I'm going to New York - What do I want to do?

The firm I used were based in Queens and they seemed to have everything.

Atre you taking the missus?

Make sure you have an 'E-Passport' too - apparently 10% of UK passports are no longer valid for the US (mine included!)

On the above...

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/08/biometric-passports-likely-to-cause-confusion-to-british-travellers

Has the little "sausage sandwich" logo on the front if it's biometric, if you need to update it you need to redo the ESTA stuff too :(

Get in a taxi-cab, say the the driver "take me to the Big Apple, I wanna see the pips!"

Not taking the missus. I'm flying out straight from my last day at current job for a week, staying at a mate's old apartment that he's renting for a month needlessly while buying another. He'll be busy most of the time so I'm just riding, chilling, clearing my head.

Not sure what my passport is, but it's brand new this week. So should be golden? Will add ESTA to my to-do list.

Turns out I'm now entered into a Cat5 road race in upstate NY 10 hours after landing. So that'll be interesting.

Not taking the missus - its that baggage charge for sports equipment

Flying Virgin: no fee for bike. Mrs Sparky is a teacher and can't get time off when she wants. Otherwise she'd come. We're going to Athens when I get back instead. Then it's time for New Job...

I'm recommending to anyone visiting NY at the moment to go see the Broadway Musical Hamilton, about the life of the American founding father, Alexander Hamilton, told in rap. It's a cultural phenomenon. Not joking. http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/

Hi guys! I'm in new York, Brooklyn for the next week.

Does anyone have any suggestions on places to go? Bike shops, bars etc?

Also is anyone here living in new York and would possibly have a spare bike as/fixed? Or is there a bike rental scheme anyone can recommend??

Really looking forward to Coney Island and doing some bouldering around NYC

King Kog bike shop in Brooklyn. http://kingkog.bigcartel.com/

Check out the High Line, 1.5miles of raised rail road that has been turned into public space in the city. http://www.thehighline.org

The Met is worth a visit. Entry fee is donation based with a 'recommendation' of $25, but the signage doesn't really explain this, you can just pay $1 if you like. Same thing for the American Museum of Natural History.

The Tenenament musuem is really interesting, book ahead if there is a specific tour you want to do as they sell out. http://www.tenement.org

Are you veggie/vegan?

Sounds good thanks for the advice!!!

Will definitely have a look. considering getting a cinelli while I'm over here just because sure why not! Haha

Not a vegan or veggie but do enjoy the food as I try eat as little meat as possible, why?

a) Franny's for the Pizza
b) Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn for the plants
c) Brooklyn Museum for the art (Not sure is the ESPO exhibition is still on, but if it is, go and see that)
d) +1 on the High Line for the walks
e) Nix near Union Square in Manhattan for the amazing veggie food.

That plant has just flowered at the botanic garden that stinks of rotting corpses.

The flower of the plant sticks of rotten corpses, not the garden.