Biking the boroughs

Prospect Park

Fri
Renounce the subway all weekend and rely on your wheels—you’ll cover more ground and get some exercise, and you probably won’t sit in any unexpected goo. Roll up your pant legs and pedal to Trader Joe’s (142 E 14th St between Third and Fourth Aves; 212-529-4612, traderjoes.com) for charcoal and grillables. Second stop: Metro Bicycles (332 E 14th St between First and Second Aves, 212-228-4344); pick up a free NYC cycling map before the store closes at 6:30pm. Take 10th Street all the way east, across the FDR and onto the path in East River Park (nycgovparks-.org). Beware the man-size potholes as you bike south to the picnic tables and rudimentary grills just north of the track, then dine as the lights start twinkling in Queens. Take the Delancey Street bridge back and grab a window seat at The Magician(118 Rivington St at Essex St, 212-673-7851), so you can watch people much drunker than you and make sure they don’t mess with your wheels.

Sat
Manhattan is mostly flat; parts of the Bronx are hilly and mazelike, and you’ll find scenic bike routes you might not have expected. Set out from Van Cortlandt Park (nycgovparks.org), taking -Broadway north, then make a left on Moshulu Avenue, a right on Tyndall Avenue and a left on 261st Street. Coast down Palisade Avenue to 254th Street and—unless you’re a superhero—walk your bike to Independence Avenue. Follow -that south to 249th Street, where you’ll find the entrance to Wave Hill (W 249th St at Independence Ave; 718-549-3200, wavehill.org), an idyllic 28-acre garden. If you’re there by noon, admission is free. Wend your way (you’re going to need that map) to the Riverdale City Grille (3541 Riverdale Ave at 236th St, 718-543-5720), where you can chill and eat an affordable, well-earned lunch.

Sun
The forecast: hot. The antidote: swimming. From Brooklyn’s Prospect Park (Prospect Park West at 9th St; 718-965-8951, prospectpark.org), head for Red Hook—-biking is the best way to get there, given that the subway doesn’t. Take 9th Street west until you’ve passed under the BQE, go left on Clinton Street, right on Bay Street—and welcome to the Sol Goldman Recreation Center pool, which is Olympic-sized and free to the public (155 Bay St between Clinton and Henry Sts; 718-722-3211, nycgovparks.org). Get wet, get back in the saddle and take Van Brunt Street to -Sullivan Street, where the low-key El Huipil (116A Sullivan St between Conover and Van Brunt Sts, 718-855-4548) might get you to quit your griping about Mexican food in New York.—Becca Tucker