I've gone through half a dozen tents and am yet to find one that has everything I want. I currently use:
Outer Limits Vapour 1
Positives:
- Good quality for the cost (its mid range)
- Can sit up and theres an annex to put panniers in
- Quick to set up
- Can leave rain cover off in summer, and is all mesh
Negatives:
- If it is packed up wet, the wet can transfer to the inside and the floor will need a wipe down
- Packs up too long to fit inside a pannier
- Not suitable for cold climates
Other tents I've tried (that I remember):
Black Wolf Stealth mesh
Positives:
- Can take the rain cover off and its a mesh dome
- Light for the room size (can fit 2)
- Annex
- Can handle high winds
- Strong poles
Negatives:
- Floor is cheap plastic, I put a few holes in it wearing cleats
- Packs up too long for a pannier and the floor plastic is bulky
OR alpine bivy
I still keep this tent because its so nice, I just dont use it cycling.
Positives:
- ultra waterproof
- very compact and light
- You could litterally stop in a storm, unroll it and climb in
Negatives:
- Its air tight, so will need a gap to breathe or you'll suffocate. The problem is the zip to breathe through is at head height, so you are breathing in fresh cold air.
- You cant fit gear in it or sit up
Coleman Exponent Avior
Positives:
- Packs up short relative to other tents I've had
- Has annex
- Cheap
Negatives:
- A pole broke on mine. It touts 7001 T6 Al, but shape and design affect strength too, and it just isnt the best in that respect.
- Too hot for summer, poor ventillation and you cant take off cover.
- Not suitable for snow (even a little bit would collapse the tent).
- Pegs are essential, so will need to tie to rocks, logs or the bike if you cant get pegs in
EDIT:
All tents with mesh inners will need a wipe down if packed wet. The only tents I know that do well in this regard have permanent covers, so wet parts dont touch inner parts.
I am a believer in 2 tents, one for winter and one for other seasons (maybe in colder climes it'd be the other way around).
