Hotels in New York City, New York - USA

There are 100 miles of cycle paths in New York; those in Central Park, Riverside Park and the East River Promenade are among the nicest. Transportation Alternatives (115 W 30th St tel 212/629-8080, www.transalt.org ), while concentrating on the environmental aspects, lobbies for funding for bike-related projects, like ramps for bridge access, free bike racks, and additional car-free hours in Central Park. They also sponsor the Century Bike Tour in September (a 35-, 50-, 75-, or 100-mile ride through the boroughs), and have some good maps.

Bicycle Habitat 244 Lafayette St tel 212/431-3315. Known for an excellent repair service, they also offer rentals for $25 a day (plus a deposit equal to the value of the bike) or $7.50 an hour, with a two-hour minimum. You can also have a tune-up (priced at $75 and up). The very knowledgeable staff here helps cyclists of all levels of expertise.

Five Borough Bike Club tel 212/932-2300 ext 115 for membership details. This club organizes rides throughout the year, including the Montauk Century, a hundred-mile ride from New York to Montauk, Long Island.