I ride with those panniers most of the time, so I'm quite used to them. It butts right up to my backside, but I'm sitting upright in my seat, so this too, is not a problem for me. We load down the sides and the center compartment and then bungey my towel to the top. For the mini-tour, we added a front handlebar bag and a middle handlebar bag for tools and first aid kit. The jury is still out on the front bag approach. And we're not quite sure how things will work once the weather starts cooling off and I need to bring more clothes in with me. I'll try and leave a jacket at work, but I have these matching outfits that I may try and bring in too. So I'm not sure. Daily commute includes: DH: shoes, shirt, slacks, socks, underwear, belt, and tie. he keeps a jacket and a towel at work, and does not shower once we get to town; Me: shoes, lingerie, toiletries and makeup, hair dryer, clothes for the day, and a towel. I've bought lots of stretchy fabric clothes that don't wrinkle as much in the panniers. On days I need to be more dressed, I take the Metro in...