Mud, Sweat and Beers

Mud, Sweat and Beers

For more than a decade, the Mud, Sweat and Beers mountain bike race has served as the official start of the season for many Traverse City athletes. It’s a unique mix of competition and camaraderie and a crucial part of building not just Traverse City’s trails but its cycling community.

The Mud, Sweat and Beers Course

The MSB course is designed and maintained by Northern Michigan Mountain Biking Association, the region’s trail steward. While the exact route has evolved over the past decade, it’s slowly settled into the 22-mile Stout and 11-mile Pale Ale options in place today. Both courses utilized a mix of two-track and singletrack, plus a smattering of tough climbs, to provide a challenging day in the woods for local pros and beginners alike.

Always Perfect Timing

The race is always held on the first Saturday in May, which means racers have seen a wide range of conditions. Ahead of Mud, Sweat and Beers 2014, NMMBA volunteers spend the week of the race using axes and shovels to clear thick packs of ice from huge stretches of the course. Other years have been warm and sunny, with riders in short sleeves and catching a light sunburn.

A Key Mt. Holiday Fundraiser

Mud, Sweat and Beers is more than a race. The event is a critical fundraiser for its start and finish venue, Mt. Holiday. The non-profit ski hill has served the area as a winter sports destination for decades. Today, Mt. Holiday is working toward being a year-round resource for outdoor recreation, investing in a ropes course and a circuit-style mountain bike trail system.

At Brick Wheels, we love events like Mud, Sweat and Beers because they bring our Northern Michigan cycling community together.

Check out Mud, Sweat and Beers and we’ll see you on the ski hill this May!