Originally Posted by
niknak
As mentioned earlier, the key is to simplify. Think about bulk, not weight. If you bring less stuff, and if the stuff you bring isn't bulky, you can use smaller bags to carry them, which means you don't need racks and panniers to support the bulk and weight.
Bingo. Think about space, not weight. Sometimes they go hand in hand, but often times they don't. For my round-the-world trip, I took rear panniers and a handlebar bag. I had everything I needed in those three bags. 23 lbs of gear in case you're wondering.