Hi John. Thanks for the input. Your handlebar bag rides high; I wonder if it'd still be a problem if you were to lower it a bit. I'm planning to install a handlebar bag, but it'll sit on a rack down closer to the wheel; that'll lower the center of gravity a bit and might let it ride better. I had a Hunqapillar - the model of stability - many years ago that also got strangely unstable when I attached a Klikfix bag that rode high. We'll see. All the best, Kevin
On Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 9:52:24 AM UTC-5 EverRed wrote: > I've done a few tours on my 59cm 26" wheels A/R. When fully loaded it is > a little noodely but in a good way - it still handles fine and seems to > soak up the bumps better. However, if I use a handlebar bag with more than > a few ounces in it, I get awful shimmy at about 15 mph and higher. I like > a handlebar bag so I now use a different bike for touring. > > Enjoy your ride! > John > > [image: IMG_0788] > Before I realised the handlebar bag was the problem. > > On Friday, January 9, 2026 at 8:30:14 PM UTC-5 [email protected] wrote: > >> Hi Andrew. >> Thanks for the information. Given that your frame is so much bigger than >> mine, I would expect it to handle a bit differently, but maybe not. At the >> end of the day, I'll just have to load it up, take it out, and see how it >> behaves. >> All the best, >> Kevin >> >> On Friday, January 9, 2026 at 12:40:22 AM UTC-5 Andrew Letton wrote: >> >>> Hi Kevin, >>> Some more context: My A/R is a 65cm frame and has 700c wheels and >>> Berthoud 50mm stainless fenders. I was probably running 35mm Paselas back >>> then, though I've experienced it with fatter tires as well. My feeling is >>> that the load affects it more than tire size. (Lateral oscillation of the >>> fender may have contributed to the shimmy.) >>> I think I had a densely loaded Riv big boxy handlebar bag and a small >>> Nitto rack with all sorts of stuff strapped to it on the front and a big >>> Nitto rear rack with large panniers and a sleeping bag and tent strapped on >>> top (Or maybe the tent was strapped on the front; I don't remember, as it >>> was nearly 20y ago) >>> The shimmy I experienced would happen when I tried to ride no-handed or >>> one-handed with a very light touch. The tendency to shimmy increased with >>> front load and decreased with speed, and I never experienced the shimmy >>> that Mike mentioned at high speed...and I like to descend fast! I don't >>> think I ever had any shimmy with both hands on the bars. >>> FWIW, I am not able to ride no-handed, even with no bags on the bike. >>> I hope that helps! >>> Cheers, >>> Andrew in Sydney >>> >>> >>> On Friday, January 9, 2026 at 12:03:57 AM GMT+11, Kevin Lindsey < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Andrew: When you say that the AR tended to shimmy when the front end was >>> overloaded, was that when you were using a rack bag, front panniers (or >>> both)? I can see shimmy being worse with a heavy load up high (on a rack), >>> but would have thought that carrying a load down low in front wheel >>> panniers would not have had the same effect. >>> >>> All: Greatly appreciate the feedback. >>> >>> Best regards, >>> Kevin >>> >>> On Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 7:23:42 AM UTC-5 Andrew Letton wrote: >>> >>> When I bought my (used) A/R in 2006, I was discussing it with Grant, and >>> he said something like, “It’s basically a fancy Atlantis.” >>> You’ll be fine touring with it, but in my experience, it’s best not to >>> overload the front end. When I did, it tended to shimmy pretty easily. >>> cheers, >>> Andrew in Sydney >>> (Painstakingly pecked out on my iPhone; please pardon my brevity and >>> tpyos.) >>> >>> On 8 Jan 2026, at 8:57 am, Kevin Lindsey <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> Greetings. >>> >>> I'm thinking of doing the GAP/C&O Canal trip this spring on my >>> All-Rounder and would appreciate any thoughts on using the AR as a loaded >>> tourer. I use it for grocery runs and whatnot, but have never put a lot of >>> weight in the bags and don't know whether there might be handling or other >>> issues if I did. >>> Any thoughts welcomed. >>> Best regards, >>> Kevin L. >>> Alexandria, VA >>> >>> -- >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7bd595fa-2317-40a9-84ae-51e82e8e1753n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7bd595fa-2317-40a9-84ae-51e82e8e1753n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/da1ce7d9-94c2-4c29-b432-9db1ed4921efn%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/da1ce7d9-94c2-4c29-b432-9db1ed4921efn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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