Story and Video by Emily Piccone

Early Sunday morning thousands gathered on 161st street for the start of the 17th annual Tour de Bronx. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. welcomed the huge crowd of people, coming from the five boroughs, Westchester County and even as far as Stamford, Conn., to take part in the annual ride.

“Riding a bike around our borough is the healthiest way to see the best of the Bronx, and I invite everyone to join me again this year to tour our wonderful borough,” Diaz said.

Joined by Transportation Alternatives, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx Lebanon Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital, the ride offered a 25 and 40 mile loop through Bronx streets, bike paths, highways and some of the borough’s largest parks, like Pelham Bay, Soundview and Pugsley Creek.

The event is fueled by a large group of volunteers, who had three rest stops set up along the way, offering bagels, apples, granola bars and lots of water to all the riders.

“It’s hard work but it pays off,” said Kadijah Small, a veteran volunteer from the Bronx. “I love it when everyone comes and I get to hand out apples and water.”

Aside from the joy of riding through both green parks and usually busy Bronx main-ways, the eclectic mix of people made the event a great spectacle. Professional bikers and Sunday strollers on beach cruisers could be spotted in the crowd, and there was even a bike “gang,” complete with leather jackets, and tricked out chrome bikes.

Both the 25 and the 40 milers concluded at the Botanical Garden, where bikers relaxed to live salsa, free Domino’s pizza and Zico water.