Advise Pretty Please

Such a cyclist is often termed a 'Clydesdale'. You need to look for a bike that specifically mentions it is without weight limit, most bikes have a limit of 85kg or even 75kg.

Even without that weight, you will have back wheel problems at first on a new bike, don't worry it is to be expected, you're new to cycling. Nearly all wheels sold with new bikes are machine built and not too well. So generally when you get out of warranty your LBS will suggest a decent rim, with thicker spokes, they'll hand build it, and you'll be laughing. Keep up the regular commute and you'll also be losing weight, which'll help, and you'll also learn to recognise features on the road that'll do for your wheel and how to 'lighten the load' before reaching them.

Wooden bridges will IMHO strike out small tires, so you need a bigger tire. Like used on an MTB, but you don't need the deep tread pattern. You may not want a MTB but is that because you don't want the weight of suspension? There are many non-suspension types. Is it the small wheels? There are types known as 29ers. One of my regular commute bikes is a rigid 29er for use when I shorten my commute by cutting across a nature reserve (and one of the first repairs was a new rear rim with thicker spokes)

Also consider a touring style bike. These are generally built to carry a lot of weight, a lot more than you. Yet they generally have the smaller MTB sized wheels.

Thanks threaded. Clydesdale is a compliment!

I was opting for the larger rim / lighter bike for easier riding, hence not going for a mountain bike. Likewise my initial preference is for a smooth / less resistance tyre.

Excuse the ignorance, but by touring bike, are you referring to a hybrid style bike? Can you recommend any descent bikes at reasonable prices.