iconicflux

A friend just asked me a question that led me into an interesting line of thinking. I've been making diy gear for backpacking and hammocks for a bit now and I've seen some rain flys for bikes that you zip up but they always seem to be made of either heavy or non-durable materials. Some don't have zippers and I've never seen one well designed for keeping a bike dry while locked up.

I'm thinking about making one out of some ripstop silnylon to see if I can overcome these issues. Has anyone else has done this or if there are plans for it anywhere that people are aware of?

I figure I'll do it with cheap material first like tyvek or Walmart silnylon ($2 yard) and if that works I can try it out on some ultra light material.

Once I figure that out maybe I'll make a rain suit out of it too so I can finally have one that isn't constricting.

Thanks,
Kevin

BigAura

I'll cover my bike will a couple of garbage bags.

• keeps handlebars & seat dry
• It helps stealthing the bike
• makes it less enticing in a public campsite
• I tie down with para-cord or repurposed rack straps when it's windy.
• weight:1.8 ounces/bag

.

Squeezebox

Nice tent! What kind is it?
About the bicycle cover. There are days when you and your bicycle are going to get soaking wet. Will your bicycle really stay dryer under such a tarp? Or will it get just as wet from condensation? I made 1 for Europe in '82. I kinda remember sending it home. I do remember being unimpressed.
A good question for the bicycle commuters, if they cover their bicycles on rainy days.

Tourist in MSN

A touring bike is supposed to get wet. Rain while in the campsite is especially convenient, you can clean the mud off the bike.



That said, I always use a cover on my leather saddle in the campsite or while riding in the rain, that is not supposed to get too wet.

fietsbob

1 rain cover for the 2 panniers and the top of the rack load.. rugged rather than superlight..

2 rain covers for each low riding pannier, they included a flap closed pocket on the outside..

as a Paper Map user that was where Maps went , other than the one on top of the bar bag in its map case..
Brooks under a Plastic bag or 2.



Panniers: Beckman, were not easy to remove unless you knew the mounting scheme..

so They stayed on Often leaving the rain covers in place ..

BigAura

Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 = big & heavy by todays standards (4.6 lbs) & discontinued

Leebo

Tyvek should work well. Be sure to spring for the tyvek tape. Way awesome. And then wash said item in the washer. Less noisy. One can buy tyvek suits at a big box store.

bikenh

I just use kitty liter buckets so nothing there that needs water protection. As for the seat or the cyclecomputer(wired not wireless) I just recycle plastic shopping bags and wrap them around the cyclecomputer the saddle or anywhere else that I want to keep dry. Free, you can't beat the price and its works, can't beat that even more. An even bigger plus...it makes the bike look unattractive and less likely to get stolen.

skimaxpower

If OP wants a new tent and a bike cover you should look to find a used or NOS Mountain Hardwear Ghisallo 1 Tent. No longer made, but a pretty great concept.

Doug64

This is what we use on tours; repurposed shower caps to cover the saddle when off the bikes.

Squeezebox

Pannier covers? I'm thinking about turkey roaster bags to pack things in. Waterproof and pretty durable.

Doug64

My panniers stay right where you see them in camp. I don't take any inside the tent, and they are waterproof so they spend the night on the picnic table seat. I do turn the empty rackpack upside down to shed water. I have screwed up and left a pannier open over night, but not a big thing. The only problem I've had with this practice is raccoons trying to drag off the food pannier.

indyfabz

+1. I have Ortlieb Packers. If you don't get the hoods on right you can get water in them if they are standing up. To prevent that, I simply lay them down with the backs facing up when I leave them outside not on the racks. If they are on the racks I simply take the time to make sure the hoods and the side pocket flap on the rears are properly closed. The only time I would consider taking panniers in the tent when their are things I might need or I would have to leave them outside laying in mud and/or pooled water. Regarding the latter situation, I can't think of the last place I camped that did not have a picnic table.

Leebo

They also make 2.5 gallon ziplock bags.

LuckySailor

Why? Seems senseless to me. Beyond covering the saddle, na. Repurposed shower caps is all I have ever used.

gracehowler

I sort of agree with lucky sailor, we often carry a super thin, lightest plastic drop cloth that can be found, with a little care it makes a season, but my prime purpose is the bike is a bit more "out of sight, out of mind", one doesn't see it as easily so there is a bit of security too,
BUT, we toured Washington state and it rained on us 75% of our tour, so, we just covered the seats.
R&J

Squeezebox

Thanks!!
But even with waterproof panniers a couple oz. of extra water insurance doesn't hurt a bit.

Doug64

With Ortlieb bags it would be like wearing a belt and suspenders

Squeezebox

Yea!! Sometimes that's okay!!

Squeezebox

The film they sell to cover windows and then shrink with a hair dryer is called polycro, I believe. Some ultra light hikers use it for ground sheet.
I hear its very light and quite durable. Much lighter than Tyvek and maybe even lighter than Cuban fiber. So the right size piece of that, with plastic clothes pins, or some other very light clip, just might make a decent garage for your bicycle when on tour. ???
My question is, is there any reason to do that?

rifraf

A plastic shopping bag free from our supermarkets is all I bother with, to cover just the saddle.
My heavy Ortlieb Roller Classics and everything in them, are so far impervious to the worst of weather.