The Munga Grit USA Traverse City 2025

THE ULTIMATE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE YOU CAN HAVE ON A BICYCLE.

Can a bicycle race change your life?

The Munga was launched way back in 2014, and at first it seemed like a crazy idea. To race 120 Hours non-stop across the arid Karoo in summer, really? But it soon became the go to ultra-endurance mountain bike race in South Africa, and the bench mark by which all other long races are measured. In it’s short history, the race has become somewhat of an iconic event, and a bucket list race for anyone who has ever been on a mountain bike! When people ask you if you have done the Munga, they are not interested in your time.

It’s a yes or no answer!

THE CRAZIEST, LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCE YOU CAN HAVE ON A BIKE

Over the course of the Munga’s history, two things have become apparent.

One, plenty of riders are motivated and intrigued by our unique race format and want to give it a ‘try’, but the distance is mentally challenging compared to most other South African mountain bike races.

Two. Following the success of our South African races, and given that almost 50% of our fans are US based, we have launched the smaller format race in the US with the goal of slowly building up to the 50 hour and eventually the full Munga

The Munga Grit Traverse City will begin and end at Black Star Farms outside the town of Traverse City, Michigan. Incredibly, we have secured permission to follow the iconic Leelanau, Sleeping Bear and Betsie Valley trails, so the route will head out in a counter-clockwise direction following the Leelanau Trail out north towards Sutton’s Bay. Then it will pick up the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, before heading south to the small town of Frankfort where it will pick up the Betsie Valley trail. From Thompsonville, the route will follow dirt roads south into the Manistee river valley before heading up north towards Lake Anne and eventually back to Black Star Farms. The route will be a GPS route only, so no navigation required. The route will be around 170 miles.