Hmmmm... I couldn't figure out if this would be better off in the gear or commuting forum. Since this is my commute bike I'm talking about, I figured here

So, I just happened across the Basil Blossom double panniers I've had my eyes on for months and bought them on impulse. Ok, not really impulse since I knew I would buy them the second I laid eyes on them- thank the bike gods for the tax refund here just in time!
I had to get a rear rack installed at the shop and ended up putting the bags on when I got home.
Now I have 2 problems:
1. This is my first experience with panniers and I totally didn't even think that maybe my heels would hit the bags *doh*
2. When I attach the bags a little farther back to compensate they start to droop over the back of the rack. This is several inches, and to get the bags far enough away from my heels it would end up being about 4 inches. The bike is a small-ish men's road frame (the Seattle Langster).

Does anyone have any solutions? I thought about attaching a board to the rack to elongate the platform on which my bags rest, but that doesn't do anything for the heel-strike. I also though about seeing if the lbs can put the rack higher up by bending the struts more. I'd be really sad if I can't keep these on this bike as they make erands so much more...stylish