On a related matter, I was talking to a team coach the other day and he said it’s always the people who stay in hotels that are late, turn up to race not having had breakfast etc! There’s something to be said for camping on site and having your head in the game from the moment you wake up.
– if you’re in a field of other people camping and you’ve got a bed in the back of your van, the chances are almost impossible
Yeah, good point I suppose.
There’s something to be said for camping on site and having your head in the game from the moment you wake up.
Or just being organised...
Or just being organised…
I'm incredibly organised, but often races are 3-4 hours away, we can't afford £100 a night for 2 nights X 17 weekends. So camping has to be an option.
Know where you are coming from and it soon all adds up. We did the maths early on and plunged for the camper. It was and still is the right decision for us taking into account we were also travelling to Europe for races.
If I was you I think it would be one or two Decathlon pop up tents. They go up in seconds and don't take long to put down. They are easy to dry and don't take up much room.
The main thing, which ever way you go, is a good comfortable nights sleep for him.
Van as kit store, gazebo for living space and a small tent as a clean area for just sleeping in. Trug to bundle the tent in if it has to be packed wet or it's just too windy to fold.
What does that cantilever on or is the ladder structural? Is the floor rigid?
How do roof tenters deal with the inevitable night time wazz?
Lethal climbing out of one of them half asleep in the dark at 2am
It's bad enough in a normal tent when no amount of willing makes the need disappear 😊
The correct answer to all this is a small cheap caravan. Can keep the basic eating and sleeping kit in it all the time, hitch it up and off you go.
The correct answer to all this is a small cheap caravan. Can keep the basic eating and sleeping kit in it all the time, hitch it up and off you go.
Well apart from the inability to get it down certain lanes, the lack of parking at venues, the lack of parking at home and the expense to purchase, it's perfect 🙂
I struggle to sleep in hotels but not so in a tent. Might be the cool fresh air.
I'd take a tent, campsites can be noisy especially during school holidays and weekends, I prefer to wild camp. Sounds like fun..
I reckon 2x pop-up tents so you and your lad have your own 'rooms' supplement that with a pull-out side awning and/or windbreaks as necessary if wind/rain start challenging those pop-up tents.
Fast pitching and flexibility to deal with different sites and weather is really what you're after.
I think it's going to start off as being 1 pop-up 2" tent from Decathlon/Ebay, along with the boy in the van on a memory foam mattress. We'll also for the first 2 have the Gazebo with us for day to day 'room' stuff, but obviously that doesn't have a floor so won't work for sleeping if it's raining/wet. So tent for me, van for him (it's carpeted on the walls to give some insulation, but we'll leave side door ajar to cut down on condensation and give ventilation for the first tests. I don't sleep that well even at home so a crap sleep won't be a massive issue for me.
Pop-up Tent in the gazebo could work maybe? Just doubles your protection from the elements and wolves.
Don't forget a couple of folding chairs. Makes a big difference having something other than the van or the ground to sit on camping
I think it’s going to start off as being 1 pop-up 2″ tent from Decathlon/Ebay, along with the boy in the van on a memory foam mattress. We’ll also for the first 2 have the Gazebo with us for day to day ‘room’ stuff, but obviously that doesn’t have a floor so won’t work for sleeping if it’s raining/wet. So tent for me, van for him
You knew that when you started the thread, didn't you? 🤣😉
Can't both sleep in the van, gazebo useless for sleeping in. Should have just asked 'what 2 man tent' and saved 2 pages 😜
No, not really, But it was obviously on the list. But was nice to get ideas from people who've been there done it. We do the camping thing twice a year but i'm usually very drunk at that 😀
Don’t forget a couple of folding chairs. Makes a big difference having something other than the van or the ground to sit on camping
Yeah we have plenty of those, along with a table for food/helmet and a semi-workbench, along with the back of the van for chilling out.
New tent
Weeksy I have an older version of one of these sitting in the garage you can have for nothing: https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/camping-equipment/1327-omega-350.html albeit the 400. One or two of the base peg loops have failed but it’s easily fixed and wouldn’t blow away without them.
Maybe try it, if you don’t get on with it keep it or pay it forward.
That's incredibly kind fella...Thank you... but honestly we have multiple 'normal' tents... So i was really thinking of one of these super quick ones to help with time in the mornings. For example at Rheola you can't camp on site. Camping is 1 mile away, so in the morning we still need to get up, get packed, loaded and shipped back to the hill. Hence me thinking of quicker solutions. In my experience, getting a normal tent up/down etc isn't the quickest job in the world and on these mornings, we want to be up and out easier rather than slower.
Not all meetings are like this, at a fair few we'll be camping at the actual course, which means putting the tents down is less of an issue as i can do that while he's getting kitted up and signed on etc... But sometimes, up and away ASAP is of the essence.
Great offer though, thank you.
The correct answer to all this is a small cheap caravan. Can keep the basic eating and sleeping kit in it all the time, hitch it up and off you go.
Well apart from the inability to get it down certain lanes, the lack of parking at venues, the lack of parking at home and the expense to purchase, it’s perfect 🙂
Yeah, caravans are good, but have a very narrow envelope of usability when you're looking at having one as a race HQ. Unless you're only doing "proper" UCI events at "proper" venues.
Most of the racing i've done over the last 20-25 years would have been fine with a caravan. I've either been parked in, or close to the main arena (so easy access) or it's been a larger event, with requirements to get trucks/generators/TV crews/ambulances etc on site.
CX/local MTB events would have been a non-starter though. Some of the sites they barely even had access for cars.
Well apart from the inability to get it down certain lanes, the lack of parking at venues, the lack of parking at home and the expense to purchase, it’s perfect
You forget the extra fuel cost and slower speed limits. Might work for some events at a cost but real issue for others.
Only £13k 😉
So i was really thinking of one of these super quick ones to help with time in the mornings
Equally I have a spare Quecha 2-seconds-simple-2 pop up....
Equally I have a spare Quecha 2-seconds-simple-2 pop up….
1. Do you find it literally that quick ? I've watched the video..
2. I'd happily buy that one off you mate.
Do you find it literally that quick ? I’ve watched the video..
To put it up, you literally throw it on the ground and let it expand, & bang in 4 pegs. To put it down yes it can literally be done in 60 seconds, but there is a knack. It took me about 30 minutes the first time albeit I'm not known for being very practical with my hands. It has very clear instructions.
I’d happily buy that one off you mate.
I got it for £20 in a sale some years ago, you can have it, its served me well. I'm en route back from Gloucester on Tuesday night via A40/M40 for a handover if needed.
Well yes, the van will be just a van… but will only have 2 MTBs in there, so could easily fit a single mattress
I can easily fit 2 bikes sideways if I take the front wheels off leaving room for a double mattress or 2x vango 7.5cm self inflating.
Pedals off I can do 4 bikes..
Insulated is a must or you get condensation ..
Never that pleasant rolling over in the night and getting a face full of DMR Vault! 😂
Thick merino socks over pedals is a must... even if its not your face
Van will work on that horrible night you arrive late, lashing rain and don’t want to get the tent up.
Van is far simpler most times as well.
you rock up, park .. couple of beers and sleep or watch some videos then sleep.
stick the heater on if its cold...
leave in the morning (when needed) without a wet tent to pack...
I've carried a tent lots and then not used it.
@weeksy.. take a look if you are at Canada Heights Sunday..
the van will be just a van
Mine's just a van but insulated/heater fitted, cooler in when needed (won't be bothering this weekend) .. insulated and I can still stick a load of 8' fence panels in when needed
Away at a different race this weekend mate sorry.
Away at a different race this weekend mate sorry.
Its "packed" (arranged) for 1 at the moment (wheels on) and I'm away Friday night elsewhere then driving directly to Canada heights for Sat night but I'll send a photo when I rearrange it.
It had 5 bikes in all wheels on Sunday...
I'm biased, but this seems a brilliant layout for a swb van, and would be 'perfect' with a drive away awning with a opening side.
Just looking into sleeping bags now... By eck some of these are expensive.
I want something that'll keep us warm, but not be the price of a small house !!!
Blacks seem to have some Berghuas ones that are not too bad at about £50 each... but open to recommendations.
Or go hybrid
Exactly what eldest did for his 7 weeks this summer. Tent/awning was a basic job on side door. Under bed garage took one bike both wheels on, or three bikes front wheel off. Spinny front seat. Small cooking area in van and 20lt water storage, lots of cupboards and hanging space.
Then two deckchairs and table in awning, and it becomes the changing and mucky space, but also good shelter from weather, including sun.
It works really well, and awning is 10 mins to put up and take down.
In terms of sleeping/living, it's going to be pretty basic. Overnight we'll put the bikes in front of van, wheels off or stacked against the end/side with 1 wheel out... freeing up most of the rest of the area for the boy to sleep in.
I'll be in a tent, he'll be in the van. So we're sorted on that bit. It's now really down to what we sleep in in terms of bags/duvets... i'm thinking bags (as per 2 posts ago) due to storage compared to duvets etc..
First test is coming up in a couple of weekends time
It’s now really down to what we sleep in in terms of bags/duvets… i’m thinking bags (as per 2 posts ago) due to storage compared to duvets etc..
I would be tempted by something like this (currently £100 on AbsoluteSnow)
https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/sierra-designs-frontcountry-bed-20-review/
And an Alpkit Dozer
https://alpkit.com/products/dozer
Just looking into sleeping bags now… By eck some of these are expensive.
Take cheap sleeping bags and a Duvet each, it's not like you are limited on space/weight for bedding, just don't put the 'best' covers on them...
+100. Expensive sleeping backs are for back packing/ bike touring etc. For dirt bagging a 3 season synthetic. For comfy camping a thick duvet and add a sleeping bag if it's really cold for extra hood / draft execution.
Thick Single duvets don't take much room, stuff them in a laundry bag or similar for easy chucking about packing etc.
Regarding sleeping bags - I bought a Snugpak Travelpak for bikepacking. It was great value for money & is a decent bag - although if only being used when taking the van with you, I'd be tempted by a rectangular sleeping bag, rather than a mummy style, so there's a bit more room to move about.
I also got a Trekology sleeping mat, which seems pretty good.
They will be absolutely fine.
British army sleeping bags are toasty and can be picked up from the surplus places pretty cheaply, often get new ones as well.
I’ll be in a tent, he’ll be in the van. So we’re sorted on that bit. It’s now really down to what we sleep in in terms of bags/duvets…
If you have one wet tent to pack you might as well have 2 ?
Vango 7.5 self inflating mattresses are very good..
Some deals on 3 season XL sleeping bags at the moment plenty of room but you can easily slip a summer bag inside and get comfy down to -10 or so.
If you're not carrying then a bloody great synthetic sleeping bag will be absolutely fine. Old duvet over the top if it's really cold
I have some really lovely down fill sleeping bags and quilts but for van camping with the kids I use the big synthetic bags. When they spill stuff on them I won't get upset that my down filled loveliness has been wrecked!
They warm and comfy. The only downsides are they're heavier and bulkier which is irrelevant for car camping
I also use a much heavier mat. It's really comfy but wouldn't dream of carrying it anywhere, it weighs over 2kg (thermarest luxurymap)
Cheers gang. I bought a couple of Olpro ones which are on 50% offer currently. We've got a spare duvet and a spare sleeping bag to use as throwovers, so we'll be good now i think.
If we're not dead in a few weekends, we'll probably have some more questions 😀
