That's quite normal. They're the coralloid roots, inhabited by bacteria which convert nitrogen into a form useable by the plant.

Make sure you don't just use any ol' soil with your cycad. They all prefer a very aerated, well-draining soil. I add generous amounts of orchid bark and perlite to my mixes. Also, their roots tend to like a bit more space than palms (which seem to prefer to be slightly snug in their pots).

Thanks for the replies! I've got lots of perlite lying around so I should be set.

If you got it from Lowe's, 99.99% chance that your cycad is the species..., Cycas revoluta. Which is not a bad species at all..., I just wish they would add more varieties. Not sure where you are, but if at all possible, get it outside in the growing season. They love the outdoors and can be temperamental if they only know life behind four walls. Oh, they can also be addicting and if they are happy, will outlive ALL OF US here combined!

That's the species that the tag lists, not that I 100% trust the identification of plants sold at Lowes. I live in MN so it's not getting outside any time soon, but it could be outside for a couple months in the summer.

That is the ONLY species sold at the big box stores. Occasionally, you see Cardboard Palms (Zamia). Mine go outside from March to early December. They are relatively cool hardy for a subtropical, but do need protection from harder frosts.