One problem may be with your bike. A LWB is going to sit lower than a SWB. For commuting etc. where you are going to turn a lot, it is probably beter to be sitting a little higher with more maneuverability and visibility. One reason I mention this is because recently I have seen a guy around town with a SWB recumbent and he had a pannier on one side and a cloth basket on the other. The way his bike sat he was higher up and the weight was below his waist. In fact, the weight of his panniers seemed such that he could have carried quite a bit without being unstable. If you can only have one bike, maybe a different 'bent would be better. Of course at $1500...