One of our favorite Jersey bike squads, looking for a new challenge after absolutely owning the Holiday Lights Ride, have pivoted to full MTB winter mode. Group leader Christine Torello takes it from here: 

Starting in late October, my pals and I put away our road bikes and pump up the tires on our mountain bikes.  I started riding in Gloucester Twp Community Park, near the campus of Camden County Community College in Blackwood NJ, in 2014 with one other gal. Now, we are a happy, crazy band of 5-7 ladies who meet every at  to HIT THE TRAILS. We call the wooded area, which is a well developed maze of off road , single track trails “CCC” after the nearby college. It has been described as tight, twisty, and rooty [not a word, but it should be!].

I call it challenging, especially the roller coaster-like dips. We average 7.5 miles in 1.5 to 2 hrs…Lots of  stopping to regroup, regulate heart beats, drink water, and laugh.
Some of us are also members if the Outdoor Club of South Jersey (OCSJ). Looking for more adventure and variety, we hit the trails in the glorious SJ Pinelands: Batsto, etc, plus a new favorite,  Black Run Preserve in Evesham/Marlton.

I enjoy the challenge of riding and trying to improve on rooted climbs  (“come on, PEDAL Chris!!”)  but the friendships and camaraderie are, as the saying goes, priceless.

Priceless indeed. This squad needs a name at this point. Submit your name ideas on FB for the squad’s consideration. They’re right on the brink of becoming Philebrities, folks! We can say we knew them when.