Austin, Texas, has always boasted a highly active populace, and is often listed among the nation's healthiest and most active cities. Cycling plays a huge role in this fitness-focused city, with an abundance of resources available to cyclists of every age and experience level. The unique landscape and close proximity to the rolling Texas hill country make it uniquely suited to both mountain biking and road biking alike, and enthusiasts of both sports flock to the city as a result.

Austin, Texas, is well known for its high rate of resident activity. In fact, Austin is often rated among the healthiest and most-active cities in America. With a wealth of outdoor activities to choose from (parks, lakes, and hiking trails abound) Austinites have access to an almost indefinite number of options when it comes to exercise.

In recent years, Austin's cycling community has grown exponentially, due to its commuter-friendly downtown area, its close proximity to the beautiful hill country, and its abundance of parks and trails.

Canopy. That's a great word and a comforting thought when shade is what you need on a hot day. When it's canopy provided by trees, the word and the comfort loom refreshingly larger in the mind of any summer sun-smitten shade seeker. No man made shade offers quite the appeal of the dark and dappled shade of a live oak tree on a sun-baked lawn.

Austin has a rich urban canopy and, although trees can cause problems with utility lines above ground and roots that break sewer and water lines below, their benefit to the community is undisputable.