I posted this elsewhere, but it's somewhat relevant if you decide to do it:

I found that jumping into the ride at CP instead of from the start is the way to go. Basically, 45 min to an hr. after the official start, be at CP when people should just be arriving, then blend in and ride the rest of the ride. You'll be at the head of the ride so you won't get stuck behind the mass of people riding slow. When you loop through Harlem and the Bronx and get back on the FDR south, try to get ahead of as many people as you can cuz traffic bottlenecks at the QB Bridge. Skip the first rest stop and you can make decent time for the rest of the ride.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...30#post2307830