National MS Society, NYC – Southern NY Chapter

The 2011 National MS Bike Ride around the island of Manhattan was so perfect this year !!! The weather cannot be any better.
I have been bike riding within NYC for over 30 years and been on numerous MS rides around the city and ridden many 5-​Boro bike tours so I can safely say this is one of the best bike rides inside NYC!
The path you take is the parameter of the whole island of Manhattan. You get to ride the entire FDR Drive, Harlem River Drive, and the Westside Highway without any cars!
The roadway is pretty smooth and safe.
The ride is only 30-​mile and it’s relatively flat.
There is a small hill on the northern tip right outside Isham Park but most of us walked it!
The 30-​miles sound like a lot but it is very easy and the pace is leisurely.
Refreshments and snacks were plentiful. Everyone is friendly and you will be fund raising for a good cause.
The event is well organized and with plenty of volunteers to help out in anyway.
A big Thank You to all my friends that donated to MS!
I hope to see more of my friends at this event next year!

Imagine riding your bike traffic-​free through the FDR tunnel, on the FDR drive from lower Manhattan all the way to the tip of Manhattan, and across and down the West Side Highway. Every year, usually in early October, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of New York hosts the Bike MS event, in which you can choose to ride a 30-​, 66-​, or 100-​mile route to benefit people with multiple sclerosis. All it takes is an online registration and a pledge to raise a minimum amount of money for the cause. You can either register as a single rider or register as part of a team, such as, for example, with a company team.
It truly is an enjoyable event, with an opportunity to cruise on roads that generally prohibit cyclists. In 2009, there were probably well over 5,000 riders who took part. The 30-​mile ride is basically a long loop that takes you from one end of Manhattan to the other and back, starting at one of the piers on the west side. The 60– and 100-​mile routes take the same route as the 30-​mile one but continue on through the Lincoln tunnel and into New Jersey.
If you enjoy cycling and participating in a significant cause, this is the perfect opportunity to peddle around NYC and experience it unlike any other time throughout the year.