Jen,

Another thing to do when in new place... get route information fron the locals. I take my bike out to new places to ride, whether near my city or far away, but before I do I:

• Asked my more experienced riding buddies preferred routes in my area

• Asked the LBS the best/safest routes to take

• Visited a cycling site (such as BikeForums) and asked for routes

• Checked for ride descriptions on bikely.com

• Drove the course first in my car, looking for wide lanes, traffic, possible safety hazards, etc.

Being prepared is never a bad thing. You also might want to check and see if there is a cycling club in your area. I'm sure there are people eager to help along an "immigrant."