Thanks for the input jethro56. The bike is going to have a rigid steel fork most similar to the Surly Big Dummy with the rack mounts and plenty of clearance for a set of fenders. The deore derailleurs are a definite possibility as are the 35c tires. The brooks saddle is more of a personal choice and at its cost it will likely be a post-purchase upgrade by the cyclist.

Hello Boyd Reynolds, No offense taken. I'm sure my one post status might seem ominous! My main goal is to design a bicycle that will meet the needs of a cyclist weighing between 200 and 450 lbs without breaking the bank or resorting to inferior parts that could fail under the increased stress. This is by no means a plug for my company which is why I used my personal account to post. After reading on this forum for the last few months, I have noticed a few common denominators when it comes to bicycle component failures and successes. One good example is the wheel set, I have seen many posts dealing with wheel set issues and solutions. There is a growing population that wants to ride but have factors that hold them back, I don't want a proper bike to be one of them. To sum it up, I want the opinions of the people who ride their bikes to get healthy and have fun.