I'm about 5'8, 32" leg length, and my bike frame is 17" (seat tube) by 21.2" (top tube). Seat post is about 9.5-10" out of the tube. My bike is 36 lbs without anything strapped on (so the weight as it is in original picture).

Vancouver weather is always raining, so even if the sky is nice, roads are often still wet (if this makes any difference with respect to equipment). The reason why I don't have a full set of fenders is because I haven't yet come across one that I'd be able to attach to the front fork. Or should I buy a set with mudguards and just use it at the back while I wait to get a bike that could accommodate both front and back fenders?

I would very much like to keep commuting after university, so I would be open to investing in a more suitable bike in the future.

I'll strap on some bar ends to see how that goes in addition to lowering my handlebars. I'll also be conscious of my pedaling to see how many RPMs I'm doing and if I'm spending too much time on the high gears before I start switching gears around. (By the way, how does one find out about the gear ratios on a bike? Would I switch just the front gear set, or the back as well?) A professional tune up would probably do my bike some wonders too.

I'm hesitant in buying new tires as I just bought these ones a few months ago, so not much wear in them just yet. Also, if I'm going to be buying a new bike, I wouldn't want to have purchased a good set of tires for my current set up and then find a good commuter bike with a skinnier and larger diameter wheels.

Does anyone ride with panniers as well as a backpack for lighter stuff? I'm finding that my 25L backpack becomes maxed out in volume when I bring it to school, but maybe it's just because of the colder weather forcing me to pack thicker clothes. When the weather gets warmer though, there's no way I'm putting my loaded pack on my back, as I did that when I just started commuting and it was too uncomfortable to make for an enjoyable bike ride.

Thanks again for all the feedback! I've already learned a lot from all you experienced riders