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

Moving from blacktop to gravel

“I signed up for the first Gravel Day ride because I wanted to be part of an inaugural Pelotonia event,” says Bartalon, who’d 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’s 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 new gravel ride, I was anxious and worried,” Dr. Old says.

But 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, gravelly 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 riders 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 third Gravel Day, in 2025, adds an option for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground: a 3.5-mile looped hiking trail through the picturesque property of Snow Fork Event Center. Runners and hikers may complete this route multiple times if they desire additional distance. In addition, they can challenge themselves to both ride and run/hike at Gravel Day.

W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, CEO of the OSUCCC – James, emphasizes the importance of this event as part of the Pelotonia experience.

“Gravel Day further draws upon the energy of a generous and caring community to support our shared vision of creating a cancer-free world,” says Dr. Rathmell, who rode in her first Pelotonia in August 2025 as a member of the CCC – James Comprehensive Cancer Crushers peloton, which is part of Ohio State’s official Pelotonia team known as Team Buckeye. “Like the August Pelotonia ride, Gravel Day once again brings community members together with our researchers, clinicians, nurses and other medical professionals in a common cause against a formidable disease for the benefit of all.”

David Cohn, MD, MBA, COO and chief medical officer of The James, has ridden in every Pelotonia and plans to ride in both Pelotonia and Gravel Day in 2025. He also plans to both ride and walk on Gravel Day in support of the cause.

“We can’t do what we do toward creating a cancer-free world and trying to get to tomorrow’s discoveries today without Pelotonia,” he 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 Dr. Old and his team treated. The peloton is captained by his wife, Molly Old. This year, he intends to once again ride every mile of Pelotonia and every mile of Gravel Day.

“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 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 were diagnosed today,” Dr. Old says.

Dr. Old has needed a bit of motivation while riding 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

In 2023, 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, whom we lost to cancer.”

Bartalon, who also plans to ride in both Pelotonia and Gravel Day 2025, has seen the power of these events and how they connect members of the OSUCCC – James with thousands of community members from central Ohio and beyond.

“So many members of the Pelotonia community are here because they’ve connected with one of our doctors,” she says. “One of the things I enjoy the most at Pelotonia is seeing so many of our physicians and researchers riding alongside 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 Drs. Old and Cohn, Bartalon was a gravel rookie in 2023. She had to borrow a friend’s 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.