Posted: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:05 PM - 15,750 Readers

By: Meredith Bard

Hilltop Views Sports dedicates the month of October to special coverage of cycling culture. Every week will feature a unique cyclist or an aspect of cycling, from the environmentally conscious casual rider to the sports' poster child, Lance Armstrong.

1. Barton Creek Greenbelt

This trail is located off of Capital of Texas Highway and is considered by many the most technical mountain biking trail in the Austin area, according to junior Mitchell Hallmark. With many trails off the beaten path, it gives riders an opportunity to explore and provides a variance of terrain challenges.

2. Wanut Creek

Compared to the Greenbelt, Walnut Creek offers a more open and fast-paced biking trail. This location is known as a great spot for beginners and less technical riders. Located at the intersection of Parmer and Lamar in North Austin, you can enjoy the popular 11 to 12 mile loop through the park to get your blood flowing.

3. Pace Bend Park

If you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Pace Bend is the place for you. Located 30 minutes west of Austin along Lake Travis, bikers can enjoy the park's 1,368 acres and enjoy some of the best views of the lake. The interior of the park is a wildlife preserve that can only be accessed on foot, horseback or bike. On top of getting a good ride in on the trails, there's no telling what critters you may run into.

4. Slaughter Creek

If you've been around the Austin area for a while and feel like you've biked every trail around, try out the Slaughter Creek trail. The trail was built less than two years ago by Austin Ridge Riders and Austin Metro Trails and Greenways with financial assistance from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The five mile trail located in southwest Austin off of Farm to Market Road 1826 offers information about the area along the path.

5. Town Lake

Looking for the perfect leisurely ride? The Trail at Ladybird Lake is conveniently located a couple miles from campus down South Congress Avenue towards downtown. It's a great place to get out for a nice ride without having to worry about the technical side of mountain biking. You can even choose how far you want to ride based on the loop you take!

*  Story Contributed by: Meredith Bard