How do any of these look?
 

On one of the clydesdale boards they mentioned that a lot of big guys like hybrids better so I grabbed a couple of those too:

Mountain
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/hay1200.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cliff4700.htm

Hybrid
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...cane_elite.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ne_elitefs.htm

FM, you are asking a bunch of bike snobs about these bikes.

It's like asking a group of guys at a BMW club what they think of the new Ford Focuses.

You might try a recumbent bike. They are pricey because they aren't generally mass produced overseas like a lot of other bikes, but they are really fun to ride. And what's better for a fat guy then sitting on a lawn chair while cruising down the road??!! The long wheelbase models are easiest to ride. Underseat steering is most comfortable, and coolest!

http://www.linearrecumbent.com/linear_lwb.htm
http://www.linearrecumbent.com/linear-3-lwb-limo.htm

Just an idea, have fun and good luck with your rides and workouts.

I am not a bike snob. Quit stereotyping.

I don't like hybrids too much becaseu they are such a compromise that they tend not to do anything very well. THat having been said, either of those hybrids would be fine, if all you are going to do is toodle around a parking lot of some RV park or perhaps go for realtively short rides from and ot your house. But if you want to ride very far on the road or if you think you might want to ride off-road, you shoudl get a bike desigend for that purpose.

Understood. I'm just hoping you guys will tell me if one of them is a Yugo.

Hyrum, do you ride a 'bent?

The hybrids have yugo-esque wheel sets, to be honest. I don't lkike them at all.

What about the mountain bikes? And define "want to ride very far." My goal here is not to become a cylcist at this point ... but otoh I don't want something that's going to fall apart after a few months of riding.

I bought a Motobecane roadbike from that website. it was a good bike for the price.

none of us have any experience with any of the other bikes on that website. you may want to try Richardson Bike Mart near white rock or up in Richardson, talk to their shop people. Also the Performance Bike at Walnut and 75. Bikes will be pricier at RBM, but the advice will likely be better as well.

If you want to lose any weight cycling, you are going to be a cyclist for that period of time. Anythign less will do nothing. Don't kid yourself.