Anyone cycle here? Too poor to take Public Transport nowaday

Looking to cycling as exercise during the weekend, but know nothing much about brand or technology in bicycle.
Budgeted around $400~500. IS it possible to get a light weight road bicycle at that price? What is the in thing now? Aluminium, alloy? Can't afford Carbon fire.
Are those suspension really useful or not, it seem to add quite some weight to the bicycle. p
Have been using the bicycle as the mode of transport for a couple of years (more healthier for the heart and lungs) and saving about $1,500 every two years. Cost me about $70 to a $100 or more a month depending on my travelling needs using just the MRT.
So having a budget of $700 to $1500 for a good strong comfortable bike is important if you are planning to ride it often.
You prefer a decently good bike with slim tire which left you with two choice:
1. Choose a MTB (hardtail) aluminium frame with slim tire
with average components.
2. Choose a road bike with a decent smooth joint welded frame with average components.
If you choose the higher end components the cost of either of these bikes will be above the above budget.
Look at the range available and ask the bicycle shop owner which bike frame is most dependable and better than some low end steel frame. The better frames have smooth joint in the welding technology. Not that the un-sanded welds of most bikes are not only ugly looking, some of these frames are just as look. It depends whether you want a bike that has a strong dependable and beautiful unibody appearance or one that is that is that has unfiled welds but strong too.
The range from Giant, Wheeler, Giant, Kona, Fuji, Trek and Cannondale falls into the above categogy. Often the seasoned rider would like a Trek or a Cannondale. These bikes are dependable and with a strong history in bike making but a little expensive.
Recently went around the HDB estates and absorbing the bikes shops and surprising come across one that stock the Cannondale and the Wheeler. The price now seems to be very competitive and you can get one for around 1K with average parts and less than $850 for some other models.
Take a look before you decide, believe me, a good lighter
bike is a joy to ride and make sure you have a good saddle and pump your tires to the pressure that will make your ride comfortable. The bike shop (HL) is in Toa Payoh Lor 4 next to the wet market. Enjoy and welcome to cycling as a healthy recreation and perhaps as a mode of transport in the near future for you.
The roadbike offers many advantages and one of them is that you can even use it for touring:
http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/touring/bike/bike.htm
:heart:


