I'm a 70 year old newbie who hasn't ridden a bike since I was in my 20s. God knows I could use the exercise from cycling, so I'm planning on buying a bike. I'd like to avoid spending more than about $1000 and plan to only do casual riding in my immediate area which mainly consists of flat ground - no hills, trails, off road stuff. I'm also trying to decide between a traditional chain-drive model or a bike using the Gates belt drive system. I've done some reading, but the pros and cons always seem to balance out. Please offer some thoughts and recommendations since I'm definitely unsure what I'll be getting into. TYIA.