Pedal Power: BROOKLYN

?For more casual cycling than Manhattan's death race, cross the bridges to Brooklyn, where the scene is more serene and you can traverse a small world's worth of interlinking ethnic ?hoods in a day. Start in Williamsburg, the city?s epicenter of bike and creative culture, pedaling south past refurbished factories, old-world Hasidic orthodoxy, and brownstones in Fort Greene and Park Slope; through Sunset Park's Chinatown and Bay Ridge; and eventually take the salt-sprayed sea wall to Coney Island and Brighton Beach. Or skip from Prospect Park down Ocean Parkway directly; the nation?s first bike path was installed here in 1894. A final push past marshlands and over a bridge brings you to the Rockaways in Queens, a sandy stretch of crusty bungalows and public housing, quickly becoming a hipster haunt in its own right.

The entire route is 27 miles -- an intrepid trek -- so therein lies the key to biking in NYC: Pick your start, play your finish by ear. There?s always a subway at the ready.

?>OUTLIER

High-performance, sharply tailored clothes get you from bike to boardroom. Brooklyn-designed, Garment District sewn, made specifically for cyclists.

87 Richardson St.

347-688-5435

outlier.cc

>FATTY 'CUE

It ain't kosher, but it sure is right. Next to South Williamsburg?s Hasidic area, Malaysian-inflected BBQ makes for a killer brunch: house-smoked coriander bacon, country grits, fresh watermelon juice spiked with kaffir lime.

91 S. 6th St.

718-599-3090

fattycue.com

>BROOKLYN FLEA

Over 150 vendors, from antique junkers to full-time artisans and food stalls distill the creative energy of the city into a borough-anchoring bazaar. Saturdays, 10 a.m.?5 p.m. (April?November)

176 Lafayette Ave.

brooklynflea.com

>PROSPECT PARK

Brooklyn?s somewhat wilder version of Olmsted & Vaux?s Central Park. Chill in the Nethermead, the city sounds all but a whisper over the tree tops.

Grand Army Plaza

prospectpark.org

>DUB PIES

Antipodean-style meat and veggie pies -- plus a proper flat white coffee -- for easy picnicking or a quick refuel.

211 Prospect Park West

718-788-2448

dubpies.com

>MELODY LANES

A slice of faded Americana sandwiched between Hispanic South Slope and Sunset Park?s Chinatown. Duck in for a round of brewskis and neon disco bowling.

461 37th St.

718-832-2695

melodylanesny.com

>BA XUYEN

The báhn mí are among the city?s best and cheapest ($4.50). The avocado milkshakes are a palette-bending mash-up.
4222 Eighth Ave.

718-633-6601

>STAI SHUANG SPRING RESORT

Thai-style massage so cheap ($25 an hour), it?s almost more necessity than indulgence.

820 54th St.,1st floor

>FOOD HEAVEN

Endless types of sausage, chilled pear soda, and frosty Baltika beer?the perfect brown bagger for the boardwalk.

239 Brighton Beach Ave.

718-743-4700

>MARINE PARK

Whiz down greenways past intrepid kite surfers and unending acres of salt marsh as you begin to wonder if you?re still in New York City.

Ave. U & Stuart St.

nycgovparks.org/parks/marinepark

>ROCKAWAY TACO

Salty shack with scruffy surfer clientele. Skip the carne and load up on fish tacos (topped with ?slaw, radish, and spicy aioli) with a side of Cukes salad (mango, cucumber, and jicama doused with chili and lime).

95-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

rockawaytaco.com

>MORE BIKE CITIES

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