Thousands of cyclists pedaled through the city Sunday morning for the return of the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a beloved event that was canceled last year due to COVID-19.

For John Harrington, seven times the charm. 

He came all the way from Virginia to once again take part in the bike tour.

“It’s great exercise and it’s not super cardio, you can ride it at a reasonable pace it’s not a race,” Harrington said.

The charity ride is put on by the city and Bike New York. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea cheered on the cyclists before they crossed the start.

“Welcome New York, Good Morning. Have a safe ride, enjoy it, see you at the finish line,” Shea said.

And he also took part in the race.

It started in lower Manhattan, went up into the Bronx, then Queens, Brooklyn and finally ended on Staten Island at the Empire Outlets. The people behind the event said it’s great to be back.

“We had so many obstacles and it feels awesome to be here today. It’s going to be a great day and the weather is good,” said Ken Podziba, president and CEO Bike New York said.

The 40 mile ride was supposed to be last week but got postponed due to the storm. It also was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The ride funds efforts to educate New Yorkers about bike safety and teach first-timers.

“We’re going to be raising hundreds of thousands of dollars today so we can continue our great bike education program where 25,000 New Yorkers benefit from, mostly underserved New Yorkers,” Podziba said. “We have 14 what we call community bike education centers in parks throughout the city. The city gives us free space and we have a container with bikes and helmets people go there we have instructors it’s all free.”

This year specific protocols were in place due to the growing delta variant.

“We’re being extra cautious and we’re making sure people have masks at the start when they’re clustered together and at the finish and there will be indoor spaces indoor hospitality people are required to show their vaccination card and required to wear masks,” Podziba said

And at the finish line the bikers were welcomed at Empire Outlets to a festival and lots of food vendors. They said the long trek was well worth it.

“Feels awesome, great day, great bunch of guys great city,” Hector Mercado said as he wrapped up his ride.

For more info on free bike programs throughout the city head to bike.nyc