So, you got the cycling bug. Yay for you! I'm fairly new myself. Dh has ridden for years, but convinced me to get a road tandem last Fall and I just got my own single road bike in June. I'm doing my first century next Saturday.

Sorry, I have no suggestion on buying a new hybrid, except I would say to put your $500 toward a used one. You can probably find a nicer quality used one for the money than you'd find brand new. My husband got a killer deal buying a barely used really nice mountain bike on ebay. But you have to know what to look for, of course. I'm sure you'll get some good advice here. If you don't on this thread, start a new one specifically about that.

Sounds like you're doing great. Just add to your distance a little at a time. You'll get stronger and be able to go farther and faster in no time. It's fun to see yourself progress, even in small ways.

Happy cycling!!! And welcome to the board.