Hitting the gravel to fuel cancer research at Pelotonia’s Gravel Day

Moving from blacktop to gravel

“I signed up for the gravel ride; I wanted to be part of an inaugural Pelotonia event,” says Bartalon, who had ridden in seven previous Pelotonia events. “The gravel ride was an absolutely wonderful experience, and I was grinning from ear to ear the whole ride.”

Dr. Old, director of the OSUCCC – James Head and Neck Cancer program, is one of the few who has ridden every mile of every Pelotonia, from its inaugural year in 2009, a total of more than 2,500 miles.

“At first, when I heard about the gravel ride, I was anxious and worried,” Dr. Old says.

He wasn’t worried about riding on gravel. “I was nervous it would be on a weekend where I already had a commitment and wouldn’t be able to ride and keep the streak going,” Dr. Old says. Fortunately, his schedule worked out and Dr. Old rode the longest gravel route (50 miles), in addition to riding the longest routes of Pelotonia Ride Weekend, to keep his every-mile streak alive.

“Pelotonia is important to me because it’s something much bigger than any one of us. Seeing this support and connection with the community is so important and a great reminder of why we do what we do,” Dr. Old says.

The growth of gravel

Gravel riding has become increasingly popular in the past decade, and Ohio is filled with miles and miles of rural, gravely roads.

“The idea came mainly from feedback from the community,” says Joe Apgar, CEO of Pelotonia.

“More and more of our riders had started riding on gravel and it came up more and more in conversations within the Pelotonia community. A lot of us felt there was a space for us to add a gravel ride the same way there was a space in 2009 to start Pelotonia.”

Pelotonia’s first Gravel Day ride in 2023, attracted 190 riders who chose between 20-, 30- and 50-mile loops near Nelsonville in rural Athens County. About half of these history-making gravelers were new to Pelotonia, which advanced the goal of attracting new cyclists. “It was one of the most fun days I’ve ever had on a bike,” Apgar says.

The number of gravel riders is expected to double in 2024 for the second Gravel Day on Sept. 21 according to Apgar. In addition to the 22-, 30- and 52-mile routes, Gravel Day 2024 will offer a Friday Night Community Gathering and overnight camping options for riders and volunteers the entire weekend.

David Cohn, MD, MBA, interim CEO and chief medical officer of the OSUCCC – James, has ridden in every Pelotonia and wasn’t about to miss the first gravel ride. “We can’t do what we do in creating a cancer-free world and trying to get to tomorrow’s discoveries today without Pelotonia,” Dr. Cohn says.

Astounding funding for cancer research

Dr. Old is a member of the Team Head and Neck peloton, a team of riders that includes members of The James staff as well as some of the patients treated by Dr. Old and his team. The peloton is captained by his wife, Molly Old. Under her leadership, the Team Head and Neck peloton has raised $1.4 million for cancer research at the OSUCCC – James. Their peloton is part of the Team Buckeye superpeloton that has raised $37 million.

“It’s our patients who inspire and push me,” says Dr. Old when asked to describe his determination to ride every mile of every Pelotonia.

“No matter how much we’re suffering on a ride, they’re suffering more during their treatment and that pushes you to keep going and to do more,” Dr. Old says.

Several of Dr. Old’s patients are Pelotonia riders and volunteers, and others line the route and finish line to cheer on the riders and reconnect with their treatment team.

“Every year I see some of my patients and that’s so inspiring,” Dr. Old says. “To see patients who are still here because of what we do and because of the research and discoveries that are funded by the Pelotonia community motivates me.”

His grandfather’s head and neck cancer journey, which ultimately ended in his death, helped inspire Dr. Old’s career choice and commitment to his patients. “Due to the research and advances we’ve made, I believe there’s a good chance he would still be here if he was diagnosed today,” Dr. Old says.

Dr. Old needed a bit of motivation as he rode the longest of the gravel routes. “It was really hard in terms of the elevation gain,” he says. “But knowing that we’re doing this for our patients and for the research we’re funding made it easy to keep going.”

Community connections

Bartalon waited until June 12 to sign up for Pelotonia and the gravel ride, several months after registration began, but she wasn’t procrastinating. “That’s the anniversary of my mom’s passing,” she says. “I ride for my mom and for my dad, who we lost to cancer.”

Bartalon has seen the power of Pelotonia and how it connects members of The James with thousands of members of the community in central Ohio and beyond. “So many members of the Pelotonia community are here because they’ve connected with one of our doctors,” she says. “That’s one of the things I enjoy the most at Pelotonia, seeing so many of our physicians and research scientists riding alongside of us and seeing all the survivors and people riding for the loved ones they’ve lost. To be part of this community and experience is extraordinary.”

Like Dr. Old and Dr. Cohn, Bartalon was a gravel rookie. She borrowed a friend’s gravel bike (gravel bikes have wider tires and often shock absorbers). “I was a little nervous as a new gravel rider, but the beauty of Athens County and being on Pelotonia’s first gravel ride and the excitement at the finish made it an incredible experience,” Bartalon says.