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    Getting Started

    Zwift “Ride California” Challenge Details

    Eric Schlange
    By Eric Schlange
    January 22, 2018
    LAST UPDATED January 7, 2021
    36

    Completing the Challenge

    Just select it as your challenge from the menu screen (click “Menu” in-game, then click the challenge image at the top-right to see your current challenge information and/or switch to a new challenge.) Then ride 797 miles and you’re done!

    The challenge begins in San Diego and routes you through some of California’s most popular ride destinations including Long Beach (home of Zwift HQ), Los Angeles, Death Valley, Mt. Whitney, Monterey Bay, Yosemite, Sacramento, San Jose, and San Francisco.

    As a northern California resident, my only beef with this challenge is that it stops at San Francisco. What about the rest of the state? San Francisco is over 420 miles south of California’s northern border!

    What’s the prize?

    A brand-new (virtual) Specialized S-Works Tarmac! While not nearly the fastest bike in game, it IS a decent all-arounder which you can unlock early in your Zwifting career.

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    ReddIt
      Eric Schlange
      Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
      Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

      36 COMMENTS

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      36 Comments
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      Peter Formisano
      Peter Formisano
      3 years ago

      Is there a level you need to achieve to unlock this. I am level 31 and still locked.

      0
      Reply
      Peter A Formisano
      Peter A Formisano
      3 years ago

      Forget the question…I was looking at the locked mission on the bottom right…

      0
      Reply
      john r stafford
      john r stafford
      3 years ago

      When I click on this challenge it says 1000% complete but I have not done this how do I reset it

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      3 years ago
      Reply to  john r stafford

      Not sure if Zwift support can help, but they’d be your only chance. [email protected]

      0
      Reply
      Jon
      Jon
      3 years ago

      Hiya Eric, when selecting Ride California Challenge. Can you ride the route In Zwift or is it just clicking up the Km until the challenge is complete?
      thx in advance
      Jon C👍🏻

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      3 years ago
      Reply to  Jon

      The latter.

      0
      Reply
      JoR
      JoR
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Eric Schlange

      Ah I was just wondering this and would have loved to ride the actual route you described in Zwift – not sure I understand the point then!

      2
      Reply
      Alex B
      Alex B
      1 year ago
      Reply to  JoR

      It’s a ride that most people know the distance of hence the title and then the rest is just the proverbial carrot! Some as the Everest challenge, a target to aim for and a such a reason to Zwift! Standard game philosophy

      0
      Reply
      Luke
      Luke
      3 years ago

      Hi Eric, for the prize do you get the wheels as well, or just the frame?

      0
      Reply
      Garry Kirkland II
      Garry Kirkland II
      3 years ago
      Reply to  Luke

      My guess is that you get the frame only. I suspect it would certainly not come with the Zipp wheels in the picture above. I just purchased a pair of Roval CLX64 wheels (170k drops) that aren’t too far off the Zipps in game, and I intend to pair those with this Tarmac frame for a while. Probably followed by the Allez Sprint frame (depending on how long it takes me to get the Tarmac), and then the Zipp 808 wheels.

      3
      Reply
      z.dcc
      z.dcc
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Garry Kirkland II

      yes

      0
      Reply
      z.dcc
      z.dcc
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Luke

      you only get the frame

      0
      Reply
      Garry Kirkland II
      Garry Kirkland II
      3 years ago

      Hello! This is probably a silly question, but when you complete this challenge, do you get direct access to the bike, or does it unlock the option to purchase the bike with drops?
      Thanks in advance.

      2
      Reply
      Garry Kirkland II
      Garry Kirkland II
      3 years ago
      Reply to  Garry Kirkland II

      I think I found the answer to my question: I watched a video of someone completing the (initial) Everest Challenge, and the bike (a Trek Emonda) was placed right into his garage, no Drops required. I suspect this would be the same for Ride California, with the victory yielding the Specialized S-Works Tarmac. Thanks anyway.

      1
      Reply
      z.dcc
      z.dcc
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Garry Kirkland II

      yes it is

      0
      Reply
      RonenB
      RonenB(@rboneh)
      3 years ago

      hey,

      in your speed test one can find Tarmac Pro and Tarmac. No S-Work.
      So which frame match the challenge prize?

      thanks

      2
      Reply
      max
      max
      3 years ago

      Is the Tarmac from the California challenge the same as the Tarmac Pro performance wise?

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      3 years ago
      Reply to  max

      Nope. It’s nothing special in terms of performance.

      0
      Reply
      Holly Ward
      Holly Ward
      2 years ago

      I am new to Zwift and have learned a ton through this site!

      3
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Holly Ward

      Glad we can help!

      1
      Reply
      Bryan
      Bryan
      2 years ago

      Is this s-works tarmac the SL7 as it appears that the other one is no longer in the shop?

      0
      Reply
      Clair Walker
      Clair Walker
      2 years ago

      I have finished this challenge but the S-Works Tarmac is nowhere to be found. It’s not in my garage or or available in the store. Any tips on how to access the Tarmac?

      0
      Reply
      Mina
      Mina
      2 years ago

      What happens, if I switch the challenges. Does previous data will be safed in the previous challenge?

      0
      Reply
      V dub
      V dub
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Mina

      It does not. I just did this and found my 25km reset towards the Everest challenge. *Sad face

      0
      Reply
      AndrewC123
      AndrewC123(@andrewcushen)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Mina

      I logged about 400 miles in this Challenge, then switched over 5o the Everest Challenge to unlock the “Tron” bike. Completed that and switched back to Cal. Challenge…my 400 miles were still there.

      I see V. Dub seems to have had a different result, but I’ve done this switch twice and both times my mileage was still there.

      0
      Reply
      D Southwood
      D Southwood
      2 years ago

      How does this frameset rate as a climber? Is it on par with the Trek Emonda or below?

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  D Southwood

      Below.

      0
      Reply
      z.dcc
      z.dcc
      2 years ago

      it is a better bike because it is an all-rounder so you can put it on and it will be a beast at climbing,sprints,flats.

      0
      Reply
      Rebecca
      Rebecca
      2 years ago

      Hi there! Once you complete the Cali challenge, do you need to go into your profile to select a new challenge, or does it automatically move you on to another challenge? Thanks 🙂

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Rebecca

      It doesn’t automatically select one. Gotta pick it yourself!

      0
      Reply
      Michael Keating
      Michael Keating
      2 years ago

      How does the Specialized Tarmac earned from the Clai challenge compare to the Canyon Aeroad 2021 I have already purchased for taking on the Mt Everest cahllenge next? Which is a better climber to help unlocl the Tron bike next?!😬

      0
      Reply
      Michael Keating
      Michael Keating
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Michael Keating

      *Cali challenge!

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Michael Keating

      See https://zwiftinsider.com/charts-frames/

      Aeroad is just 1s behind Tarmac on Alpe climb test, but well outperforms it in terms of aero tests.

      1
      Reply
      Skids
      Skids
      3 months ago
      Reply to  Eric Schlange

      Thanks for the info, I just completed the challenge and obtained the Tarmac as a L16 rider. I bought the Canyon Aeroad and Zipp wheels based on your comparison charts about at L13. If I had found this website earlier I would have started the game with the Everest challenge on but as a former Californian this challenge seemed more familiar to me. I see that as I did the Tour de California I did 11km of altitude simultaneously, so could have unlocked the Tron bike instead. Oh well, 4-5 months to tron unlock.

      0
      Reply
      George
      George
      1 year ago

      Is it possible to ride as a group or in a meet up format?

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      1 year ago
      Reply to  George

      All the challenges accrue no matter what sort of ride you’re doing. Workouts, Meetups, events, free riding, etc… all go toward whatever challenge you’re currently doing.

      0
      Reply
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