Nearly 2,300 cyclists, walkers and runners are set to take over Albuquerque streets this weekend as Day of the Tread marks its 20th anniversary with two days of gravel grinding, road riding and a Halloween-tinged street party. The milestone event kicks off Saturday with a gravel grind through the Bosque and foothills and wraps Sunday with road rides stretching up to 100 miles, all anchored at Sawmill Market.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, roughly 2,300 attendees, or “Treadheads,” had signed up as of Oct. 18, with registration fees starting at $25. The newspaper reports the first event of each day starts at 8:15 a.m., with activities based at Sawmill Market, 1909 Bellamah Ave. NW. As KOB 4 notes, this year's edition honors Día de los Muertos and benefits area nonprofits, continuing a tradition that has grown well beyond a simple group ride.
Saturday's Gravel Grind Through the Bosque
Saturday's centerpiece is the Bosque Boneshaker Gravel Grinder, which starts at Sawmill Market and sends riders through the Bosque and into the foothills on a route that mixes gravel, dirt and asphalt, per the Albuquerque Journal's account. KOB 4 reports the gravel event offers distances ranging from seven to 70 miles, covering all types of surfaces along the way. The official event schedule, posted on dayofthetread.com, also lists road cycling routes of 73, 50, 31, 17 and 8 miles as part of the broader weekend lineup.
Riders looking for something mellower have options too. The event's rider information page describes the Rail Runner Family Ride as a 12-mile flat route along the Bosque Trail, limited to the first 120 registered riders, according to the same dayofthetread.com listing. KOB 4 adds that Sunday's road rides loop around Albuquerque with distances spanning six to 100 miles, giving everyone from casual pedalers to endurance cyclists a route to chase.
Safety Rules and Gear Restrictions
Event organizers are firm on a few ground rules. Helmets are mandatory, and because the courses aren't closed to traffic, standard New Mexico bicycle laws apply, the dayofthetread.com rider guidance states. The same source specifies that e-bikes won't be allowed in the Bosque Boneshaker Gravel Grinder but are permitted on Sunday's road cycling rides.
Roughly 20 trained and clearly identified Ride Marshals on bikes will patrol the routes both days, according to the event's rider information, assisting with mechanical issues, minor medical needs and general encouragement along the way. Organizers are also not offering event-day registration, with the sole exception of late packet pickup reserved for out-of-town visitors, the same source notes.
A 4K Walk and Costume Contests Round Out the Weekend
Beyond cycling, the weekend includes a 5K walk, per KOB 4's preview, while dayofthetread.com describes an Annual 4K Fun Walk that benefits the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation and other New Mexico nonprofits. Costume contests run both days of the event, KOB 4 reports, with voting and prizes up for grabs — including a Gravel Grinder costume contest winner announcement built into Saturday's schedule, according to the official event page.
Treadfest Closes Out the Celebration
The weekend wraps with Treadfest, a post-event celebration at Sawmill Market featuring more than 25 food and beverage merchants, according to dayofthetread.com's schedule. KOB 4 reports the after-party also includes a bike valet and live music, giving riders a place to unwind after two days in the saddle. The Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation describes Day of the Tread as a recurring multi-day October event that draws thousands of cyclists from around the globe each year, calling it a unique blend of cycling, music and Halloween-themed costumes that has grown well past its original scope over two decades.
