“Mountain biking teaches us perseverance, determination, positive attitudes in the face of adversity and a belief that anything we set our minds to we can accomplish. All great attributes to have in the unique circumstance we faced this year.”
Mike McGarry, NICA NJ
History of Salem County Reactors
The Salem County Reactors are a composite mountain bike team that is a part of the New Jersey Interscholastic Cycling League, a chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) – a California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. New Jersey’s league is one of 19 leagues across the country.
NICA started a New Jersey chapter in 2017. Mike Fraser, owner of Sneakers & Spokes in Woodstown, NJ wanted to share his passion for mountain biking and outdoor activities by establishing a Salem County mountain biking team. The original team was four students and one coach, now three years later, the club has grown to 43 students and 16 coaches. The Reactors are a mountain bike club for boys and girls in 6th-12th grade.
Our CEO, Dave Bailey, Jr. met the Fraser family over 10 years ago through a local church. In 2015, the Frasers opened their bike shop and they partnered with us in the Bike to the Bay (now Shred the Edge) fundraiser. When asked what the Salem County Reactors’ favorite course is, they answered Camp Edge! Mike had this to say about the partnership, “We take a tremendous amount of pride in the trails, and have a high expectation for our riders to appreciate and respect the partnership with Ranch Hope and Camp Edge. Without Ryen, Camp Edge Director or Dave’s help and hospitality, we would not have a place to call ‘home field’ and we don’t take that lightly. We could not be more thankful to have the trails of Camp Edge as our Home practice site. What a blessing!”
“Our relationship epitomizes the culture of Salem County. We are one big family here, and seek out opportunities to help one another and in doing so the health of the entire community. Ranch Hope has been blessed with being able to utilize this wonderful site, and our relationship with the Reactors has only enhanced it through their appreciation, sweat equity and shared love of Camp Edge. Ranch Hope and Camp Edge are blessed to have the Reactors call Camp Edge home.”
Dave Bailey, Jr. Ranch Hope & Camp Edge CEO
Shred The Edge Event
Camp Edge and the Reactors co-host an annual fundraising mountain bike race called “Shred the Edge.” This event benefits the SC Reactors and Ranch Hope’s Camp Edge. They use Camp Edge’s 3+ mile course and attract riders from the tri-state area. This grass roots race offers three different levels of racing. Children’s (1 lap), adult novice (2 laps) and advanced divisions (4 laps). The athletes, coaches and parents all pitch in to make this a great event, including overnight camping. This event has grown from 63 riders the first year to around 120 riders last year. The 2020 Shred the Edge was canceled.
NICA-NJ Mountain Biking Event
Each spring the NICA New Jersey Interscholastic Cycling League (NJICL) has a racing season at different courses throughout the state. The Race season consists of 4 races and a season finale. This is what NICA has to say about our course at Camp Edge: “Home to our own Salem County Reactors Team, Camp Edge is a truly wonderful race venue. The team hosts a fundraiser race “Shred the Edge” every fall a the same venue, which benefits both the camp and the NICA team. The course is approximately 60% twisty single-track, with short punchy climbs and a really amazing infield. Spectators will enjoy the ample opportunities to see racers throughout the course. The camp has a base lodge for serving food, and camping is available on site for Saturday evening. We are so happy to partner with Camp Edge this year to offer the NJICL a truly unique race weekend” (https://www.newjerseymtb.org/nj-events/2020-racing-season/). The 2020 NICA-NJ Mountain Biking Event was canceled.
Contact
For more information on the Salem County Reactors Composite Mountain Bike Club, visit www.sneakersandspokes.com or contact Coach Mike Fraser at 856-624-4933 or by stopping in Sneakers and Spokes Monday through Saturday!
For more information on the NICA– NJICL, visit https://www.newjerseymtb.org/.
NUKE IT!
campedge.org 