This bike won't be a longtail. This is light stuff -- just a run to the grocery store. It will be a classic frame, drop bars -- on the fast end of the utility spectrum.

Most of the weight will be carried on the back.

Miamimike -- I had the same problem with the tapered baskets -- big at the top, but small at the bottom. Wouldn't hold a gallon of milk or a lot of other things. Great for books, maybe.

The Wald folding baskets are sized for grocery bags. Those solved that problem. I sold my tapered baskets to a college professor, who needed them for hauling ... books.