I just got back from a trip that gave me my first experience with front panniers (my experience with ANY panniers is very limited). When I started, they weren`t very heavy, but I ended up redistributing and lightening the front because my steering was very "floppy" at slow speeds and it was a dirt ride, so pretty much all at slow speeds. In looking at other peoples` setups, it occurs to me that my bags look like they`re a few inches further ahead than most. If it`s worth the trouble, I can modify the rack so that the weight is back along the steerer tube axis, but I don`t want to mess with it if it won`t likely be a considerable improvement. I didn`t weigh the panniers, but I guestimate that they each had ~8 lb to begin with, then I cut it to maybe 5 lb and it worked much better. Other factors at play: suspension fork, heavy bar bag (probably 8 lb there, too), pulling a trailer. Did I just have too much up front with the bar bag and the panniers, or do the geometery and packing gurus think I that should be OK? If not the fore/aft placement of my panniers, any other things to look at? Oh yeah, heavy stuff was already at the bottom. Thanks.

EDIT: for what it` worth, the rack looks canted forward in my picture, but it actually sits level with the ground when I sit on the bike. Part fork squoosh, part optical tricks.