The cheap seat post mounted rack was something I picked up about ten years ago when the bike was just for recreational purposes. It worked fine for longish rides along a rail trail when I didn't really carry much with me. I realized how inadequate it was for commuting purposes pretty quickly. Just this weekend I got a good back rack, and it has already made a big difference, even though I'm still using the milk crate. No more bouncing around when I go over the railroad tracks!

My panniers just arrived today. I couldn't believe how easy they were to put on and take off. I'll commute with them for the first time tomorrow. Can't wait!