I've heard of worse reasons to start cycling! Hopefully you're learning to love it.
I wouldn't have you driving about over something so trivial, and the park I mentioned is only a 5-mile ride for you. I'll ride by there at 7am, all interested individuals c'mon by! I checked it out today, there's roadside parking all over the place & not much else. Will not be hard to find people there.
And if it doesn't work out for any reason, oh well, I'm already on the canal trail that leads to Salt River! I drove over Usery Pass yesterday and I think I heard some trash talkin'... must periodically kick it around, keep it honest!