An easy way to learn more routes and make friends along the way is by joining a group ride, says Kristine "Sunnie" Jimenez, who heads Major Taylor Iowa, a local club that wants to grow diversity in the bicycling community.
Zoom out: Every day of the week there are free group rides around Des Moines with their own terrains and speeds.
Pro tip: Even if you don't know how to change a flat tire, bring a "flat kit" with you (a tube and a way to inflate it) and someone will help you out, she says.
Zoom in: Jimenez's Major Taylor Iowa holds a weekly Monday "no-drop" ride, which means no one is left behind, regardless of speed.