Originally Posted by
lhendrick
I hated the way my Surly LHT handled with front and rear panniers. Steering was unpleasant for me. I took off the front rack and bags and now tour with just the rear panniers and a very light dry bag on the rack in back. I know I'm overloaded in the back, but I have not felt that the handling is compromised in any way. Getting that weight off the front of the bike has mde riding a joy again.
I do keep a medium/large handlebar bag for big camera and sundries.
I did the exact opposite. I found the uphills with the LHT back-loaded were a pain. Front wheel always wanted to lift up. Moving the weight to the front fixed that. It does change the handling, though, for sure. I remember taking a break during a trip and riding for a few miles without my gear on my bike. Suddenly the steering felt squirrely as anything. Took a few miles before I got used to it, and it started to feel normal again.