King's Tour of the Quabbin

The King's Tour of the Quabbin is a challenging bike ride starting and ending at Hardwick Winery in Hardwick, Massachusetts. Participants can select from two road routes, either a 64-mile metric century or a 101-mile century, or two gravel routes approximately 45 and 77 miles long. Organized by Seven Hills Wheelmen in early October, this event caters to cyclists seeking an extended ride around the Quabbin Reservoir, distinct from a closed-course race. The road metric century includes 4,936 feet of climbing, and the full century has 6,225 feet, meaning distance is not the only challenge. Rest stops are located at spots like Route 202 in Pelham, Petersham Common, and for century riders, the Leverett store, offering a small credit. Routes are not marked with arrows; riders navigate using GPS links or printed cue sheets. Start times are staggered, allowing longer road and gravel riders to begin earlier. The gravel routes incorporate varied surfaces, and recent versions have been modified to exclude DCR trails.