Ayesha McGowan is a Cannondale ambassador chronicling her attempt to become the first female African-American professional road cyclist at aquickbrownfox.com. We asked her for some advice on how to get the most out of the Tour experience this year.

The key to success at the TD Five Boro Bike Tour? Simple. A tour-ready bicycle. A few easy checks will keep you rolling all the way from Manhattan to Staten Island without a hitch. Susan Lindell, the shop manager at Brooklyn’s Recycle-A-Bicycle (one of our bike shop partners at this year’s Tour) shares the essentials of getting your bike ready for a big ride.

Judi Desire's daily routine looks a little like our wintertime daydreams here at Bike New York. She's spent an impressive portion of the last three years bike touring around the world, and when she happens to be in NYC, we're lucky to have her as a volunteer at our classes and events. Below, Judi tells us about her most recent journey through New Zealand (via Hawaii, Tasmania, and Australia), escaping the East Coast winters, her favorite touring gear, and why she sports a Bike New York cycling cap. Prepare to be transported to some truly breathtaking landscapes, because she's also shared some...