Originally Posted by noglider

@ericy, what road bike is it? As @PaulRivers says, a change of tires might be all you need.

A slightly wackier idea is to try a trailer for carrying your stuff. I sometimes use one, and sometimes I tow it with a racing bike. The trailer puts no weight on the bike, so the bike handles exactly as it does when unladen. The differences are: 1. Climbing requires downshifting, 2. Wind can be a female dog, and 3. you have to plan your turns, since you are driving an articulated vehicle. Still, I find it very rewarding. Maybe you can borrow one to try it.