I did this last year with some of my coworkers and had a blast.
Basically it was a 42 mile bike ride through all five boroughs, starting in lower manhattan, and ending in Staten island by going over the lower level of the Verrazano (ALOT more difficult than it looked).
I had NO biking experience at all last year. I bought a $400 Trek mountain bike, spare inner tube, pump and helmet. The only ride I did a weekend before the BikeNY was a quick 2 miles ride around my neighborhood to get used to the bike shifting a little..
I completed it in a pretty short time surprisingly enough too.
This is NOT A RACE. Just a Bike tour.

I will be riding in it again this year along with my coworkers and friends.
Just thought some of you guys might be interested in it as well. Maybe we can get a huge group together.
No biking experience required at all.

Here is the first email I received (tonight) about this years BikeNY..



Dear Five Boro Bike Tour Rider:

Wow, that was a lot if snow that fell on us here in New York City! Snow or not, we are in the midst of planning the 29th annual Five Boro Bike Tour and looking forward to spring and the Tour on May 7.

Registration brochures are in the mail -- and this electronic message goes out to all of you who have participated in the Tour for the past two years. If you are ready to register now online, just go to www.BikeNewYork.org.

We want you to know that we are working with the NYCDOT to ensure that the ferry service on May 7 does not have the difficulties we experienced last year. In addition, we are hoping that the end of the sewer construction in Brooklyn will give us back our usual route and Rest Aea.

We are welcoming back presenting sponsor Con Edison, and sponsors Bonita Banana, Jamaica Hospital Center, Time Warner Cable, Marriott Financial Center, Snapple's Snap2O, and New York Sports Club. New sponsors include Lipton Iced Tea and Mix 102.7 FM.

Just a reminder, that we are planning two other rides this year, the Harlem Valley Rail Ride in New York's Dutchess County on July 30, and the Twin Lights Ride in New Jersey's Monmouth County on September 30.

Enjoy the rest of the winter and your early spring riding -- and we'll see you on May 7th!

Pam Tice
Executive Director
Bike New York
http://www.BikeNewYork.org

Sounds like fun. I remember when you brought this up last year. Maybe I can make it this year.

Last year was a blast. I took some great pictures while riding. I borrowed my girlfriend's camera, there was no way I would be able to haul around my 5lb digital brick made by canon. LOL

With no prep whatsoever I was able to start and finish all 42 miles. Of course I was dead afterwards, and sore for the next week, but I wont mention that.

It starts in Manhattan? Where do you park?

I parked in the staten Island Ferry Terminal and took the free ferry ride into lower manhattan. Definitely a hell of a lot easier than anything else.
Majority of the people do it that way as well.
It was wall to wall people for a good two hours.
There were 30,000 people participating last year!!