Originally Posted by
andrewclaus
Stoveless and minimal clothing was an offshoot of successfully hiking several long trails. It worked very well on the bike, too.
As the pack weight drops below 20 pounds, it matters less and less where you put it. Some ultra-light tourers carry it on their backs, or on a rack-top dry bag (tried both, missed the convenience and durability of panniers). I ditched the bar bag when I looked at the weight-to-payload ratio. I used a $5 cue clip instead for a map, and a ziplock in the panniers for other stuff I used to carry in the bar bag (spare maps, journal, electronics).
My load in the back (17 pounds without food) had negligible effect on handling and hill climbing. I could ride no-handed indefinitely, and I never used the small chain ring on pavement.
My last backpacking trip (Smokey Mountains, 4 days, fall 2013) I carried a 22-pound pack that included 4 days of food and cook kit. Could I carry that on my back for a month of touring, maybe? But why? Let your bike bare the burden of gravity not your body. Additionally a month of extreme minimalism can be a lot more taxing than carting around a few extra pounds mounted on your bike.