You can really get a ton of extra room under a tarp with a pole mod. I did it to my DIY tarp and it is huge! I am now an extreme supporter of this mod because you don't HAVE to use the pole and it just adds a couple grams (whatever 4 inches of webbing weighs) to the tarp. There are pics of mine in the DIY section that show just how massive it is. I called it the "rivershack" if you search for it. So, if you aren't worried about a bit more weight, the pole mod is a superb way to gain lots of space under a tarp for a bike, gear, cooking, or even another hammock for gear or a companion.