This isn't something I need for work, but bike commuters are the sherpas of the urban world, so I figure if anybody can point me in the right direction, it's the combined wisdom of this forum.

I like my bike as close to "naked" as possible, so no rack, panniers, or even fenders. On the other hand, I live in a very scenic part of the world, and recently got a roof rack to carry my bike on the car. And I'm a hobbyist photographer. A bike restricts the trails I can take, but lets me cover far more ground than I'd ever be able to on foot alone.

I have a very comfortable hiking backpack, which I don't use while cycling because the corners block my view. I'll probably take this the next time I bring my bike out into the mountains, since I won't be sharing the trail with buzzing cagers. I'm trying to carry a camera body, as many as two lenses, and a 10 lbs tripod, which is in the ballpark of 2.5 feet when collapsed. Plus food, a jacket, and stuff like that. This is manageable while hiking, but I'm nervous about messing up my sense of balance while on the bike.

Any suggestions for a better way to carry it? I'd like to prioritize for my safety, comfort, and then the safety of the gear. I've seen threads here about carrying large pizzas on a bike, so I'm sure this will be pretty easy by comparison.