MCMBA: Highland

[plaindave]

Rode all loops today and beside a little slick spot on the back side of B the trail is in great shape.

Horses have DEFINITELY been riding on D in the past 24 hrs as you could see fresh hoof prints on the trail and that lovely horse sent was pretty heavy for a section. Kind of sad really as there are plenty of trails to go arond but someone feels that they are entitled to use the mountain bike trail as a horse trail.

So... what is the proper response if one encounters horse folk on the mtb trail? Be polite and let them know( i'm sure they already know what trail their on) or just ride on by like i own the trail.... since it is a MTB trail..... saddly i'm guessing the first

I believe the proper thing to do is notify them of your presence with an air horn. After all you don't want to come up on them too quietly and startle the horse, right?

[bh357]

Never rode it with a rigid fork (but this weekend I hope to try out my new crabon fibre legs), but I gear it 35/18 fixed and am happy. It's short rises and drops throughout, so grind a couple revs to the top if need be and you can still have a moment to recuperate.

You ride Highland on a fixed gear? Mommy, save me from the scary man!

hahaha, no doubt


MediumRB, I like your sig. line too, haha. I'd love to check out one of your rides if we ever come across eachother on the trail. I love unique setups.
I think the only way I could personally make it around there on a fixed gear is with trials gearing and a freewheel on the crank, but that would be cheating huh...

I wouldn't know what to do with gears and freewheels and two brakes! I usually ride Pontiac Lake or Highland, sometimes Bloomer when I'm not on the velodrome.

Hey, I ride at the Velodrome a bit. Black Trek T1.
I've also ridden fixed off-road, but mostly Stony. I rode Bloomer fixed a couple times... the switchbacks were "interesting".

[dipfan]

First time out of the year on Wednesday and then again this evening. Trail is in great shape! My first time on the D loop tonight, that loop is something else. Feels great to be out again.

[Gfish29]

Thanks to those who removed that uphill log on D loop. I could not figure out how to ride that one!

[MediumRB]

I'll be out there tomorrow (Sunday), hopefully by 10am.
Look for me on the green Soul Icon if any of you are riding. I'll have an extra fixed gear rear wheel if you SS types want to try (I'm doing an experiment w/ tires and ratios).

EDIT: rode it and had a great time. I forget how long that trail takes, and what it does to my body (a few small trees close to the trail tussled with me). Beautiful conditions. The leaves are still on the trail pretty thick, and they are dry and slippery at times.

[flamingo]

HORSES, HORSES ! on the C loop again as of yesterday afternoon. Some idiots rode right after the rain and left deep prints in the trail not to mention the horse s...t. This is becoming an insult! Would it be possible to post much larger warning signs at the places when the trails cross, to explain to those dumb heads not to ride on our trails. Also how about some warning boards at the horse staging areas saying: PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE DON'T RIDE ON BIKING TRAILS! I run into a park ranger and told him that horses been riding on biking trails. It is a crazy idea, but if this continues how about putting some gates of the size that let only humans with bikes let through but not a horse?
Otherwise the trail was in a great shape. By 5:30 pm it dried nicely and it was just damp with no dust.

[dcat1]

Did a,b,c at lunch today. In ~12 yrs of riding this trail, don't think I've ever seen it any better than it is now...just perfect. 2 big trees down-1 at about mile 2 on A, 1 on B at about mile 4...it was maybe .25 mile past the newer shortcut that was put in a couple years ago. Both would require chainsaw. Other than that...just pristine...not a sign of any 4 hoved pooping machines on C either. Like the new uphill log pile on C-thanks to whomever did that! Only thing that ticked me off is that I thought I saw the rain starting so I skipped D...grr...could have gotten it in...

[Bento]

Down trees mentioned above are gone. Conditions were dry and firm. Better to ride Highland than an über busy Poto on Sundays. Most excellent. Thanks to whomever brought back my full water bottle to the TH. Next time, I am using the Camelbak. No more ejected bottles for me at Highland.

No horse prints on ABC. I did see two children on horses and an adult, not with a horse, prepping to head out from the TH. I think there could be more "no horse" signs at the C/B/horse trail junctions. Maybe more rocks?

Thanks to the gents who are taking care of this trail.

[mtbfree]

Rode A, B, and D, yesterday evening. Cleared a brush pile/vine tangle that was blocking the trail on D loop, but there was a large tree down less than a mile farther along at about 12.5 mile marker (I think), and my folding saw was no match for it... you could clear it if you can bunny hop about 2 feet

[b_b]

The tree on D is still there around 13D. It's before the rocky climb at the top of the previous hill. Not far from the road. Otherwise all clear.

[MediumRB]

^ You beat me to it - otherwise, the trail was great today. Fast, dry, lovely.
I think I am done with the rigid fork for this season - Highland and PLRA are needing some cushion.

[buster]

Rode all four sections today... For the most part its dry, couple spots that are wet with leaves.. At 12.25 there is a small down tree..

You can really tell Sections C & D definitely are rode much less. Did someone throw preen down on section D? There was one area that looked like it had a lot of white pellets on the course..

[jpjones]

If anyone attempts Highland today, please post conditions. I would like to ride around 6pm, hoping the rain from last night will be dried up by today's sunshine.

[reshp1]

Rode A, B, C last night and aside from a soft spot here and there on B the trail was in good shape.

[Nelg]

In great shape, one tree down on D about 1 to 2 miles in. Handsaw will take care of it, too long and heavy to move solo.