As I transferred from El Paso to UT Austin this fall, I came to UT carrying with me not only my hopes, my dreams and the friendships I have made during my lifetime, but also, my beloved bike.

Five weeks had passed since my move into the great capital city of Austin, TX, when something awful happened. It was 1:30 am on a Friday night and I was ready to go to bed. As I pointlessly scrolled through my phone while lying in bed, there was a knock at my door. Confused, I got up and opened it to find my roommate meet me with very bad news – my bike was gone. At first, I thought it was a bad joke, but he assured me it wasn’t. I rapidly went down the elevator to the garage just to confirm what he was telling me. Right outside the elevator, lying on the concrete floor, there was my supposedly strong lock, broken, along with my heart. Speechless, heart-broken and powerless, I took a walk to clear my mind. I felt betrayed by every person who once told me this was a great city, that I was about to have the time of my life by moving here. All those hopes and dreams I once had arriving here seemed long gone, just like my bike.

Not two weeks have passed since my bike was stolen, yet here I am, grateful for the amazing times we got to spend together. Those five weeks I had in Austin with my bike were just wonderful. I got to explore a large number of parts of the city, north, south, east and west, had the chance to bike alongside the Lady Bird Lake, the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and the spectacular downtown area, all while being able to pay my bills on time. Besides the awful hiccup of having it stolen, everything else has been nothing but great – except for the online classes, those SUCK – Thus, in honor of my beloved bike and the awesome times we got to spend together, I have compiled a small but fundamental list of must-do beginner bike activities that anyone can do. Because, to me, having a bicycle in Austin is essential if you really want to get to know the city and have a full Austinite experience. Also, very important, you need a strong lock – I’m telling you from experience –

(And yes, I’ve only been here for about 7 weeks and I’m making those bold statements about biking in Austin, imagine what I will be saying after living here for a year.)

Bike-commute if you can

Although not a good fit to some, commuting on a bike is one of the best choices you can make. Riding a bike to school or work is not only a good daily exercise, but it’s fun, eco and pocket friendly. You can run errands while riding a bike; getting some last-minute grocery items or picking up some food. Also, it’s way faster than walking and it allows you to get to places that with a car you wouldn’t be able to. Besides, did I already mention it’s fun?

Ride along the Lady Bird Lake

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a perfect option whether you are looking to exercise or choosing more of a leisure ride. The 10-mile loop located at the heart of the city is a wonderful way to get to know one of the most popular areas of Austin.  

Shoal Creek Trail

Running alongside Lamar Blvd and crossing right through Pease Park, the Shoal Creek Trail is a Hike-and-Bike trail starting at 38^th street and merging at the end with Lady Bird Lake. If you’re looking for a picnic friendly place where you can ride your bike, have some outdoor fun and maybe even fish, this trail is a perfect fit for you.

Downtown

If what you want is a more urban approach to riding, downtown Austin will not let you down. With bike-only lanes located along Congress Ave, 3^rd and 4^th St, these urban trails are nothing but awesome, giving you the possibility to grab a bite from one of the endless amazing food places located at the heart of the capitol city. Wink, wink, Taquiero Mucho’s review.

Whether you want a casual ride, exercise, or commute, Austin trails got you. Make sure to check out our local bike stores (I recommend Mellow Johnny’s & Bicycle Sport Shop) and be on the lookout for some sweet bike deals, so you can start riding asap. By the way, if you make the greatest decision in your life and buy a bike, don’t forget to buy a good helmet and a better lock– I can’t stress this enough –.