Today Zwift announced the second edition of their popular Zwift Big Spin, a prize-filled group ride series kicking off March 3!
This year’s theme is “Ride! Spin! Win! Through the Decades”, with each week’s ride and prize spinner themed after a different decade. Read on for details…
Prize Spinner
The prize spinner we usually only see atop Alpe du Zwift will make an appearance at the end of each Big Spin route:
Each time you complete a Zwift Big Spin route (in an event or on demand), the spinner will pop up to give you a prize. If it lands on a prize you’ve already won, you’ll get a healthy Drops bonus (landing on the BMX Bandit twice gives you a 40,000 Drops bonus, for example)!
The prize spinner has 6 slots, with different probabilities assigned to each. One slot, the lowest probability, is reserved for the coveted BMX Bandit Bike. Three more slots are for the Big Spin Headphones, Sticker Skater Helmet, and Groovy TT wheels.
The other two slots’ prizes will change for each stage, giving us a total of 12 possible prizes throughout the series. And Zwift tells us these prizes won’t be available in the Drop Shop any time soon (possibly never), so this is your only known chance to unlock them.
Prize List:
- 1970’s Kit
- 1970’s Bucket Hat
- 1980’s Kit
- 1980’s Paper Hat
- 1990’s Kit
- 1990’s Headphones
- 2000’s Kit
- 2000’s Sunglasses
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Schedule and Route Details
Stage events will be held hourly at the half-hour mark, with each stage’s first event kicking off at 5:30pm UTC on the start dates below, and the final event happening at 3:30pm UTC on the end date below.
- Stage 1 (The Seventies): March 3-10
- Route: Greater London 8 (24.3km, 280m)
- Stage 2 (The Eighties): March 10-17
- Route: Jurassic Coast (19.7km, 212m)
- Stage 3 (The Nineties): March 17-24
- Route: Douce France (24.2km, 133m)
- Stage 4 (The New Millenium): March 24-31
- Route: Watopia’s Waistband (27.7km, 112m)
- Make-Up Week: March 31-April 6, ending 12:30pm UTC April 7
See upcoming events at zwift.com/the-zwift-big-spin >
On-Demand Stages
Pining for that sweet BMX bike? Get more spins! This year, riders can choose to complete Zwift Big Spin stages on-demand, meaning you ride the route on your own schedule, not in the official Zwift events.
(You can also organize Meetups, Club Rides, or do the route during a workout. Just make sure you finish the route in order to get credit and a spin.)
Completing a stage on demand will still get you a prize spin, but keep in mind you must wait until that stage begins before riding its route. Once the stage has begun (4pm UTC on the start dates listed above), Zwift tells us any method of completing the route will earn credit for completion plus a prize spin at the end.
On-demand stages open on the dates listed above, but do not close until the very end of the Big Spin on April 7.
Are these races?
Officially, no. Zwift Big Spin events are group rides without a stated pace. That means some riders will treat them as races, and the front of these rides will certainly be “spicy.”
Others will just spin their legs for a prize-laden recovery effort. You do you… just have fun!
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
I’ve been doing all my TrainerRoad workouts in Zwift since the integration went live; seems like the play here would be to do all my workouts on that week’s stage to maximize the number of spins, yeah? If I go through the route twice in one ride because my workout is long enough, do I get two spins, or just one?
If it’s like last year you’ll get a spin at the route finish line (each lap).
FWIW, it’s the same way with the spinner atop Alpe du Zwift. You can flip around at the bottom of it and go up again and get another spin even if it’s within the same workout.
Surely there is a wheel draw on the ‘AdZ’ when climbing is done as part of a workout?
I remember GPLama making a video about ‘optimising XP’ by dropping in on ‘AdZ’ in the workout blocks, but ending it before the summit banner. My recollection is that this was necessary to have a wheel draw.
As I happened to be doing a workout and chose the ‘AdZ’ route I would finish that workout before the banner even leaving a training block, but keeping the draw for a minimum of 250XP 😉
Will you confirm 100% that being in the TREATMENT of a workout and crossing the banner at the top of the ‘AdZ’ will result in a draw?
greetings
Artur
I am really happy about the Zwift Big Spin (I waited a long time, how everybody else …)
Do we know anything new about the Garage Update ( Halo bikes)???
It’s coming! My guess is sometime in March…
OK. This is just what I needed to get some motivation back before spring outdoor season begins here!
Another wonderful frame set and wheel set that I can use on group rides! Although the Atomic Cruiser is hard to beat on the ugly WTF scale
The Atomic Cruise with tri-wheels is my ride of choice for the Zwift Games, but if I get my hands on the BMX bike early enough I may change that out.
I must say, that the BMX bike don‘t look very good ( for me), hopefully the Grovy TT wheels are going to be faster than the TRI Disc Spoke wheels from the last‘s year Big Spin.
Think there will be the same loophole as last year for getting multiple spins with minimal effort?
Sssshhh!
I wonder if joining a pacer near a route banner on one of these routes would work.
Wondering for a friend… 🤣
Unlikely, as these are usually only offered during event or manually selecting the route in free ride
I bet so…
Will you make another video about this
Only one of the routes is short enough to finish in under half an hour and only just. No hammering out 5 spins in 5 minutes of latejoining this year. Sad.
With 19.5km with 212m elevation even that one will be very hard. The front ones have to go at least 39km/h to get you to the finish within the late join timeframe.
My first thought, too.
You can get the spin from doing the routes in a free ride too.
At the least you should be able to start early and free ride the route, then late join for a second spin.
I wonder what would happen if a rider was parked near the end of a route, then you used Join a Zwifter to drop in next to them.
Please tell me you can late join , like last year,
You can.
Best part! How many speed run spins?!😀
Yup, right at the bottom of box hill 🙂
last year’s big spin ended in makuri for me #roadback #awesomeness
It would be great if the Groovy TT wheels had real performance value, like the Meilenstein or Tron bike. I put in a lot of effort last year to earn the Tri Spoke/Disc, only to find out they weren’t very useful.
They’ll be getting faster soon!
But if all the others are also it doesnt really matter much
Sweet BMX. Looks like a Raleigh Rampar, with the two hole gusset. I may have to switch the brake lever to the right side, though. I don’t think I can re-program my brain to have a rear brake at the left hand.
Is Lachlan Morton a model?
Still wearing the headphones and the london jersey, i’m especially looking forward to the BMX bike, I also had one when I was younger…
Can you complete workouts on zwift Big Spin and still get prize spins?
Yes, unless the spinner works differently than it did last year. Which is unlikely because the one atop Alpe du Zwift works during workouts, too.
I never knew I wanted a cycling kit that looks like the Jazz Solo cup pattern, but now I do.
Those kit designs were made by my daugther when she was 5… And even better…
They seem to have carefully chosen the distances to ensure that those cannot be completed in 30min aka late join limit (the 19.7km might just about work). I take it multiple spins in the same ride will be out of the question this time around 😉
Does the BMX come with the wheels shown, or do we have to add something else (like with the Atomic Cruiser that didn’t have the red sidewall tyres it was shown with originally)?
Comes with wheels.
Hi Eric, you mention club rides. If clubs have regular scheduled events on the Zwift events calendar and set the route as the Big Spin route, do you know if riders will get the spinner?
Zwift says yes.
It seems there is no Big Spin kit you earn by completing all 4 stages. And no uniform kit during the rides. Is that right?
Right!
29 minute late join gets you exactly to the start of Box Hill on stage 1. It’s almost like they chose that route deliberately.
No, it’ll be different every time. I late joined @ 27 mins almost at the top of BH. And then got the BMX on my first spin 😂
I got dropped in on the bridge before Box Hill at 20 minutes, and a third of the way up the hill at 27 minutes. Both rides got the wheels.
I think they’ve made a mistake by making the routes longer while still having repeated prizes on the wheel. Doesn’t have the same sense of fun as last year.
Eric,If I do more than 1 lap in a free ride, will I take it multiple spins in the same ride?
Thanks.
My guess is yes, but I haven’t confirmed this.
Eric, I’ve tried and I got a chance to spin every time I cross the line.
Weird. I tried with a bot, just free riding the route, and only got a spin at the end of the first lap. Not lap 2, or 3…
Did you start with a Big Spin event? Or were you free riding, Chris?
I’ve tried both, starting with an event and selecting the route from the start page. Both of them worked.
I late-joined this morning, then kept going and did an extra loop as a free ride. Got the spinner again at the end of the free ride loop, so 2 spins in a single activity.
I got the bmx bike on my first spin! Take me to the nearest casino
Is today your birthday?!
Me too!!
I got a bonus 25,000 drops for landing on the same prize twice. I really needed those drops ……..
Last year it took me 27 spins to finally get the Atomic cruiser bike, i really hope the spin gods are kinder to me this year!
Interesting, Zwift told me it would be a 15k bonus. Now I have to test it to confirm!
So, it looks like the Drops bonus for already-owned prizes varies from prize to prize. I just double-rolled the BMX bike, and got a 40k Drops bonus. I’ll update the text above…
25k for the sticker helmet
Imagine if they used a route like Sprinter’s Playground, with a spin wheel at each of the four(?) sprint banners…
It would encourage users to join ASAP, rather than late join, to get all the extra spins!
is the performance test of the BMX and wheels planned?
Just finished it, actually. Bike is slow. Details will be published ASAP.
I finished the first stage. But the spinner didn’t show up.. After closing the workout, I found the hat of the seventies in my garage.
Took a while for it to show up for me, kit had changed back to my usual outfit and the end-of-group-ride stats came and went before the spinner came up
Any additional info about fixed powerups? Lovin 250xp every single time on top of the Box Hill
Has anyone calculated the drop rate odds for the spinner
Well did the first big spin ride and got no price wheel showing up, got nothing
Tried to look for it in the comments but didn’t see it yet. What’s the BMX bike equivalent to or what is its weight to aero ration? Does it perform better on the gravel than rode? etc. No worries if there is no data just curious.
Ok what gives? I did the group ride yesterday and got no spin wheel, I did it on demand just now and the same. I registered for it and I see I have completed 25% of them but still I get no rewards no spin wheel nothing???
Same thing just happened to me. The spin is literally the only point to doing these rides. Not sure I’ll bother doing any more.
I’ve done this challenge 3 times now and noticed that there is a delay after cycling through the finish banner. My advice is to just carry on cycling for 30 seconds or so.
Anyone know how the BMX (won on 1st event!!), and the Tri wheels perform?
Got posts coming out next week detailing performance.
Hi Eric. I notice that the wheels from this can be equipped on a road bike, but they are TT wheels. I’m wondering if they are allowed to be used when racing and if they have decent performance if you know. Thanks.
Yes, you can race with them. They’re basically the slowest of the disc wheels… DT Swiss disc is still faster, for example. Performance details coming out next week.
Slower than the TRI Disc from last year‘s Big Spin?
No, last year’s is slower! For now…
Whats the probability for the bmx?
Don’t know, but second time through the spinner I got mine.
Just done it for the 2nd time & I’ve only gone a won a BMX Bandit & wheels. Woo hoo🙌🏻
The same thing is happening to me this year as it did last year.
4x spins, got 4x kit (or 1x kit, 3x drops).
So disappointed, really. I’ll maybe have to do 10-15 loops and even then not get both exclusive prizes…
Lots of people not getting spins. Bug in the game?
Finished the route twice during workout mode today and another time during the group ride. No spins.
Lots of angry people at 18:00 too. No spin, regardless of join time.
New Zwift series: Zwift No Big Spin. Limited edition
Update: Got a spin on my 4th try of the day, another group ride.
Hei guys stage 1 no problems 5 times 5 spins but now stage 2 no spin at the end ?
Yes, I joined late and rode until the end and didn‘t become the Spin.
anybody else not the the big wheel spin at the end of the Jurassic Coast stage 2 free ride?
sorry about this redundant post, didnt read the posts above
Today I rode ot as a free ride.l (chosen through the Big Spin banner) I didnt get the 250 xp but did get a spin
#itsalwaysarace
Can you get the wheels on any stage or just the 2nd one?
On every stage
Today it worked out again, just like last year.
Late join 0.7 km from the finish line, and pedal assist and coffee break until the spinner.
I don’t think I’ll be able to do that again, and it’s only possible on this route.
I just did stage 2 of the big spin and got no spin at all?!?! What gives?
Can someone please share the link for the open Spotify playlist for the 70’s, I have a Spotify account but wasn’t able to open the link trying to share it between my smartphone and my laptop? Thank you.
Only 7 rides and I unlocked all 4 event items. Now I can finally play the game.
No spin wheel on Douce France this morning in robopacer. Entered a mile before the gate, went twice around, 31 miles, no spin rewards. Did I miss something somewhere? No spin credit with robopacer?
I did the Big Spin group ride in Douce with my husband 3/20 and neither of us got the spin wheel, no prizes. We entered the race before it started.
Thanks Debbie. Good to know. I think the Insider folks have given up on responding to comments posted here. if the absence of replies to earlier posts is any indication. That said, I am a Zwift addict. Ride on!
We haven’t given up, but we’re also not Zwift support. 😀 If folks are having problems like Debbie’s they should reach out to Zwift to get ’em fixed, as we have no control over that stuff!
Hey Eric, thanks! I rely heavily on Insider for useful information and you guys do a very good job. Loved the work on the new frame and wheel specs.
But FYI Zwift seems to be a bit spotty these days. Did Douce again this morning, 2 circuits as a single free ride. Won both wheels and the kit, but after I saved the activity and logged back in later, the activity and the miles were in my account but the kit, the wheels and all my drops for today were gone. I will wait 24 hours and then I will contact Zwift. this never used to happen.
Is it common to lose equipment in general?
With all the news about wheels and frames changing I was looking in my garage and noticed the Lightweight Meilenstein’s were missing. Since I had recorded finally getting these in a zwift spreadsheet I used to track goals I could prove it wasn’t just a figment of my imagination, and so I went through the garage and I could also prove I was missing the Lauf True Grit frame because I recorded in a strava activity private notes when I used it on zwift at least once. How many other pieces of equipment have gone missing from my garage without me noticing? How many other people are missing equipment?
Hi @Eric Schlange ,
can you confirm if riding with a Robopacer counts as on demand ride?
If yes, am I correct to assume I can teleport to a faster bot and only need to come back to Bernie before he finishes the route?
If that is correct, I should get the spin at the end of the route, same as group ride with late join, if not, I need to buddy up with Zwift support right?
If above doesn’t apply, I will try to do a few group rides on the current route, however riding with a pacer is easier as I know what pace to expect.
Thanks.
Angela
Just tested out the Douce France double lap on a free ride and can confirm you will get a spin with each lap.
One thing you don’t get apparently, on the free rides or on demand is any of the bonus XP.
Is there documentation where exactly the 250XP are given – per stage?
Went up ADZ once last night and once this morning and got both the atomic cruiser and BMX bandit. Wondering what other routes have the spinner from last year before this year‘s event starts.