The Tour de Bronx and the NYC Century go through VC Park, but not the trail. There's usually a rest area right where the trail begins. Don't romanticize it too much though, it is da Bronx after all.

Maybe a group ride is in order? I've done the entire trail from Brewster to the Bronx. It is definitely better to start in Brewster too, there's an uphill for a ways, but then you hit the downhill and it is downhill all the way to the city line. Wait until spring though.