Three season tents are wonderful finds, particularly when you can find one reported to have been used as a four season tent without any severe problems, ie collapsing under snow load.  Both of these tents share that reputation.  
Now that I live in a warmer humid climate that is mosquito infested a good portion of the year, having a mesh, ventilated tent body is very nice indeed.  The Cobra Peak 1 is very well ventilated and more instantly convertible than the Passage2.  As the Passage 2 contains more nylon on the tent body, it does offer the vented roof feature for candle emissions, etc. and allows condensation to escape when buttoned up under heavy rains. 

Links related to this topic:
Pack Kit List for Multi Day Bike Touring

I have been wanting to get a good tent review posted for some time now.  Mostly because I have a couple of very nice tents and wanting to share information about them for bike touring.
Comparing two-two person tents for the reason of showing how much tents can differ in description, cost, pack size and weight..  While bike touring a tent can become a routine shelter, a home away from home feeling when used often enough.  You can get to the point where setting up and taking down your tent becomes so "old hat" you can do it in your sleep, provided you have a comfortable enough tent for your particular needs or wants.  However, if your tent is too small, leaks or is just too complicated to set up then you will regard your tent as a burdensome piece of unnecessary baggage.

Two tents compared here, one is free standing while the other requires stakes.  The free standing Passage 2 from REI requires the use of two poles while the Coleman Peak1 Cobra (discontinued older model) uses one single aircraft quality aluminum pole.  Both are two person tents with pack size, weight differences and differing ventilation features.

I have been itching to review my old Coleman tent as it has been such a well reviewed and rock solid tent over the past 12 years or so that I just love the idea of singing its praises. Folks who love bicycle touring understand how nice it is to have a tent that has held up to enough wind beating torrential rain storms to trust a tent based on personal experience.  Even with the absence of a "bathtub" floor or a "foot print" I have kept dry through and through.  Even on an occasion of two days of solid 30 to 40mph winds and continuous soaking down pours, I stayed dry.  The Coleman Peak 1 Cobra is as good a three season that has ever been made as some mountaineering folks have used it in snow and alpine expeditions delighted by the tents' performance while tents which cost five times the price collapsed around them under the heavy snow loads. 
 
That having been said, a fellow bike tourer was proclaiming how "spoiled" he felt after using a free standing tent.  The ability to set the tent up virtually anywhere is pretty nice and the model REI offers in the Passage2 is of exceptional value.  

Where some basic consideration comes in to play is the pack size and weight.  Neither of these tents are of the glorious 2 to 3 pound models.  And how hard is that to find to serve two people in a three to four season tent?
Hard, real hard, particularly when you consider price. Passage 2 MSRP is 159.99 and I got my Coleman for under $80.
Picture at left shows the astounding pack size difference of these two tents.  Reason Passage 2 is so much longer is due to the pole design and a "footprint" is packed which contributes to the weight difference.  Passage 2 weighs in at 5lbs. 18oz. and the Coleman right about 4 lbs.

I replaced the inexpensive aluminum hook shaped stakes with some MSR Groundhog stakes for the Coleman and it helped reduce pack weight as well as ease of use in hard soil and holds up to heavy winds even better than before.

Both tents offer excellent vestibule storage space for panniers as well as dual entry, which I really like.  Gear lofts and side pockets for other personal contents are featured in both tents.  My ol' lady seemed to enjoy herself just fine while we car camped in a rest area with the Coleman, she later exclaimed "that's a one person tent".  No, it's not but I listened and we have the Passage 2 which she enjoys much more. 
 Hope this information helps in your next tent purchase for your bike touring needs. Whether you're on a solo sojourn or keeping the Misses happy.  Either way, it's all good.
Cheers!  

Shop Bike Tourings' Store for more selection and information on tents for bike touring or click on photo at left for my review of the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 tent.

I have always appreciated the small lightweight design and non toxic fuel cubes of the Esbit Pocket Stove (pictured at right). The cubes are very inexpensive and work well for heating water for tea, coffee and other quick camp meals such as your favorite instant noodles and the like.  I have also safely used this in a semi enclosed area with ventilation of course without concern of breathing toxic fumes.  A very nice option for weathering a storm in a tent and cooking under a vestibule.
Another nice feature I found is that when I noticed I was running low on fuel cubes I simply added small dry twigs to easily extend cooking methods.  Very small, folds flat for storage and small enough to fit in one's pocket.

Because I'm not a big fan of many of the starchy instant noodle products I prefer to cook organic Jasmine rice which cooks in 15 minutes or less.  Easy to flavor with dehydrated goodys and soy sauce packets.  (Separate blog article for that later) However, cooking rice requires a gentle controlled flame in which case I prefer a different type of stove that is much more convenient when planning a bike tour with more meal preparation involved.

Coleman line of multi fuel stoves are very well made.  I have two, the first one I found while backpacking.  Someone left it I'm guessing frustrated that it wouldn't work.  I was able to repair it with a new fuel plunger.  Loaned that to my former brother in law and not sure what happened to it.  Speaking of Ex's, the Exponent Dual Fuel Stove from Coleman is what I used to replace the Multi Fuel Stove I had found.  Dubbed "Dual Fuel" as it will burn Coleman Fuel or unleaded gasoline.  My experience has been that the "register" tends to malfunction and may need to be cleaned or replaced when burning unleaded gas with it.
Filling the tank of this stove is enough for a typical weekend of average cooking needs.  

For longer bike tours I use a fuel bottle from MSR with handy dispenser spout for refilling.  Whereas the Esbit is non toxic, safe to handle, Coleman fuel or white gas is awful stuff and should be dispensed carefully.  This product from UCO dispensing cap is nice and doesn't require use of a funnel for filling my stove.  Suggest getting a replacement round gasket for the cap as well.  Another good option might be the Trangia 1 liter fuel bottle which comes with dispenser and is well reviewed.

One of my favorite finds is the Stanley 24oz. Adventure Camp Cook Set with vented lid it works very well with my Coleman for controlled cooking temps.  Also, due to the vented lid I can also make rice on the Esbit stove.  Handle and lid lock shut with storage for the two insulated plastic cups and other small items can be stored as well. Such as a small "spork" (pictured above) or a small "hobo tool" from Coleman or Ozark Trails (also pictured above)  
The fold out handle of the Stanley cooker stays cool enough for safe handling and is made of stainless steel. 

If you're a gourmet coffee hound, just can't do without your cup o' joe and appreciate well designed coffee preparing medthods, this model from Bodum is a fairly durable product with chrome wrap around glass.  Good Stuff.  

All text links for products, reviews and information.  If you have any other questions, want to chat about this topic or have something else to offer that I may have missed then please use the comment link provided below.
Cheers!  To quality dining and fun riding.  Rideon.

For even more cooking options and for the gourmet in all of us a nice two person cook set is fun to play with.  With a lid that can double as a plate, mad of stainless steel with a copper bottom and built in rubber coated handle, this model from Stansport is very nice to have when you want to kick back and relax with a well cooked meal.  With the Coleman Stove described earlier on low heat I can load that little pan up with all sorts of goodys, put the lid on it and relax while the food simmers.  Then use the frying pan and lid as plates to eat from, very nice and less dishes!  Quality, well made to last for several years.

For clean up and just wiping things off as needed to feel clean and sanitary I use a small towel from Sea to Summit.  Durable, packs small, very absorbent and easy to clean.  A very nice thing to throw into a pack or pannier for any outing.

Specifications for C Crane Solar Observer Radio

FREQUENCY COVERAGE
FM Band: 87.5 - 108 MHz Stereo
AM Band: 520 - 1710 kHz 
WX Band: 162.40 - 162.55 MHz
POWER SOURCE
Batteries: 3 “AA” size
Internal Battery Pack: NiMH 2/3 AA 650 mAh
Battery Pack Charging Jack: Internal Battery Pack can be
charged with optional AC Adapter - 5V 300mA DC
Winding Generator: 300-500 mA (DC depending on RPM.)
Solar Panel: 20-40 mA DC (Depending on sunlight intensity.)
POWER CONSUMPTION AT MODERATE VOLUME
AM: 38mA
FM: 45mA
Weather: 45mA
Flashlight: 23mA 
Display light: 5mA
AUDIO
Speaker: 2.5"
ANTENNA
FM and Weather Band: Telescopic whip antenna
AM Band: Built-in Ferrite Bar
WEIGHT AND DIMENSIONS
Weight: 1 lb.
Dimensions: 7.25" W x 5.5" H x 2" D
HEADPHONE JACK
1/8" (3.5mm) – Will accept stereo or mono jacks

  Often used to haul water for a few months by placing a rubber mat on the bottom to cover the steel grating so that the seven gallon plastic container wouldn't slide around while riding. Nashbar's optional cargo net worked very well to hold the water container in place. I am not recommending that the trailer be regularly pushed beyond the 40lb. weight rating, I'm simply sharing this information for others buying decisions as some reviewers have claimed the welds break.  Well, I haven't had that happen with mine and I have routinely placed 50 to 60 lbs.in it without a problem.

I have had a Nashbar cargo trailer for several years and have been very pleased with its performance.  Using this trailer to serve a variety of cargo carrying needs of bicycle touring and commuting.  For use with food delivery, touring and camping to stacking wood pallets on it.  The latter is not recommended, I had put a small dent on top of the fender from the weight of the pallets and definitely put more than the 40 lbs. capacity the trailer is rated at.

I have been having fun with this little trailer and several years ago made signs to advertise my bike repair business.  Worked well parked at the grocery store and served as a nice conversation piece with many complements from folks.  The first photo shows this trailer filled with organic produce and other items when I used it for making food deliveries for our local organic food co-op. 

This trailer performs best for the original use I had intended it for, which is bike touring and camping.  I have a waterproof roll top velcro bag that fits snug when packed for overnight trips and with the cargo net stretched over the bag it rides very nice.  The trick is to pack the weight in the trailer for the lowest center of gravity and placing the heavier items in the center for wheel tracking.  
 A common issue folks complain about when getting a single wheel trailer is while connecting and disconnecting the trailer to and from the bike.  It's a nuisance to hold the bike upright or laying the bike down while trying to connect a loaded trailer.  If your'e building a touring bike or for bike commuting I recommend the Pletscher two legged kickstand that folds up to one side and is made in Switzerland.  It is a very well made design and has served me well over the years.  Parts and accessories for these types of projects can be found at Jenson USA,( click on banner ad at left to shop their site).  Hope this review helps with your purchasing of a bicycle trailer.
Cheers!

9/3/13  It has been brought to my attention that the two wheeled Croozer Cargo Trailer appears to be replacing the single wheeled nashbar trailer described in this article.  Click on the link provided for information or to purchase.  Is Very well reviewed.