It handles great. Much better than the bike I used to have it on. A '68 Varsity with narrow drop bars. I have much more leverage over my load with the mountain bike bars. YOu can put pretty much anything you want on the front rack. I have put several bags of charcoal (like 60 pounds worth) on top for 6 miles. No flex or anything. For that kind of weight though, I have a trailer, so It usually doesn't get to haul that much weight. I either bungee my 40 pound bookbag to it, or I Put it in a milkcrate on the front or rear rack.

Here is a better picture of the bike. My yard is a bit of a mess in the background.