No,to keep my bike dry!
I used a tent for me i

Yes, that's what I thought. Must be time for bed. Glad you had a tent.

Pam

[DebW]

This tent looks nice for bike camping - freestanding with shelter for your bike also. http://www.rei.com/product/779410

Here's two photos of my bike and an 8x10 silnylon tarp turned into a very functional shelter. I did this in the back yard and haven't actually camped with it. It would be fine unless the bike was muddy, and then it might be messy crawling past the bike into the shelter.

On my last bike camping trip, I used a silshelter, which weighs 14 oz, plus 2 oz poles. It's a tent-shaped tarp, like a floorless tent. I also often use a hammock and tarp, no poles needed but it weighs more than the tarp alone.

[DebW]

Here's a picture of my Silshelter on the C&O Canal trip. It was October so not much problem with bugs. I did have slugs on my gear one morning, though. If it had been summer, I would have brought my bug bivy http://www.trailspace.com/gear/adventure-16/bug-bivy/.

[Tri Girl]

Deb- that mountain hardware tent sure is pricey, but MAN what a great idea for touring!!!!! If I were going cross country I'd definitely snap that tent up. What a brilliant idea to not have to worry about the bike in the elements- and nice space for all the bags with it. Cool!
I like the setup you had for your bike and what you used on the C&O.

[Aggie_Ama]

That mountain hardware tent is really neat. We spent about that much on our MH tent and they are so well made it was worth every penny. I am not sure I would for 1 person. We pretty much car camp and just put the bikes in the car for sleepy time but I like Deb's methods.

[Zen]

Here's a picture of my Silshelter on the C&O Canal trip. .

But there's no fly or floor. If it rains you're SOL and
I don't want snakes huddling next to me for warmth

[DebW]

But there's no fly or floor. If it rains you're SOL and
I don't want snakes huddling next to me for warmth

I was lucky I wasn't camping in the rain. My groundcloth was not much wider than my sleeping bag. I only saw one snake the whole trip, so wasn't too worried about that. It was sure nice to have light pannier.

[sfa]

This tent looks interesting. I wonder how much it costs, though...
i just threw a dollar store shower curtain secured by a couple of clothespins over my bike.

Wow, that looks nice. I googled it and found it for $300. Bit more than something from the dollar store, but worth it if you're doing a lot of touring or backpacking!

Sarah