Touring: Tent or Bivi

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sick-as-a-dog-so-show-me-you-biv...

If you've got lots of time on your hands have a look at this thread from the fat tyred side of the coin (70 pages+)

The wife and I have cycle toured, walked and done loads of climbing in our lives. As a result we have a lot of experience with outdoor sleeping arrangements - in fact, we even spent our wedding night in a tent. For the most part, a bivvy like this one http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16312&cate... with a tarp is fine, but if the wind comes up, and the temperature drops or it rains, it can be miserable as all hell.

A small tent, especially a two man is generally a more sound investment in the long run, as it will be used over and over again, not just cycle touring. Also, if there are 2 of you, one packs the tent, the other carries something else, and the overall load is lighter.

No idea what your budget is, but you can get some really compact tents:
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/shelters-1/WF102-3.html
http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/msr_fast_stash.html

From my experience I would recommend a small tent rather than a bivi. I did some touring with a bivi tent (similar to the orange thing) thinking more about the weight saving than the practicalities. At the end of a long day on the bike its too small it only fits around your sleeping bag, you can't get into the tent then the bag and you cant cook/brew up "under cover" if the weather turns inclement.

Ive done something similar on a Motorbike and bought a Robens Small Dreamer. Plenty of alternative options.

A tunnel tent if rpetty much a bivi tent with poles and a few more basic features including storage space for drying clothes and keeping stuff inside and secure.

The Robens had been advertised as a cycle touring tent. Really good.

i have a 2 man tent, bought years ago. it was a mere £50 and only weighs in at 5kg.
theres two of you going by th looks of it, so id take that and take it in turns to carry it each day.
it will b cosy, but is a slight upgrade from the "bivvi tent", which is not really a bivi. a bivvi is literally a bright orange thick plastic bag, LOL

summer months wont get near to zero in england - a 2/3 season with a bivi bag should suffice - any more may be too hot!

sounds like a whole mess of fun, enjoy!

You need one of these! http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Midget-Bushtrekka-p-16143.html

be prepared for the weather I say. depending on the length and destination of the tour you could see a whole bunch of different weathers.

Unless you can guarantee good weather, and especially as you are not too bothered about weight, I would go for safer rather than sorrier - probably a small tent.

I'm doing some 'touring' this summer with a bivi/liner combo because I am confident on the weather and the temps should stay around 15 at night and I am only taking a seat pack as 'luggage' - in the UK I wouldn't be so confident

GKam, have you ever visited crazyguyonabike.com? It is a fantastic website full of cycle touring journals, with quite a few on trikes. The people on the forums there are very friendly and can probably give you lots of advice, if you can bear being disloyal to road.cc

Cycle touring always seems to be a compromise between weight and comfort. A tarp and a bivi is probably the lightest and cheapest option, but not very comfortable.
I think a light 1 man tent would be best or have you thought about youth hostels which are more likely to have somewhere to store the trike than hotels and are cheaper.

Hotels.