Cycling UK Forum

I have read the older posts on here regarding this tent. The most recent on the Gelert is last Spring. I'm just wondering what people's assessment of it is now after having used it for a year or more. I know about the poles problems on the Solo so I'm looking for impressions and reviews outside of that problem. I'm planning a 3 day tour of the Peaks and would ideally only take my carradice saddlebag and still camp.

How has it been in the rain, wind, cold?
Problems you've had with it apart from the poles?
How is it for setting up, especially in the rain since it's inner pitching first?
Any condensation problems?
I'm curious about storage though it would only need to hold either my Carradice Saddlebag or two small panniers.

Thanks

robwa10 wrote:I have read the older posts on here regarding this tent. The most recent on the Gelert is last Spring. I'm just wondering what people's assessment of it is now after having used it for a year or more. I know about the poles problems on the Solo so I'm looking for impressions and reviews outside of that problem. I'm planning a 3 day tour of the Peaks and would ideally only take my carradice saddlebag and still camp.

How has it been in the rain, wind, cold?
Problems you've had with it apart from the poles?
How is it for setting up, especially in the rain since it's inner pitching first?
Any condensation problems?
I'm curious about storage though it would only need to hold either my Carradice Saddlebag or two small panniers.

Thanks

>>Problems you've had with it apart from the poles?

you can get it taught but not taught enough to withstand heavy winds.

>> How is it for setting up, especially in the rain since it's inner pitching first?

easy to setup and quick, inner first you have to be careful not to get it wet in the rain when pitching

>> Any condensation problems?

none

>> I'm curious about storage though it would only need to hold either my Carradice Saddlebag or two small panniers.

should be just enough room. I got the weight down to 1 kilo by switching to aluminium poles. it is a small tent however and hard to get into. not really any good if you are 5 feet 10 inches and above as there is no room and your head touches the inner tent.

Hi there,

I'm curious where you managed to get aluminium replacement poles for the Gelert solo?

Kind regards

Tim

you can buy kits or in my case I took them from another another where it was no longer useable.

I too have followed the previous posts with interest and as a result bought a Gelert solo for £25 earlier this year with a view to using it this summer. So far it has had just one night's trial usage in the back garden.

No real problems - small but perfectly formed. I am 5' 10" and could stretch out comfortably with, however, limited room for any kit storage. Given that panniers and saddle bag would be mainly empty overnight I intend to take a large plastic bag / bin liner and keep them outside in that. That should leave enough room under the fly sheet for stove, pans etc.

I parked my bike parallel to the tent on its kick stand and then used a elastic clothes line to hold the door up to form a canopy and to stabilize the bike. A small piece of old groundsheet made a useful area under the canopy for sitting and getting in and out.

Two modifications have been done. First to replace the steel tent pegs as supplied with lighter aluminum ones retrieved from my old tent. (A Black's Tinker - any one remember them?). Secondly a small snap link has been attatched to the apex of the inner tent using the existing tapes in order to have somewhere to hang a torch from.

In view of the comments re the poles I have taken the precaution of winding a length of duck tape around a short pencil and adding this to the little repair kit supplied. Hopefully this and a couple of spare spokes could be used for temporary fix if necessary.

Hope this helps.

Alan

Thanks Stephen and Alan!

I think with the comments on here and other forums, and the fact Amazon are selling them £23 delivered I'll probably buy one when I've finished selling one or two items. I'm not sure if it will be quite big enough but I think for that price if it doesn't work then I can just Ebay it or similar.

What really appeals is the small pack size and weight. I really only want to take my saddlebag so the smaller the better. Also I've read that once you change the poles and pegs you can get it down to near 1 kilo. That is very appealing.

Thanks for all the replies.