Camping it up
One bike, one tent, one world
Pocket Guides #14: Touring under canvas
A bike and a tent is one of the most flexible and independent forms of travelling there is. Having transport that allows you to get pretty much anywhere and the gear to let you stay pretty much anywhere means that, well, going anywhere is possible.
Most of us have had a thoroughly miserable camping experience at some point and those ones have a tendency to stick with us more than the good ones, but don’t let one bad experience put you off. With well-selected camping gear, kept simple and to a healthy minimum, you can be warm, comfortable and raring to go the next day. Here’s how:
THE TENT Your high street, twenty quid special won’t do. It’ll weigh a ton, take up acres of space and probably won’t cope if the weather turns sour. Make sure you buy for the conditions that you’re likely to experience and go as compact and lightweight as possible. Think mountaineering and cycling - if those guys can cope with it carrying a bit of camping kit, then hauling it with a motorcycle is going to be a piece of cake.
SLEEP WELL A good night’s sleep is worth its weight in gold. Chose a sleeping bag for the conditions you’ll be encountering. A three-season bag with a liner lets you add the liner if it’s cold or use the liner alone if it’s really hot. The bag will then deal with all the middle ground. A good-quality sleeping mat is also important. If space is an issue, get a three-quarter length one.
PACK IT IN Keeping your camping gear separate from other kit makes life easy. We pack the tent, sleeping bags, mats and cooking gear in a separate, waterproof bag, leaving panniers free. Speaking of which, aluminium boxes really come into their own when camping, doubling as tables, chairs or even chopping boards.
SETTING UP Always try to set up camp before dark but if you’re late you can use your bike headlight to get your tent up – just don’t keep it on too long. Keep your bike close to your tent but parked leaning away from it in case it falls. You can use your bike as a wind break, for a bit of privacy for your entrance and to hang things on. Randomly spread kit makes for a real obstacle course at night, so get your site organized before you turn in.