I just came back from my first bikepacking trip and spent 3 nights camping.
There is one thing I’m still wondering about though: what do you do with your bike when you’re sleeping in your tent?
I just left mine next to the tent with a lock around a tree, but I still slept a bit less comfortably because I was worried someone might steal it. Especially since there were other people camping at the same site.
I’d love to hear your experiences and any tips you have. Maybe I’m just overthinking?
by General_Aspect7113
39 Comments
Yes that’s definitely stressful, you can tie it to your tent also
I’ve only two times across europe but i just left bike close to the tent if i was “middle of no where” wouldn’t even lock it
Whilst sleeping at an airport I’ll tie my bag to myself,you can always try tethering yourself to the bike in a way that allows you to sleep.
Yeah same, lock and just leave it around the tent.
Put a small hiplock on it to make sure its not rideable.
After that I don’t even think about it. Its never happened and if it did I’d just have to deal with it.
So far, I’ve had luck.
I either have been the only tent in the vicinity, or the two three other tents were also bike packers.
The most recent trip, the only other people were a bunch of campers on a ledge above the tent grounds, so I didn’t really worry about the possibility of theft. I simply pitched my tent next to a bench, propped the bike against that bench and put a lock through the rear wheel.
Lock it to something. If there is nothing to lock it to, put the lock through the rear wheel and attach one of the tent fly guy-lines to the bike.
Lock it to a nearby tree or whatever
The last tent I used was big enough that I could fit it in the outer tent if I took the wheel off, so I’d do that and lock it to itself with a D lock. Failing that, lock it up outside the tent.
So far no issues but I know the feeling.
Normally I try to lock it to something (tree/pole etc.) if not available I did lock it to my tent so if somebody was messing with it I hopefully wake up 🤷♂️😄
first, lock it so its not ride-able, second, run some kind of tether through that lock, extending into the tent, and then onto your/your pillow/sleeping bag/something good enough for you to awake you. i do like locking it to an object like a tree just so it appears locked to dissuade an opportunistic thief from approaching my camp. personally, i lay it on the ground so its not standing up and proud about being so expensive and ready to test Darwin’s theory. when i camp, i try to appear as rough on the edges as possible, and having everything nice and proper, i feel, is a display showing care that doesn’t compute to thieves as strength.
Same as you, lock it to a tree to prevent casual theft, not much you can do against an organised one.
There are options like using a tarp tent so the bike is in with you (put the pole through the bike as a safety measure for example) or use the bike as the pole (DD Hammocks have a specific tarp and tent combo for bikepacking that does this)
As locks during the day, I use a Kryptoflex and a small ABUS lock.
When camping, if i cannot attach the bike on a fixed point, I do either:
1. if everything is cool, lock (or not) the wheel and put aside the tent
1. if not, lock one end of the flex cable on the bike and have the other end in the tent tied to something
Last night I had that situation on a small Biwak camp in Denmark.
I locked the wheels, pretty sure it wasn’t necessary.
When travelling Italy and Austrian I either slept illegally in the middle of nowhere or on camping grounds. I never locked the bike. 🫣
I recently bought two of these zip tie like locks from hiplock. They appear to be helpful for bikepacking.
Bike sleeps safe and sound in the tent, I go outside and keep watch.
I always put one tent ple through the spokes of my bike, hoping that if anyone will steal it at night they will make a huge ruccus ripping it from the tent and thus waking me up.
Spoon it 😄
I pull a tarpaulin over my locked-up bike and secure it to the ground with tent pegs. As I leave all my bags on my bike and only take my valuables into the tent, this provides the bags (which are also covered with their own rain covers) with an extra layer of protection against the rain.
I bring a shitty little key/cable lock and just leave it next to the tent. I will sometimes just cover it in towels and other shit with someting noisey if it falls e.g. a pan or something so if they start taking stuff off it will make noise.
That being said I don’t camp near where people are.
Camp stealthier and take the front axle into the tent with you.
I take a 3person tent and it sleeps with me.
For real in the beginning I used to tie it with my mini lock to the pole, now i don’t do anything
It lays in the rain until I wake up. :d
I’ve read through the mishaps and tragedies in lots of bike touring journals, and with my own experience of having a bike stolen (not on tour, but right under my nose), I always secure it. I use a small lock to secure it to something and I pull a small DIY camo-colored bike poncho over it. If there’s nothing to lock it to, I’ll lock the front wheel, and tie something in my tent to it, so it will make a good deal of noise being pulled out of my tent and hopefully wake me.
I sleep well at night content in the fact that I’ve taken every reasonable precaution.
I lay it down “behind” the tent. I usually lock it too so someone can’t ride it away on it.
Like many here I integrate it somehow into the tent and do something to make it unridable without thinking, like take the chain off or remove an axle. Then they have to either carry it or fuss around too long for it to be easy.
I also try to avoid camping where people pass through with cars (bikepacking or not). It’s easy to steal a bike with a car, much harder if you have to walk in and bike out.
I’m putting a part of my bike under the tent fly as close as possible to me.
Sometimes attach it with a small string to the tent.
just so i would wake up if someone moves it
All the worry is in your head. Mine has sits outside my tent. ⛺️ Never had a problem in years of bike packing. I also refuse to ride with worry and stress. Go with a positive mindset and you’ll be surprised at how worry goes away
I was thinking about getting one of those small bike alarms. You can activate it with a remote and it will ring when the bike is moved. Does somebody have experience with that?
I lay it next to my tent locked and also attach a tent rope to it. I usually sleep with earplugs but if the tent is shaking when someone is grabbing the bike you definitely wake up..
my bike is chillin with mother bikes at the campsite
Lock it to whatever’s around and hope it’s still there in the morning. Hasn’t gone wrong yet, I guess.
I lay my bike down on its side up against the tent and stake the second vestibule over the bike. You would have to disassemble my tent to steal it.
I usually pull the front wheel off and stash it in the vestibule or use it to support the fly,
Swallow it
A super small lock around the chain ring
If you’re cold, they’re cold, bring them inside!
A tent for me and a nicer tent for the bike
Nothing. Leave it outside behind tent with the bags attached.
I’ve been bike camping for over 30yrs. Never brought a lock with me.