TR: Highland Bike Park and $10,000 worth of demos

http://www.highlandmountain.com/index.php

Highland Mountain Bike Park is a defuct ski area just north of Concord NewH. I met up with Epic in the parking lot after running a bit late due to a parade that we got stuck in. Epic was nice enough to pull the Trek guy aside and reserve me a Serious (with a capital S) DH bike, a Trek Session 88 with SRAM XO and Shimano Saint brakes. First think I noticed was hese brakes were amazing, remember going from Cantilevers to V-Brakes then from V brakes to Disc? these are that type of difference going from Hayes 9's to the Saints. It was a good thing I wasn't wearing contacts because they would have flew out when I hit these brakes for the first time. I never felt MTB brakes at strong as these. I will say I liked the feel of the Session, the travel and grip was amazing, but coming from always riding XC geometry, it took a bit getting used to. The next bike I rode was a Trek Remedy 9 (XTR equipped) in a Large. I will say, I felt much more  comfortable on this bike although it didn't have the grip or tenacious braking of the Saints. One think we noticed regarding my Liquid is the handlebars and that they have the completely wrong bars on them, size does matter here (no jokes please) but where the two bikes I demo'd had spans of roughly 27-28"'s my Liquid was a measly 22". We came to the conclusion that that might be one of my issues..well Duh. I did take the Liquid out for the last ride and it is interesting how a 04 bike has..em...matured over time. Think about a 04 "all mountain" ski compared to a 09 All mountain ski. I think it is very similar to my Liquid to the Remedy. 

Enough about the bikes, on to the mountain. Highland has a very cool atmosphere, low key almost Magic (Mountain) like. I will let Epic get into the history of the place, but I know you will find it interesting. I had a great time and although I could barely keep Epic in my sight I really gained a ton of confidence on the hill even though I did slide down a few sections. Epic gave me some pointers that did help. I see nothing but upward growth for the mountain and I wish them the best.

Pics to follow after dig up the cable and download them. I have a few Epic has more. 

Edited by Philpug - 6/28/2009 at 12:00 am GMT

Wow. You're fast. Just got home. Downloading now... 

We didn't have as far to go.....and I took a much needed shower in that time. 

That place looks like tons of fun!  
I'd love an opportunity to ride like this and glean from experienced riders. 
While we wait for the pics let me say....
After your demo time, do you have an appreciation my turmoil after demoing the SantaCruz and Fuel while my Liquid was in the shop?

I have no regrets from my purchase, except perhaps that I didn't snatch up the 08 Fuel  when I had the chance.  I do love my new bike :yahoo:

As good as the Liquid is.....(do I have to finish this sentence?)

Now, where are the pics?

 Gotta put the girls to bed, but here's one.

 

Let's try that again. Let go of the brakes, point and shoot. Don't try to pedal, that bottom bracket is pretty low.

It wasn't that bad, the tree broke my fall. 

 Sooo... let's see. I woke up early psyched for some DH. Packed up the car and headed South. 2 hr 20 minutes got me to Highland Mountain (I just squeezed past the parade). Here's the view from the lodge when I arrived.


I had a couple of hours before Phil would arrive, so I went and rode the blue and black trails on the skier's right. It had apparently rained a lot on Friday and Friday night. It was extra slippery - there will be some bike cleaning tomorrow - by contrast, I could have cleaned my bike with an air compressor after Thursday at Bromont. About 11 O'Clock I rode back to the bottom to meet up with the Pugs. I also rode past the Trek tent and scored a Session 88 for Phil. Once Phil made it through the parade we grabbed the bike and went back to the lift. I promised Lola I'd bring Phil back in one piece, so we went to rider's left and rode Meadow's End a green trail (note - first time I rode Highland there were NO green trails. Ask Phil how blue the blues are.)

Meadow's End


Then we did it again. Next we moved on to Fancy Feast. I think we both liked it better, it had higher berms and was perhaps a touch less slippery. We started to sense that the Trek guy might be wanting his bike back, so we went over and hit one of the blue trails Eastern Hemlock. I was thinking Phil might want as much bike as he could get for this one. I didn't get any pics of this trail. Phil is probably glad about that. Lunch. Swap bike. Grabbed Phil the Remedy 9. Pretty sweet bike. More of a trail bike 6" travel - XTR - it was pretty much new. Warning stickers still attached.


With the new bike we wet and hit NE Style, the crazy ass jump trail right under the lift. Traction was good and there are go-arounds for all of the scary things. We went around. Phil's pic of the Wooden Roller Coaster is from NE style. Then we returned to familiar ground, Fancy Feast.


I loved this Brobdignagian Berm


Then it was time for one last run with Phil's Liquid 25 and it's Lilliputian handlebars.

Here;s Highland's NELSAP page. http://www.nelsap.org/nh/highlands.html We should have taken pictures of the J-bar. You wouldn't believe how overgrown it was. It's almost gone! 

One last pic. Mud crust.
 

 One last pic......C'mon, you gotta have more!!!

Love the mud!

Story of my life...

SAWEEET!  Very nice, loooked like a lot of fun. Mud is good.....

Nice TR.  Looks like the downhill bug bit you. 

I wouldn't call what I am riding "downhill" but more lift access XC. I tend to take it on the conservative side. 

You know what I noticed?
Phil had a huge grin on his face when he was demoing and not so much when he got back on his own bike....
hmmmm...
Do I smell a new bike in his future?
You know he wouldn't ski much if his only skis were 5 years old...right?