Good road bike $500 range? decent brands?

You might want to check Ebay for a good used bike, anything on there with either Shimano or Campagnalo components will provide good use and typically you will get a lot more bike for the value than you would at a bike shop.

The companies that do make road bikes in the $500-750 price range will be using the very cheapest components they can to get you into that price point. Most road bikes will be hard to get into under $1000. Typically the cheaper bikes are designed to see if you like riding a road bike and will continue riding it. The components are not designed for long life or excessive riding. When you upgrade it will typically cost you more than the $400-500 difference between that very entry level bike and one that could last you a long time at the $1000 price point.

If you are looking for more bang for your buck Jamis does tend to put better parts throughout the bike than other companies. I'm not saying the Jamis is the best bike for you only test riding bikes will tell but they do make a nice bike for the price you get it at.

One last note to the gentleman saying his Schwinn Varsity is weighing in at 12 lbs. Get a new scale or get yours fixed, I know a couple people with 16 lbs bikes which cost upwards of $3000 plus for the components to get a bike that light. The majority of high end race bikes even professional grade are closer to 17-18 lbs.

i personally have a Shwinn -- Varsity.
i bought it for around 300$.
i have had it for a year and have 180 miles on it.
it weighs about 12 pounds.
(i have weighed it before out of curiosity)

overall its a great bike.

I have a jamis satellite that I bought in 2005 and have about 2000 miles on. I like it a lot and have had no problems with it-other than the usual flat tires.

trek if you can find one that cheap. or get a motobecane from bikes direct. <google it