Now I'm probably beating a dead horse, but I need advice,

I'm planning a solo trip soon, and a good excuse to take the tarp and bivi, as my tents overkill for one, problem is, so I my tarp, I have a British army basha, a US army poncho, and a DD XL, all 3 weigh a kilo each with varying coverage, so the xl seems more worth the weight

How to pitch it?

I understand a bigger tarp needs more support and I harder to put up, more so with one set of hands, what's my best setup? Use part of it as a floor?

I know what I need is a bicycle 3.5 or solo tarp, but this is all I've got for this weekend and would be nice to get more nights 'bagged' rather than in a tent for a change

The DD XL is a monster but can be set up to provide tent like protection fairly easily.

Ideally you need 2 poles, although you could use your bike for the front ... you can fit 4 people in without too much of a squeeze. Set up like this it's very stable even in heavy winds, an XL set up as an A frame is horrible and behaves like a giant sail even in a light breeze.

This may not turn out like it appears in my head...
But what about an A frame low, with a dropped tail and excess fabric used as a floor? I'm thinking less side fabric for the wind to take, coverage isn't a top priority but its all I've got to work with

Or I could go commando and use my tiny 1.4 x 1.8 poncho, after all a bivi bag is waterproof and its kept the US forces happy since the 60s

Ive used this pitch with my 3mx3m DD tarp and I reckon the extra length of the XL would tuck under nicely as a floor. The video link of the set up is pretty good. It takes a bit of practice but done well it gives a wedge shape at the back to deflect the wind, and you can stake the beak out at the corner for a larger porch till you are ready to turn in. It can be done with one pole but is better with a short stick inside to lift the back end.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMAtpWQdVbY