My old Giant Iguana hardtail has served me well doing many multi day XC rides but is now getting a bit tired(no disc brakes). I want to set up my barely used 07 Giant Trance 1 dually so it feels similar to my old bike.
On the last major ride on my Trance between Pickering Brook and Dwellingup the front wheel kept skating off the track unexpectantly when descending in pea gravel.

The panniers weighed about 12kg and I am unsure if my weight (78kg) was too far back or forward on the bike to cause this steering problem.

I have never had issues descending in pea gravel with my hardtail.