July 2013 Chapter Meeting
The July 2013 CRAMBA Chapter meeting minutes have been uploaded and can be found here:CRAMBA Chapter Meeting Minutes 7:9:2013
STIHL Tools Repurchased!
Thanks to the generosity of our members and donors CRAMBA-IMBA has replaced all of our power tools that were stolen in July!With $2265 in cash donations (and a backpack blower valued at $259.99) we were able to outright purchase replacements for everything that was lost, along with a couple of extra tools that the Trail Coordinators had been asking for.CRAMBA-IMBA would like to thank the following individuals for their generous donations. Without these donations the tool purchase would have had a serious impact on our bottom line. Thanks to these individuals we have been able to pick up where we left off, continuing to have high-quality power tools in maintaining our trails.Thank you to:
Plaridel AsuncionScott BaxterRodney GullettTJ HillAaron HulettMark KlecknerNicholas KolmanKonrad KucharskiBruce LeblancCarlos McIntyreGreg MichalukBrett RohrscheibJustin SeftonKevin SparksGeneva StephensMark ToddRobert Wedding
August 2013 Board Meeting
The meeting minutes from our August 2013 Board meeting can be found here:CRAMBA Board Meeting Minutes 8:20:13
Chapter benefit and group ride, Saturday, September 7
To celebrate New Belgium’s one year anniversary in Michigan, Clubhouse BFD In Rochester Hills is hosting a fundraiser/group ride on Saturday, September 7. Clubhouse BFD will be opening up at 9am and will be offering a Bloody Mary bar. Ride starts at 10:30am with the option to ride the Clinton River trail or the MTB trails at Bloomer Park.Afterwards, starting at noon, New Belgium will be taking over 22 taps for the day. There will also be New Belgium games and SWAG giveaways throughout the day. A portion of that day’s sales on New Belgium Shift on tap will go to CRAMBA-IMBA. 
For any donation made to CRAMBA-IMBA, you will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a 2013 Fat Tire cruiser bike. Drawing will be at 4pm and you must be present to win. Thank you to New Belgium and Clubhouse BFD for their support and a special thanks to Motor City Brew Tours for helping us arrange this event.Please help us spread the word and download a copy of our event flier by clicking here!
Help Needed: Addison Oaks Race Sponsors
We need help finding more sponsors for our big fundraiser: the Addison Oaks Fall Classic race.Through race fees and sponsorship this annual event is how CRAMBA-IMBA raises funds to keep our organization going. Money raised pays for everything from printing maps and signs to insuring our work, from paying for incidents (like replacing stolen tools) to getting pizza for volunteers after a long day of working on trails.We need you, our members and partners, to help us find additional sponsors to support CRAMBA-IMBA and the ninth annual Addison Oaks Fall Classic. With over 400 participants and 500 spectators for our 2012 event, sponsorship offers businesses of all sizes outstanding exposure opportunities. We are welcome to partnerships with businesses of all types (eg: credit unions, restaurants, manufacturers, construction companies), not just those in the bicycling industry.If you know of a business, organization, or if you yourself are interested in sponsorship opportunities please click here to download our sponsorship flier and email race@cramba.org if you have any questions.
Tool Theft Donations: Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to help restock our power tools after the recent theft. In the past week we have received $840 in cash donations and a new Craftsman backpack blower worth $259.99.This is nearly half-way to covering the replacement cost of the missing tools!To donate to CRAMBA-IMBA and help cover the cost of replacing the stolen power tools see this post or click on the Donate button to the right.Thank you to all of our recent donors:
- Scott Baxter
- Michael Green (Craftsman 32cc Leaf Blower)
- Rodney Gullett
- Nicholas Kolman
- Konrad Kucharski
- Carlos McIntyre
- Brett Rohrscheib
- Geneva Stephens / Move-It Fitness LLC
- Luke Osborn / Infiterra Sports LLC
Members have asked if the theft was covered by insurance. It is not. Earlier this year our policy was up for renewal, and the lowest-cost premium we could find was $1k/yr with a $500 deductible. Our trailer (tools+trailer) is worth about $8k total, so the CRAMBA-IMBA board decided that it'd be best to set aside $1k/yr until we have $8K reserved and self-insure.In this case our loss is $2000, and with insurance we'd have paid $1500 for premium+deductible and only saved the $500 difference. As long as we don't have another incident like this (we're taking steps to ensure this) within the next year we'll be ahead by going with the self-insurance idea ($2000 out of pocket vs. $2500 for two years of insurance + one deductible).
Stony Creek Skills Park Receives 2013 IMBA/FOX Bike Park and Pump Track Grant
Thanks to the hard work of Stony Creek Skills Park Trail Coordinator Dave Schall and everyone who has helped with construction and digging, the Skills Park has received a $1000 grant from IMBA and FOX Racing Shox.The funds will be spent on clay, equipment rental, and new signage to improve the pump track at Stony Creek Metropark.Stay tuned to the Stony Creek Mountain Bike Skills Park Facebook Page for information on upcoming build days.
Donations Needed: Power Tool Theft
Around the first week of July 2013 the CRAMBA-IMBA tool trailer was broken into and nearly all of our power tools were stolen. The loss of these tools -- used for building and maintaining trails -- is particularly hard mid-summer when our volunteers are working to keep trails clear.The stolen tools include our backpack blower (BR600), two KombiMotors (KM 90 R and KM 110 R), three KombiSystem attachments (HL-KM, FS-KM, HT-KM), and a dedicated line trimmer (FS 55 R). All together this is nearly a $2000 loss.We need your donations to help purchase replacements so we can keep our trails great.Donations may be made via the Donate button in the right column or by mail to:
CRAMBA-IMBA 270 Jones St. Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
For other donation options (eg: tools, etc) please email info@cramba.org.As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, all donations to CRAMBA-IMBA are tax deductible. Receipts are available for all cash or material donations.(If anyone has information on this theft or locates any of the tools for sale [in a pawn shop, on Craigslist, etc] please contact info@cramba.org.)
New Bloomer TCs: Chris and Erik
CRAMBA-IMBA would like to announce that Chris Schroeder and Erik Silvassy have jointly taken over the CRAMBA-IMBA Trail Coordinator role for Bloomer Park from Derek Wrathell and Dustin Cheney.After years of working on the trails and overseeing the CRAMBA-IMBA relationship with Bloomer Park, Derek and Dustin have chosen to take a break from trail work. CRAMBA-IMBA would like to thank Derek and Dustin for all their work, and we invite everyone to welcome and thank Chris and Erik for taking on this role.The Bloomer TCs -- Chris and Erik -- can be reached bloomer@cramba.org. Keep an eye on the CRAMBA-IMBA calendar and the Trail Conditions and Comments Thread on the MMBA Forum for information on upcoming Trail Days at Bloomer.
April 2013 CRAMBA Board Meeting
The 2nd Quarter (April) CRAMBA Chapter meeting minutes have been posted and can be see here:CRAMBA Chapter Meeting Minutes 4:9:2013
CRAMBA-IMBA Stickers Now Available
Show your support for CRAMBA-IMBA with stickers for your car/truck, bike, toolbox, or wherever! Each sheet contains five weather-resistent stickers in four different sizes, coated with a UV-resistent material to keep them looking great for years!Come on out to our next chapter meeting at Rochester Mills on Tuesday, July 9th at 7pm and pick one up. They'll also be available at other chapter events, such as the Wednesday Night Group Ride at Stony Creek and the Addison Oaks Fall XC Classic race.
CRAMBA Fundraiser at Rochester Mills Beer Co., Sunday, June 30
On Sunday, June 30th, Rochester Mills Beer Co. in Rochester, MI will be hosting a fundraiser event for CRAMBA.HOW IT WORKSClick here to download a PDF of our fundraiser flier. Print out the flyer, present it to your server before ordering, and your server will attach the flyer to your check. CRAMBA-IMBA will receive 20% off all food and beverage sales that have flyers attached to guest checks on that day.Help us spread the word! Print off as many flyers as you like and share. Hope to see you then.Please note flyer distribution on Rochester Mills Beer Co.'s property is prohibited and will result in the forfeiture of our entire donation.
Addison Oaks Connector Bypass Completed and Mapped
CRAMBA-IMBA has completed an addition to the mountain bike route at Addison Oaks County Park designed to bypass the western end of the Connector Trail. By reopening an old trail route this cuts down on bicycle traffic passing directly by the newly built non-motorized entrance and extend the amount of trail for the mountain bike route.The Addison Oaks Mountain Bike Route map has been updated to reflect this change, and the trail segment is accessed by heading north at marker 11 through the gap in a split rail fence instead of turning left on the crushed limestone Connector Trail. Temporary signage is in place, and this post on the MMBA Forum has pictures which will help you find your way. The new segment of trail can also be seen here on OpenStreetMap's online map viewer.
Thank You, Tailwind Racing!
The CRAMBA-IMBA Mountain Bike Patrol would like to thank Tailwind Racing LLC for their generous donation at this past weekend's Stony (Not So Hot) Marathon, where six patrollers were watching the trails. Bryan Wissman of Tailwind Racing presented CRAMBA-IMBA Mountain Bike Patrol director Jeremy Verbeke with a donation of $400.Over the past year the CRAMBA-IMBA Mountain Bike Patrol, under the leadership of Jeremy Verbeke, has grown to 13 members who have an active presence on the local trails and at numerous local off-road cycling and running races.For more information about the CRAMBA-IMBA Mountain Bike Patrol please click here, and find information on IMBA's National Mountain Bike Patrol here.
Announcing Got MTB Clinic
We are proud to announce Got MTB, CRAMBA-IMBA's women's mountain bike clinic. Building on the foundation laid by the DNR's former BOW mountain biking program, CRAMBA-IMBA is hosting a women's mountain biking clinic for the beginning to intermediate member.Click here to visit the Got MTB page on cramba.org for more information and to sign up.
Addison Oaks Trails Closed Due to Wetness
Due to recent heavy rainfall saturating the trails, Oakland County Parks and Recreation have chosen to close the trails at Addison Oaks County Park until they can dry out. Please keep off of Addison Oaks' Mountain Bike Route and other trails until further notice.Addison Oaks trails are good to ride. Enjoy!
CRAMBA Chapter Meeting: April 9, 2013
The CRAMBA-IMBA Board would like to invite you to Rochester Mills Beer Co. on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 for our next chapter meeting. As usual the meeting will start around 7:00 PM, so if you'd like to order food or some of Rochester Mills' tasty beverages please arrive a bit earlier to get your order in.This meeting will consist of the usual trail updates and other and details about other 'goings on' within the Chapter, including upcoming Summer Events and 15 Things CRAMBA Did in 2012.If you have anything you'd like added to the agenda, please send me an email at info@cramba.org no later than Monday, April 8, 2013.!!!!!!!! Remember, $6 Growler Fills on Tuesdays !!!!!!!!Rochester Mills Beer Co (www.beercos.com)400 Water StreetDowntown Rochester, MIMap LinkHope to see you there!
February/March 2013 Board Meeting Minutes
The February/March CRAMBA Board meeting minutes have been posted and can be viewed here:CRAMBA Board Meeting Minutes - 3-5-13
CRAMBA goes to Detroit Bike City
March 16th marked the second annual Detroit Bike City expo at Cobo Hall in Detroit. This year’s event drew over 2000 people.
CRAMBA and MCMBA joined forces and shared a 10 x 30 booth. Loren Konkus from MCMBA built a mini kiosk which we used to display trail day photos and showcased the IMBA literature and stickers supplied by Andy Williamson, our great lakes regional director.
Many of the people we talked to were impressed that we are a volunteer based organization working towards improving public trails. Some even discovered trails they did not know existed. Thanks to our new trail guide brochure, we were able to match people with trails based on their skill level.
By the end of the day, we had signed up over 8 new members and shared our message of trail ownership to a whole new audience.Detroit Bike City continues to grow and we can’t wait to see what next year brings.
New Trail Guide on MMBA Website
The Michigan Mountain Biking Association (of which CRAMBA-IMBA is a member organization) has launched its new map-based trail guide. This trail guide includes detailed information on a number of trails in Michigan, including all of the trails that CRAMBA-IMBA maintains.Click HERE to head on over to the announcement on the MMBA's website, or HERE to go straight to the trail guide itself.