Commuting - Schwinn FASTBACK?

I plan to mostly us a backpack to carry gear and supplies. My commutes will be very short, since I go to school in a town of 12,000, only a few miles to where ever I would like to go. I just tried out the FASTBACK and enjoyed it quite a bit. It was the XL size since I am 6'5''. Plan on going for longer rides for fun and exercise. I will be weighing around 230 lbs in a few months; I'm less than that right now. Is this a sturdy enough bike for what I want? It is the 07 model and the LBS is asking $600 for it.

Like I mentioned in the road forum where also you posted this question, it should be fine, the only concern might be the wheelset.

I will be weighing around 230 lbs in a few months; I'm less than that right now.

Are you pregnant?

I commute on that bike. I started riding at 275 and I am down to 230 I still load up the panniers with all of my gear and I have had no problems with the frame. I even put a rack on it using P clamps. The wheels though they were troublesome at first. I had problems popping spokes on the drive side of the wheel. I eneded up re-lacing the wheels with some DT spokes and I haven't had any more trouble with the spokes popping. Other than minor derailer adjustments the bike has 5,000 trouble free miles on it commuting last year and I almost have another 1,000 miles in this year. Not bad bike to commute on. At least if it gets stolen I won't be out a ton of cash.

Hope I'm not pregnant. Play college football and managed to break my collarbone this season and dropped 20 lbs.