Founded on The Merchants' Gate corner of Central Park on the weekend of the 25th Bike New York (The Great 5 Boro Ride 2002), the NYC chapter is a very social bunch that likes to incorporate good coffee and croissants into their leafy laps around Central Park and beyond.

"We got to Columbus Circle and a dozen Bike Friday owners had already gathered and were socializing furiously. Those present included Mark Aaron, the leader, Mike Schuyler, my NY host and captain on the Twin Air, David Niles, cycling advocate and former Bike Friday staff member, Philippe Foucher, a Frenchman from the other side of the river, and Joe Witte, CNBC weatherman, who generously did not ram a tire lever up my left nostril when I asked him to say "great weather for riding a Bike Friday!" on his next weathercast.

Our little wheels drew a baffled crowd and we rode the 6-mile loop through Central Park. We stopped at the Boathouse restaurant where NWT owner Jon Hill, übercommuter, demonstrated his quicker-than-quickfold several times to gaping picknickers..."

Join club leader and AirGlide owner Jym Dyer, bicycle überadvocate, all round nice guy, and an active member of the NY-based direct action environmental group Time's Up! since 1999. Email jym at econet dot org Read more of this story.

Picture: Sep 23, 2006: BF Club of NYers met at Castle Clinton, Battery, for an easy amble to the Little Red Lighthouse followed by flesh of dead animal at the Dinosaur BBQ. Thanks to Jim Mallard for organizing the ride

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