Tour Opacum

5th Annual Bike Ride for Land Conservation sponsored by Southbridge Credit Union

Ride Details

Routes

Southbridge Credit Union’s Tour Opacum provides bike riders with the opportunity to explore the beautiful towns and countryside of the Quaboag and Quinebaug river valleys, with proceeds from the ride supporting the charitable work of Opacum Land Trust, preserving land across this region.  Choose from one of five routes to explore the Opacum Land Trust service area with a 100 mile Full Tour, 50 mile Half Tour, a 27 mile Quarter Tour, 10 mile X Tour, or a 2 mile Mini Tour for families and those who just want to take it easy.  The longer tours are hilly and offer a great challenge for experienced bike riders while the X Tour and Mini Tour are fine for less experienced or new riders.

All routes are on paved roads and fully marked. Click here to view and download the route maps and cue sheets.

Full Tour

99.8 miles, 7:00 am start

Take the full tour to challenge yourself and take in the beauty of this region.  It starts at Brimfield Winery, takes you through Wales, and Holland for your first rest stop, then to Sturbridge for a second stop. Continue up through Brookfield and connect back at the winery for your third stop. Then it’s back on the road to Warren, West Brookfield and then a final stop at the Flynt Quarry in Monson for a rest.  Now you’re on the home stretch back to Brimfield, where a cold beer, delicious food, and live music awaits you.

Half Tour

48.2 miles, 9:00 am start

Enjoy a scenic, challenging Half Tour, which aligns with the first part of the Full Tour. Starting at Brimfield Winery, you’ll ride through Wales, take your first stop in Holland, head through Sturbridge for your second stop at co-hosts Rapscallion Brewery. Now you’re halfway back- just continue up to Brookfield and then back down to the winery in Brimfield.

Quarter Tour

26.8 miles, 10:30 am start

Looking for a good ride to get the blood pumping, but don’t want to overdo it? Then the Quarter Tour is for you. Starting at the Brimfield Winery you’ll ride through Wales and then enjoy a break after 14 miles at the rest stop in Holland. Then you’ll head through Sturbridge and back to Brimfield for a beer and food- you deserve it! Although shorter than the Half and Full tours, the Quarter tour still includes many of the hills, so enjoy the downhills when you can.

X- Tour

10.1 miles, 10:45 am start

New for 2021! We’ve added the new X-Tour which gives you all of the beauty and none of the hills (well almost none). Enjoy a beautiful 10-mile ride primarily in Brimfield and be back at the winery before you know it!

Mini Tour

1.8 miles, start anytime 8- 12

Parents with kids or anyone looking for a quick ride is encouraged to register for Mini Tour. The ride is flat and takes you on a short loop around the winery and back.   Ride it once or customize your route length by riding multiple laps! Kids are free, but they must be registered with an adult to participate.

REST STOPS: There are 4 rest stops placed so that you’re never more than 25 miles away from a stop, located in Holland, Rapscallion Brewery in Sturbridge, the Brimfield Winery and at Flynt Quarry, on Upper Palmer Road in Monson. All rest stops have bathrooms and are fully stocked with water and snacks.

Pricing

  • Free beer from our co-hosts at Rapscallion Brewery, wine from Brimfield Winery, or soft drink
  • Free food ticket
  • Swag bag with gear from our sponsors for the first 200 riders
  • Free Event shirt when you register by August 25th

Full, Half, Quarter, &  X Tours
Register By: Adults Juniors (under 18)
6/25 $55 $35
9/17 $60 $40
After 9/17* $65 $45

Mini Tour
Register By: Adults  Kids
6/25 $35 Free
9/17 $40 Free
After 9/17* $45 Free

 

Register
 
*Online registration closes on 9/22. Walk-in registration starts at 6:30 am on 9/25.
 
Please Note: Tour Opacum will be held rain or shine. We are unable to offer refunds and apologize for any inconvenience. Your registration is a charitable donation to help Opacum Land Trust with its conservation work.

Ride Registration

  • Registration/Check-in starts at 6:30 am on Sunday morning at the winery.
  • All riders need to check-in, even if you pre-registered and including kids who are riding the mini-route.
    • You should arrive 30-45 minutes before the group departure time for your chosen route* to register (if needed),  get your swag bag, grab printed cue sheets and snacks & get ready to ride! We accept cash, check or credit card.
    • Riders who are under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Ride Details

  • The ride starts and ends at Brimfield Winery. The departure times for the different routes are staggered so that we can all come back together for an after-ride party with food, beer, music and games starting at 11:30.  If you’re not back by 11:30- don’t worry, the party will go until at least 3pm!
  • This is a fun ride, it is not competitive or timed.  Set your own pace, enjoy the ride and scenery however you wish!
  • Decide to change your route? No problem- but please let us know so we can keep track of which riders are still out and how late we need to keep the rest stops open.
  • There is a SAG Wagon provided by Southbridge Bicycles for any roadside assistance or bike issues during your ride.
View Event Schedule

Opacum Conservation Properties Along the Tour

  • Stevens Brook, Sichol Community Forest, Holland: Full, Half and Quarter Tour riders will pass by part of a 153-acre area that is soon to be conserved through a partnership with the Town of Holland.
  • Plimpton Community Forest, Sturbridge: Full and Half Tour riders will pass by this 281-acre property that Opacum partnered with the town of Sturbridge to conserve as public open space.
  • Rice Corner, Brookfield: This is a 105-acre privately owned conservation property, that Opacum helped to conserve. The Full and Half Tour will pass by it, but please note that it is not open to the public.
  • Dingley Dell, Brimfield: Full Tour riders will pass near-by Dingley Dell, a beautiful 76-acre property owned by Opacum containing a waterfall and enormous glacial boulder.
  • Flynt Quarry, Monson: Full Tour riders will take their last rest at the Flynt Quarry rest stop. Opacum helped to conserve this unique 163-acre property that is owned by the Town of Monson and is open to the public and has a marked trail system, part of which winds through the remains of an historic granite quarry.

More information will be available about these properties and others that Opacum has protected at Tour Opacum. Be sure to check out the Opacum Info Table at the ride.