Barton Creek Greenbelt
I rode my mountain bike in the Barton Creek Greenbelt on two of the mornings I was in Austin (PDF map available here at the excellent TxInfo site). It’s a little different than California mountain biking. It doesn’t have the real long (or high) climbs, but it is a bit of work up and down along the creek. I was fighting for traction as I sank into river pebbles and fighting for balance through rocky limestone sections.
I left my car in Zilker Park and rode up to the “Hill of Life” for a 14 or 15 mile trip. It’s kind of “out and back” but with enough parallel trails that you make it into more of a loop. Man – some spots at the bottom are rocky. Limestone rocks shaped like fist sized bicuspids point up out of the trail. I beat myself up riding that section a little fast the first day (and I put a ding in my rear rim – I hope to pick up my repaired bike today). I learned as I rode that the trail works its way out to some softer dirt sections. Sometimes when there are parallel trails there are less rocky ones.
A lot of people must damage hardware though, the picture above shows the scrapes on one rock, with my tire for scale.
The second day I did more or less the same ride, but maybe only 12 miles or so. The two trips gave my legs a stretch and got me in the mood for a shower and some more barbecue.
More Barton Creek Photos: One, Two, Three.
There were some nice single-track sections under the trees, but I guess I was having too much fun riding those to stop and take a picture.
January 24th, 2006 at 8:27 am
This is a lot more fun in years where there’s been some rain – the crossings of the creek are either “hoist your bike over your head and walk in water which might be up to your neck in spots” or, for some people, hop into the water off rock WITH bike.
I used to ride down there very very frequently before the arthritis hit – it’s a very neat place to swim in a wet year.
January 24th, 2006 at 8:42 am
I hope the arthritis ebbs to the point where you can do it again!