How to load a bike

I had the misfortune to go bikepacking earlier this year. It was quite fun to be honest. I used all of the equipment that I had accumulated over the years but was far to heavy for backpacking, ie 6lb tent, top mount cannister stove, solar charger, 8 inch frying pan air matress etc .

My bike weighs 35lb and my equipment weighed 35lb, loaded evenly in 2 panniers and a rucksack. I had serious problems when loaded. The bike was unwieldy and very hard work to ride, especially going uphills. Now if i ride my bike without loading its easy and dynamic, even with a rucksack with 20lbs in on the bike is not bad to ride. Yet add panniers and my ride lost all characteristics. I have seen lots of different loading systems,so how should i load ?

Were the panniers on the rear of the bike? If so, that was part of the problem, you need some weight up front as well. When I used to tour by bike I used four panniers, two on the front and two on the back. Worked well.

Thanks for the reply. Yep panniers on the rearalong with the tent along the rack, rucksack on my back. Amazing the difference it made. I think the wobble also made a lot of difference, the weight on the tail seemed to drag the bike if that makes sense.

Like i say there was a fair bit of weight, but i cannot see any point going light if youve a bike too, nice big tent, soft bed etc. The weight up front i suppose balances the bike, what sort of ratio should I be looking at please and how should I load it.