So you only have enough gear to warrant either a handle bar roll or a seat pack. Would you rather the weight be at the front or the back?

Back as less chance of going over the bars; but better a bit of both

Front ... I always find that weight on the front has far less affect than on the back. However, if what I was carrying wasn't heavy, just bulky then I'd stick it on the back, as things usually feel more secure there (maybe just in my mind).

if I was only carrying such a small amount I think I'd put it into a small rucsac/camelbac affair and keep the bike light

Front for me too - least impact on bike handling in my opinion. You can also get over the back nice and easily on the techy stuff then.

Yep, front here too. If it's a light load (like for BB200), it has little effect on handling. Plus I can have the pouch on the front of the sweetroll for snacks/arm warmers etc. And like Ian said, you can get your arse over the back of the saddle.

It is for the BB200. I have been practicing/training with the weight on the front and the bike has felt great actually, I suspect because I'm so used to riding with weight front and back. Going to try it tomoz evening with the sleeping bag and bivi bag in the saddle pack and no handle bar roll but I suspect at this point I will be going "back to the front".

Hmmm.

If it's only a very little, I'll go with a seatpack but if it's a bit more, I'll load up the handlebars with the heavy stuff and keep the seatpack light.

I've only got a seat pack, so it all goes in there, seems fine to me :D

I've found on techy stuff, its better to go for bulk and light weight on the bars as its much easier to hoick the front up and maneuver the beast in the nadgery stuff

Light weight and bulk up front. Not more than 1 kg for me. I can't stand the feeling of even an additional ounce on the bars.
Weight in the frame or out back. I try to pack the saddle bag in such a way, that I can move freely around the saddle.

So you only have enough gear to warrant either a handle bar roll or a seat pack.

.. I'd pop it into a frame bag and gas tank. Off the steering is good and away from the wagging-tail zone too. Lower and central and pack out from there. Agree with others saying that much over 1kg on the bars becomes problematic off-road. It shouldn't, it's only a little weight but between 1-1.5 and say 3kg is a major difference in handling. On road it's different and I think the front-only randonneur approach has some merit on the right bike but I still prefer even weighting on bikes that also handle well unloaded.

jameso wrote:

So you only have enough gear to warrant either a handle bar roll or a seat pack.

.. I'd pop it into a frame bag and gas tank. Off the steering is good and away from the wagging-tail zone too. Lower and central and pack out from there. Agree with others saying that much over 1kg on the bars becomes problematic off-road. It shouldn't, it's only a little weight but between 1-1.5 and say 3kg is a major difference in handling. On road it's different and I think the front-only randonneur approach has some merit on the right bike but I still prefer even weighting on bikes that also handle well unloaded.

Sorry I should have said that the frame bag will be full of food and my tools/spares. The additional bag (saddle or handle bar pack) will have sleeping bag and bivi bag in.

Back, coz on the front the Maxx-D weighs about as much as my sleeping bag

ahh.. it did seem odd that no-one replied to say frame bag I was impressed by how light you were going!

Did a test ride today, full kit with saddle bag. First 30mins or so I was dead set on going back to handle bar roll but then rode some more technical rooty and steep type stuff and actually it was great being able to effortlessly get the front wheel moving around/over obstacles. I reckon on the whole though that the BB200 won't be technical so probably going to go back to the roll.