Help with selecting a bike

Stealthirl

I'm looking into getting a bike on the bike to work scheme.
It would be used along canal/light off road paths and on road/cycle paths.
Iv not cycled since my teens in the mid 90s

I am currently overweight [115kg/6ft] if that has any bearing on selection.
I think a road bike is out of the question due to the off road parts im not so sure about hybrids due to the same.

I'd like a light bike that's comfortable to ride so i wont get fedup with it and keep up cycling. Work is a short 5km each way but i would like to work up to going on much longer rides just not extreme off road.

I was looking at these MTB's
http://www.wheels4u.ie/mountain/products/tufftrax-comp-disc-17-inch-bike-1

http://www.wheels4u.ie/mountain/products/scott-aspect-770

and these hybrids
http://www.wheels4u.ie/hybrid/products/flight-01-54-cm-sm-1

http://www.wheels4u.ie/hybrid/products/flight-02-54-cm-sm-1


Any help much appreciated

Interested Observer

Would also be interested in this I'm getting a bike with B2W soon.

smacl

Stealthirl wrote: »

It would be used along canal/light off road paths and on road/cycle paths.

How light is the off road, and are the canal tow paths paved, gravel covered or grassy? Reasonably built hybrids are fine for light off road, but slick and semi-slick tyres can be a pain on grassy / muddy surfaces after rain. For light off road and carrying a bit of weight, I'd also recommend going for robust tyres, something like Marathon plus, which will add a bit to the price (currently €24 each on CRC) but will greatly reduce the chance of a puncture in the middle of nowhere. Personally I'd go for good wider front tyres rather than a cheap suspension fork. Don't know anything about the hybrid brands you linked and would be tempted to shop around a bit more, CSS seem to have a good range at the moment.