I have made the decision that I want to start commuting to work. I am a teacher and am forced to spend the majority of my day inside, and I thought it would be nice to get some exercise before work and save some emission pollution also. I don't mind if the bike is flashy because we don't have very careful drivers where I live and a friend was hit by a car and her riding partner killed just weeks ago. So I am in a visibility/safety first mindset right now. I am trying to find a bike.

Here is the skinny: I am 6'4 290. 25 yo former college athlete that is not exactly in playing shape. I have a 33.5 inseam. My commute is only 2.5 mi each way but is very up and down and will be completed on paved roads only. I will never be off-road on my bike. I have looked at several bikes and have been tearing through the pages on here. I have deduced that I probably wanna stay away from the bbs bikes as with the added stress I will put on a bike they won't last. I want something multi speed with the trigger type shifters. Would like to be around 400 on the bike as I am not really sure if I will like it. I haven't been on one much in a long while.

I was looking at something like a diamondback sorrento or insight but that is only because I rode one and thought it seemed fine.

I am new to this so any advise would be welcome. I would check a local bike shop first but we don't have one where I live. If I had some idea what to look for before I travel to one it would be a good help. I don't want to get taken advantage of because I am clueless.

Suggestions?