Over 700 cyclists pitched a tent in rome, camping on the lawn of Fort Stanwix as they take in the city before departing east to continue on the Erie Canal Bike Tour.

Cyclists from all over the country flock to central New York to participate in the annual 400 mile tour.

Bikers start in Buffalo and finish in Albany, making pit stops along the way throughout the eight day journey.

Plenty of things to do when in Rome: grab some dinner and take a tour of fort Stanwix and probably going to bed early to get ready for the longest stretch of the trail.

"Tomorrow is the day of hell," said biker Lee Sapienza. "It's the worst, the worst day of the whole thing. It's 62 miles, it's from here to Canajoharie and you know it's 62 miles. When you're averaging 10-12 miles per hour, do the math we're talking 5 hours sitting on a little saddle you get the picture."

It's a 5 a.m. wake up call Friday morning, bikers can enjoy a buffet breakfast at the YMCA before heading out for the day.