The Clydesdale/Athena forum at bikeforums.net is a great one. I enjoy reading about people, their problems and triumphs. The Historian -
http://historian2wheels.blogspot.com/
has a neat blog about his weight loss journey. He started at 385#.

I second rivergrl on the Giant bikes. I bought a Suede 7-speed for $340. It is a totally comfortable bike with pedals set forward like the Electra Townies so you can put your feet on the ground while stopped at a light. Trek Pure also has a similar model which I've ridden - very comfortable and lightweight compared to Xmart bikes. My handlebars are adjustable in angle so I can sit upright or bend forward more if it's windy. The bike looks like a cross between a cruiser and mountain bike. I can ride through sand, gravel, up hills, etc. and smile all the while.