Originally Posted by
Street Pedaler
Just trying to make the point that everybody is different and OP should take advantage of the shopping process to try as many different bikes as he can.
True.
For a beginning 290 lb clyde, the high spoke count wheels, wider tires and mountain gearing of a hybrid are good things. That said, if he has his heart set on a road bike, he can get a road bike set up with all those things, and still get the versatility of drop bars.