Keeping it wheel: Day of the Tread returns with road race, gravel grinder and 4K walk

The Day of the Tread evolved from modest beginnings, with about 290 riders signed up for its debut nearly two decades ago.

The event experienced significant growth almost immediately, as registration increased to approximately 900 for its sophomore iteration. Since then, the “Treadheads,” as they are called, have come out in force for festivities that now span an entire weekend with a road race, gravel grinder and 4K walk. According to founder Mark Gundlach, this year — which marks the 18th edition of Day of the Tread — will include more than 1,800 participants from more than 30 states, along with more than 400 volunteers.

The motivation behind it all remains the same as it was since the inception.

Keeping it wheel: Day of the Tread returns with road race, gravel grinder and 4K walk

“I think there’s a lot of people that enjoy our event, but it really started because we saw so many youth being overweight,” Gundlach said. “They weren’t riding bicycles. They weren’t connecting with the outdoors. Our mission is still to connect youth with activity (and) with their parents, and just maybe they might find a great habit for the rest of their lives and pass it on to their kids.

“When you ride a bike or you run or you walk, it’s the best way to take care of yourself physically and mentally.”

The Day of the Tread is a Day of the Dead/Halloween-themed ride, and many cyclists attend in costumes ranging from superheroes to skeletons to dragons to commemorate the occasion. Proceeds from the event benefit the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation’s Tread Setters Adaptive Cycling Program.

“It’s the last cycling event of the season, and if we have good weather and no winds — which we’ve had good luck — we have one of those days that just lives on forever,” Gundlach said.

The fun begins with the Bosque Bone Shaker Gravel Grinder on Saturday, Oct. 26. A gravel grinder takes place on terrain that includes the likes of gravel, dirt and asphalt, and is considered to be something of a hybrid between road biking and mountain biking. The Bosque Bone Shaker, which debuted last year, features routes with courses that are approximately 62.35% paved and 37.64% dirt, with distances of 17, 34 and 50 miles (The longest route is a new addition for 2024.) The ride begins on 20th Street at the Sawmill Market before entering the Bosque Trail, which allows participants to enjoy the scenery of the fall season.

The gravel grinder was well received last year and Gundlach expects it to continue to gain in popularity, particularly with the younger crowd.

“Eventually, (it) will probably be bigger because there is a very strong growth with gravel grinders because the parents don’t want their kids to be on the road,” he said.

“There are gravel grinders that are up to 100 miles in Colorado and Wyoming, Montana, and that’s the future of competitive cycling as well as noncompetitive recreational cycling is to get off the road. We all still love the roads. You’ve got to dodge a few more things, and you just have to be totally aware of your surroundings. So, thus, there are less road enthusiasts and more backcountry and gravel grinding.”

For now, Gundlach still expects the Day of the Tread, which takes place on Sunday, Oct. 27, and includes routes from seven to 100 miles, to garner the most participants. As with the gravel grinder, the rides begin in the Sawmill District, and start times are staggered by length. There are rides for all types of preferences. The 12-mile trek to the Los Ranchos Rail Runner station, for example, is limited to 120 participants and typically sells out each year. In this instance, cyclists return by train to the Downtown Albuquerque station and are escorted the final 1.9 miles to the Sawmill District.

“That could be a very successful event on its own, but that’s just one of our routes,” Gundlach said.

Another popular staple is the 23-mile Red Hot Chile Ride, which includes a stop at El Pinto, where riders can refuel with free sopaipillas. In some cases, cyclists end up staying at the restaurant to enjoy the food and music.

“They’re riding 11 and a half miles to hang out, and it’s like an event within the event,” he said.

Recharge stations manned by volunteers can be found every 7–12 miles, which allow riders to rehydrate and enjoy snacks and live music. The weekend concludes with a party known as Treadfest, which is held in the Sawmill Market.

There’s a reason why the Day of the Tread has so many repeat attendees — more than 50% of registrants, Gundlach says — and that includes some that have been on board since the beginning.

“There’s so many crazy things going on in the world right now,” Gundlach said. “And we’re just a smiling day on the horizon for a lot of folks.”