Yes you can train well in Central Park if you can't get out of the city.

The full circuit is 6.1 miles and includes flat and rolling terrain and you will have the wind behind you and in front of you at some point. The biggest hill is at the north end of the park, and the west side is generally rolling, while a large part of the east side is flat. If you want to do hill repeats, there is a short circuit of about 1.25 miles at the top end of the park, which takes you up the main hill, then cut off at around 103rd St and that takes you back to the east side.

It's better to ride when the park is closed to motor traffic, which is between 10am and 3pm and between 7pm and 10pm. I would not necessarily recommend riding after dark unless you are with company.

I work from home and regularly use the park during the day when it's closed to traffic. I'd be happy to take you round if you e-mail me.

Otherwise, there is a group from the club which meets every Tuesday and Thursday morning to do three laps. They meet at Engineer's Gate, 90th St entrance off 5th Ave at 5:30am. They work on paceline skills, sometimes hill repeats at the top end of the park and aim to do around 19mph on the flats. There is another group which also meets on Tues and Thurs mornings at 5:20am also from Engineers Gate, which runs at a slightly slower pace and aims to do four laps of the park.

It is certainly possible to keep up a good pace on the full circuit, especially during the day, when it is closed to motor traffic. In the evening and weekends you get a lot of roller bladers and joggers and not all of them look before making unexpected turns right in front of you.

Are you bringing a road bike with you? If not Toga Bikes rents them out by the day from $50 to $100 a day, depending on model. They do have some nice Litespeeds at the higher price for rental. Tel: +1 212 799 9625. Toga may be found at 110 West End Avenue (at 64th St).