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The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:30 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Following on from the Turino-Nice thread, I said I was going to have a go at turning my CTC bike bag into a tarp ... well here we go. I figure if I've got to carry it, I may as well sleep under it.
There's much more room than it appears in the picture, anyone 6' + would be fine. I made some plastic washers and clued them in place before folding / glueing the corners of the bag. Liberal application of Gorilla tape for reinforcement and we're good to go. The addition of a slightly longer pole and some short lines at the foot end will produce a tighter pitch.
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:52 pm
by Chew
Any chance of a pic from above and plane mode
Tempted to have a go myself
Scratching my head how you've done it. Imagine you've chopped the ends off to convert it from a bag into a sheet and then into a tarp?
Then it'll be more tape to convert it back into a bag for the flight?
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:23 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Aye, I'll take some more pics.
Scratching my head how you've done it. Imagine you've chopped the ends off to convert it from a bag into a sheet and then into a tarp?
Then it'll be more tape to convert it back into a bag for the flight?
No, it's still a bag, I haven't cut anything off ... in essence it's a double skinned tarp. Just needs one reinforced tie-out at each corner and one in the middle of the sealed short edge.
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:29 pm
by Chew
What's the size of your bag?
Mines 126 x 254cm
I was going to chop a good 50cm of the end as it seems a bit big
Just measured my silt tarp and that's 150 x 222cm
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:40 pm
by Scattamah
That looks pretty good, Stu. What's it fold down like? Now wondering if I could get away with that and put up with getting eaten alive vs the Solplex. Gotta get the bike there in one anyways.
Greetz
S.
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:46 pm
by Chew
Scattamah wrote:What's it fold down like?
Its quite a thick plastic so it doesnt really pack down that easily. More a case of fold it several times and wedge it between the front harness and your drybag.
The other thing is its quite slippy
Its kinda like a bag you'd get a mattress in or building supplies.
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:00 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
I'm going to have a play and see about wrapping it round my front dry bag.
I've attached small dymeena loops to the tie-outs that can stay in place and I'll make it some lines with mini 'biners to clip onto them.
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:29 pm
by Scattamah
Ok. So in theory, it could be folded down and rolled and I could strap it on the back of my Revelate harness backing onto the head tube. Cheers for the info fellas.
Greetz
S.
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:40 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Ok. So in theory, it could be folded down and rolled and I could strap it on the back of my Revelate harness backing onto the head tube.
Yep ... if I think on I'll try it tomorrow and take some snaps.
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:32 pm
by Chew
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 7:36 am
by adjustablewench
I think it is also worth noting I did pick up a few holes in mine in transit . . . The biggest where the baggage chap ripped it to 'swab the bike for explosives' as it was too big to go through the machine.
Take tape to sort these if you are looking to keep it waterproof :)
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 9:18 am
by Sarah
V cool. we are thinking of taking these bags to Spain in November, flying in Malaga and out Gibralta. could use one as ground sheet and other as you have made.
Any further tips to flying bikes in bags, scares the heck out of me, I like my hard shell Thule box !
Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 7:49 pm
by Chew
Well, in for a penny and all that......
Converted my bag as well. Needs a bit more reinforcement on the ridge and some lines from a guy in a shed, but all set to go.
Death or glory

Re: The CTC poly tarp.
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:28 pm
by HUX
Guy's when you pack your bike's don't leave anything on that can be easily opened or detached from it. I had stuff go missing on the way back from Pisa via a nice hole ripped in the bag.
Have an vaguely exciting trip. I'm not jealous at all.