I believe Avid Shorties are designed to work with road levers. I have tried EVERYTHING to stop my Shorties from squeaking to no avail. The question I would like to ask "Is anyone using Shorties that DON'T squeal?

Styke, sierratradingpost.com had some Ortlieb Mini Biker panniers for $70, sometimes on sale for as little as $50. Ortliebs are considered among the best panniers in the world, and they are waterproof. These are smallish panniers, but one holds more than enough for normal commutes.