UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look
Following my speed wobble issue, I'm going to move more weight forward when I tour. 30% road. 30% forest paths. The occasional ill-advised single-track fun while loaded because shits and giggles.
Regularly carrying most of the kit for two people, and one does not travel light 😉 . I already have decent sized 9lt bar bag and a half frame bag. Plus two rear panniers.
I'm thinking tent (2kg) moving to the front will really help, possibly a sleep mat.
I've only got a single fork leg mount each side (Genesis steel fork). The lighter and simpler solution seems a wee porter/pizza rack at the front and move tent to that.
But, fashion suggests that two fork mounts are popular, and I could see the tent on one side and sleep mats (1.1kg) the other side might work...?
Any one experience of both?
Is it worth trying a pair of front panniers?
Years ago we used this arrangement on a tandem for touring. When I took the panniers off it took a few minutes to adjust to the change in steering.
It did seem to calm things down.
I use twin fork bags but have to be wary of how much weight I put in them as they are on carbon forks and the bosses seem quite delicate. There are 3 on each side but I've already bust a couple. Less of an issue on steel forks.
Other than that, they are great and I forget they are there when riding.
As per my reply on the other thread, weight low down at the front for the win, so front panniers as Bruce says.
The only downside is heavy steering at low speed, but the upside is lots of stability once you get going, plus when you walk the bike anywhere it doesn't do that stupid flopping over thing where the front wheel pretends the floor is lava.
I use one of these.
I'm mostly only out for one night.
With a couple of strap and an alp.kot bag I carry the light but bulky bits of my kit like a sleeping bag, sleeping Matt, down jacket and a bobble hat.
Most of the year it lives on the front of the tandem I use to get my kids to school where it does a sterling job of being presented with large precious cardboard crafted stuff I was not expecting to have to cart home
