A lot of members have been in the past or still are 5’11” & #255. This is a typical weight for a sedentary American male. I would suggest since you are relatively new to the forum - try the Clydesdale forum. The folks there don’t judge and they frequently share beneficial tips about how to lose weight and get more comfortable on a bike.

The comfort modifications you are wishing were in place on your hybrid are available as others have said on different classes of bikes. I think Electra makes bikes with the farmer seats, forward cranks and swept back bars - I’m thinking it’s called the Townie?

A lot of members here are a lot more experienced than you. This is evident from the naïveté of your posts. This does not make those who are trying to steer you in the right direction snobs - quite the contrary. There is a wealth of practical cycling knowledge here. Like others, I have a weird feeling that your sentimentality about Schwinn Varsities being so great and your tendency to label being sedentary as a “medical condition” sounds Troll-ish to me. I mean - who is the person in your picture - you as a younger man? Just curious.

You say your tailbone is sore or bad or something and this is why you need the farmer seat. Newbs jump to this (erroneous) conclusion all the time. Unfortunately sitting more upright on a softer seat makes the condition worse, not better. The veterans here know this - somehow you missed the boat back in the 1970’s and failed to learn proper bike fit for fitness cycling. Lose the suspension seatpost, it robs energy and does nothing for your tailbone. Get some proper bike shorts and ride the factory seat until you have some actual miles in your resume’.

As for leaning forward, yes this can be uncomfortable for an overweight, novice rider on an ill-fitted hybrid. The low budget front suspension on your department store Schwinn is a boat anchor and a real detriment to you getting better. And the flat handlebars are sure to give you sore hands and elbows. I am (almost as) upset with the mass merchants for selling crap as you are. I’m afraid you wound up with a crap bike. Modifying that Schwinn Varsity with the bizzarre looking monkey bars and farmer seat are only going to make you subject to more ridicule out on the road. You think the ribbing you are receiving here is bad....

As a cyclist with 40 years of experience who rides drop bar road bikes I will say that I see folks all the time trying to get into flat bike trail riding on these sad contraptions all the time. I guess your decision to remain on flats is dictated by your inability to fathom the proper set-up to be comfortable and climb a hill at the same time. Out of shape, de-conditioned people breathe heavy, their hearts race, their legs burn. Is this a medical condition? Of course it is - but it is you taking stock of where you are now. If you’re short on cash and can’t afford a bike fit - don’t worry about it, get a few books on the subject from the Library. I still like the chapters on Bike fit from Greg Lemond’s Complete Book of Bicycling that was published over 20 years ago.

A lot of notions of what costitutes proper bike fit are contrary to the truth. When you sit upright you are compressing your spine and putting your weight on your sacrum. This is bad! A drop bar bike Allows forward rotation of the pelvis and relieves pressure. Drops on handlebars permit different hand positions that lessens pressure on hands and arms.

Being unable to bend forward at the waist due to a big belly, again - is not a medical condition per se. I mean if you want to get a clown bike and put a handicap sticker on it - yeah you can do that. But your medically modified comfort bike will never get you fit. It won’t support you getting much better as a rider. That’s what the members here are trying to drop a serious hint on you about. I’m sorry to say this but many novice cyclists don’t get it. And unfortunately it appears your are in that camp. You asked, so all we could do was to oblige and try to give you a reality slap.

On a more positive note. I too am quite nostalgic for “Made I USA” bicycle items. There is no reason why you could not track down a really nice touring type vintage Schwinn, Trek or Cannondale road bike that you could pick up your groceries with and carry your backpack with. Just got to do some research on what you are looking for and keep your eyes open for estate sales, Craig’s list, etc...

Folks here can actually help you. You might just need to get your head out of the sand and take stock in the reality of your 2018 self. When I was #268 and wearing size 44 pants. Few years ago I pledged to try to get back in shape with a big goal of getting u set 200# again. Being this overweight does make reducing the weight a slow process,but entirely do-able. Thus the suggestion to visit the Clydesdale/Athena forums for support. The weight does come off eventually. As you become more comfortable on the bike you enjoy yourself more and your perception of the terrain and distance you can master moves forward.