Originally Posted by
DavidW56
My kids have held the local bi-weekly paper route on our street for 15 years, delivering to about 40 customers by wagon. I tried to deliver a few myself from my bike, with a newspaper bag around my neck -- I thought it was very dangerous. Forty papers in a pannier -- I don't know about that -- each Sunday paper with ads weighs about a pound -- that's forty pounds. I can't imagine trying to haul two hundred on a bike.
A regular diamond frame bike with panniers would limit you as you've stated. However, 200 lbs and even 300 lbs is possible on a cargo type bike.
Cargo bikes come in a multitude of configurations. In general, the load is either carried in front of the person, or behind. Good examples can be found at
www.clevercycles.com
Two brands that easily come to mind are
www.xtracycle.com, and
http://www.larryvsharry.com/english/
Here's some more...
http://www.workcycles.com/workbike/index.html
And of course....
http://www.flickr.com/groups/cargobike/pool/
Also consider using a trailier. For example, child trailers on average are rated for 75 lbs. Most have covers, and can be purchased used from a lot of sources.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=311932