new to atlanta, new to cycling, lots of questions

[Geonz]

I don't get out of my seat at all (I'd probably fall down, though maybe not on my long bike)... 38 is a 'way low cadence but if you're in the easiest gear that's just something to work on. You're still moving!
If you're talking basic technique, one thign that helped me was to think "round and round, not up and down." If I were using my hands to get the pedals around, I"d be *guiding* them and trying to push at 90 degrees for that maximum torque - so I try to think that my feet are hands (which doesn't work for picking up my water bottle at all, so I have a camelbak ) and *cranking* around, not pushing forward.
http://www.dot.state.il.us/bikemap/litlist.htm has a really good guide to cycling (including how to deal with motorists, curbs, and police who don't know the law) tho' it's light on the techniques for long riding.
Oh, and cramps... it depends. Now that I'm riding a lot, I hardly ever get 'em. But sometimes they would almost make me lightheaded and I don't want to crash... I generally listen to my body. I might go out for somethign really easy to see if it helps or hinders, but the deal is if I go out and crash, that would mean *less* riding, and that isn't the point...