Originally Posted by
Newspaperguy
The handlebar bag had my wallet, keys, a small camera, my bike lights and a few smaller items such as matches, bandages and a swiss army knife.
The shimmy was more pronounced the first day and much less pronounced the second day. The weight was also lighter as I had eaten some of the food. To describe it, I still had control of the bike, but I could feel the front end trying to dance.
I'm guessing the handlebar bag is irrelevant but the degree of shimmy isn't clear. That it was reduced over time suggests you're getting accustomed to the nature of the loaded bike. Btw, what kind of bike is it?
I have a Surly Cross-Check that WILL shimmy with only a rear pannier load and one hand on the bars. It's not unacceptable with two hands on the bars or front weight on the mini rack. I had a custom touring bike that had an unacceptable shimmy WITH hands on the bars while riding at high speed and light rear load, it required clamping the top tube with knees. For comparision I"ve got a 26" wheeled LHT that is absolutely solid with solo rear loads.
As much as you like the MEC front rack it is possible to have low riders and a small mini front rack for holding the items you suggest. Putting the panniers on low riders will go a LONG way to balancing the load by moving heavy loads cantilevered over the rear wheel forward and move those high mounted front panniers back so they're in line with the fork.