Our newest Rebel Route is a pitchy, dirty little loop that is best tackled on a mountain bike. It may be the most scenic loop on Zwift, too, thanks to all the Mayan Jungle’s plants, animals, ruins, and water features.
About Rebel Routes
“Rebel Routes” are Zwift rides which are not available on Zwift’s routes list, thus requiring manual navigation.
The reward for your rebel ride? Exploring a new route, knowing you’ve gone where few Zwifters have gone before. And a Strava segment rank in the tens or hundreds instead of the thousands! They are included as a separate category on our Veloviewer Route Hunter leaderboard.
Route Description
You’ll have a decently long lead-in before you can begin the loops. Select the “Jungle Circuit” route, which starts you near the Jungle start pens. Ride the tarmac down to the dirt road of the Jungle, then continue descending to the bottom of the Jungle valley. You’ll go through a cavern then the Jungle Circuit start/finish banner, which marks the start (and end) of the Mayan Bridge Loop.
From the start/finish banner you’ll begin climbing up the dirt road, then turn left onto the Mayan Bridge road. This new section was added in Zwift’s December 2020 update and is a mixture of dirt, brick, and wood road. Zwift’s artists really outdid themselves, too! They created massive temple architecture, flaming torches, and plenty of ruins for us to ride through.
The Mayan Bridge road begins with a descent down to the bridge, then you’ll have to climb your way back up to the Jungle road. Then it’s a descent back to the cavern and through the start/finish banner. That’s one lap!
Profile
The route’s two short climbs are fairly symmetrical, providing nice structure for an interval session. Hammer the climb, recover on the descent… repeat!
Getting Started + Lead-In
The easiest way to begin this route is by selecting the Jungle Circuit route. This gives you a 5.7km (3.5 mile) lead-in.
Turn by Turn
Here are the turns you’ll need to make to successfully complete the Mayan Bridges Loop, beginning at the Jungle pens by selecting the Jungle Circuit route.
- Right to Jungle/Alpe (automatic)
- Straight to Mayan Loop (automatic)
- Straight to Jungle Loop (automatic)
- Left to Mayan Bridge
- Left to Mayan Loop
- Straight to Jungle Loop (automatic)
Route details:
Distance: 5.27km (3.3 miles)
Elevation Gain: 47m (153′)
Strava Segment
Rebel Route Suggestions
Got an idea for a great rebel route? Share it below and maybe we’ll publish a post about it!
Hi Eric! Excellent having new rebel routes to ride. Congrats! An heads up: Richmond KOM Reverse seems to be broken in ZwiftInsider Veloviewer Leaderboard. Not sure if the problem is just for me, but apparently all users times disappeared a day or two ago.
It’s a new section and the length is slightly different based on my effort being 2 seconds quicker when I re-uploaded my ride.
Is it going to eventually pick up prior efforts without any additional effort from our side?
There seems to be U turn in the new Big Flat 8 rebel route, just after start.
Thanks Eric, love the rebel routes. I see a couple others on the Veloviewer leader board that aren’t on ZI. Will you be publishing soon? Hilly KOM Bypass and Big Flat 8 are the two in question.
Yes, I will!
Nice!!! It would be interesting to benchmark this loop mountain versus gravel bike, since there may be an advantage to the gravel bikes on the bridge.
Already did! I actually created the loop hoping it would make for an interesting MTB vs Gravel Bike route… but alas, the MTB still winds, hands-down. Too much dirt!
This is random but I was wondering if you guys could assemble a list of all the paint jobs available on Zwift
I have a Watopia Fig.8 loop I did Jan 13th then 14th-see my maps-good 35-40 min. rides.
To do the ~12 mile Figure 8:
Beach Loop > Volcano CCW > I think do 1st 2 of 3 choices for 360 bridge (I think Straight and Right) but then > Left to Italian Villas >> avoid all KOM’s >> Downtown > Ocean Blvd > Italian Villas again, then > Islands > then do 2 of 2 Sprints forks with the 0.2mi Sprint > Downtown.
Why don’t you add this to the routes list instead of making it awkward and difficult, you need to maintain user consistency of use and feel of your product. Otherwise it gets confusing and I will forget about these routes as they are not in the routes list.
Very frustrating.
You realize I’m not Zwift, right? I have no control over the product. I just run a fansite!
Sorry Eric. My bad. I thought my comment would be seen by Zwift.
Thanks for educating me about the Rebel Routes. Never new they existed.
Keep up the good work.
Any news on the last two Rebel Route writeup’s? If they’re not coming soon (I know you’re a busy man), any chance of just posting the turn by turns in here?
Eric, here’s a suggestion for a new rebel route: The longest loop. More info at https://strava.app.link/YkmMpTQegdb //:0
Here is an idea for a “point to point” route that I’ve nicknamed “Temple Run”
Its the longest I could come up with without using the same piece of road twice or going up a major climb
https://www.strava.com/routes/2797251482112378036