Contributing & Naming Bikes
Everyone has a chance to be a part of a team where you can name a bike. Each bike will have a name engraved on a Many Point Bike Badge that will be mounted to the bike. Once each bike reaches a $1,000, it can be named. Whether it’s 3 people or 60 people working towards that bike, everything counts. Here’s how it works.
- When completing your contribution form, simply make a comment of others you are on a team with. If you want to start a team, make sure to mention that.
- Your undisclosed donation will be added to the bike shack tracker below for the team you specify.
- Once your team has reached the $1000 goal, your team can work together to give the bike a Scouting appropriate name.
Tips: This is a great way to get back in touch with some of your fellow staffers. If you are indifferent on how your contribution is assigned, the MPSAA board can help you out. When starting a team, you’ll be emailed the some tips on making its successful!
the BIKE SHACK inventory sheet / tracking sheet
Start a team, get friends to help, and name a bike! All are welcome. Either pick a team to contribute towards or start a team for others to help you fill. There is no limit to the amount of people on a team. It could be 1, 2, 10, 50, 100 or more.
Those who contribute $40+ will receive a keychain / token that matches the bike badges.
Progress to the Finish Line:
We are nearing the finish line to make the Mountain Biking Outpost a complete success for this summer.
The goal of the effort was to have each bike named, and those who grouped up with others for a total contribution $1000 could have the naming rights. It’s not too late to do so. If you have already donated, and forgot to get on a team, send Mike Kuklok an email at kukl0016@gmail.com, and he will help you out. For those who do not have a preference, but have an idea for a name, at least seven (7) of the bikes will have a name that is voted on by the entire Alumni Association. If you have an idea for a Bike Name, and would like to have it on the list of candidates, email that to Mike Kuklok at kukl0016@gmail.com.
Team Anderson
the Anderson Family
Team Bumbles
in Honor of Pete Thomes
Team Chaplin’s
Led by Father Tom
Blue Skies Baby
Remembering C. Bader, T. Holden, and J. Vanatta
TEAM E
TEAM F
Team Granny
led by Mike Kuklok
Team Health Lodge
led by Chris Tashjian
TEAM I
Team Vanderbilt
led by Eric Vanderbilt
TEAM K
TEAM L
TEAM M
TEAM N
Team Belschner
led by Jay Belschner
TEAM P
Team Young Alums
led by Nick Yearous
TEAM R
Team Savanna
led by Crew 3051
TEAM T
TEAM U
TEAM V
TEAM W
TEAM X
Hear from Many Point Staffer – Isaac Swift
What is the story of re-energizing the Mounting Bike Program?
Isaac and Alex: For the Summer of 2020, on-site bike treks were brought back to camp due to COVID. Scouts and Staff really enjoyed having the program back at camp (previously an off-site program). The general consensus is that it would be incredible to have trails that go throughout Many Point. After some long discussions with Isaac Swift, Eli Johnson, Andrew Akermann, Alex Farrell, they made a plan for developing trails and a mountain biking training program for Scouts. The plan got the go-ahead, and it was soon on the trail to becoming a reality.
In 2021, Alex, Isaac, and Abby Loats came up weeks before anyone else to begin making trails. After reviewing several sites on camp the previous summer, it was settled on utilizing the landscape in Flintlock.
Isaac: I think we made a good starting point for years to come. The trails in flintlock are meant to be a training ground encompassing all levels of rider. They are all short, mostly downhill trails that each have one or two skills to work on for the scouts to progress. Throughout the summer, we added features and made a few more trails. Hopefully it will stay as a good training area as the trails spread all over camp in the coming years.
How did you come up with the trail names?
Isaac: There’s really no rhyme or reason for most of them. Most of them just sounded right. A lot of them were just named on the spot as they were being developed. EZ cheese was the first trail that was built and someone said the name at it stuck. A Scout named Shake and Bake!
What are the future plans for the biking program?
Isaac: Big picture wise, the idea is to make longer trails between old logging roads and ATV trails to get the distance requirement. To be honest, the trails are a great start, but for program we need miles of trail. In Flintlock, the trails built is just for skill building. We have plenty of usable trail around camp, but we don’t have those connection trails
There are probably many, but what is a memorable moment with a Scout?
Isaac: One Scout never rode off-road before. He was in my all week program every morning with one other guy. This guy skids to a stop on a trail on Wednesday and points to where he wants to build a trail. So Thursday we spend all day digging and riding and perfecting a new trail. It was Shake and Bake, a steep, fast chute, dropping off of another trail. We spent all morning making that berm just right so we could send it at full tilt down the hill!
What is needed for the program to be a success?
Isaac: Well, for one, the sizing of the bikes matters. We need a variety. I can’t ride a small bike, any better than a 13 year old can ride an XL bike.
But also it’s the quality and age of the bikes. These bikes are old, outdated, and we don’t have the parts to repair them. The spare parts and tools I had weren’t even the right type for our bikes. We even had multiple kinds of bikes, and they all didn’t match the parts.
a great start at training trails
the gear to do it right
the Bikes
The Marlin 6 is a tried and tested bike that will perform in a commercial application like what is required at camp. The bike was design with fewer moving parts and has a solid construction for years of performance. With 20-25 of these bikes of various sizes, Many Point can provide a program where everyone participating has the correctly fitted equipment.
the Gear
Operating a program requires more than just the bikes. Commercial grade bike helmets will be purchased for years of use, tools, storage, and preventative maintenance equipment will be needed to ensure 100% uptime for the program.
the Trails
Building trails and trail obstacles is critical to the programs success. Trail obstacles need to be constructed from quality materials for years of maintenance free longevity.
help make the dream a reality
Please reach out to your contacts to help make this happen. You can make a contribution with the contribution form included in your newsletter or online at www.mpalumni.org/give/
If you have questions, please contact Mike Kuklok at kukl0016@gmail.com or call at 763-234-7642.