“Out and Back Again” is a route which is quite flat… until it isn’t. Released as part of Zwift’s Fuego Flats desert expansion, this oddly-named route isn’t an out and back at all, but rather two loops connected in a figure 8-style course.
This is a popular race route given its length and mostly-flat profile punctuated by two distinct climb sections.
“Out and Back Again” is a route which is quite flat… until it isn’t. Released as part of Zwift’s Fuego Flats desert expansion, this oddly-named route isn’t an out and back at all, but rather two loops connected in a figure 8-style course.
This is a popular race route given its length and mostly-flat profile punctuated by two distinct climb sections.
Route Basics
Length: 39.8 km (24.7 miles)
Elevation: 303 m (994‘)
Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
Map: Watopia
Start & Finish
When freeriding you will spawn just before the desert start pens, giving us a lead-in of approximately 2.5km before the sprint finish line. For our Strava segment we started and ended at the sprint finish line since this is a stable point (unlike spawn points, which have some randomness to them).
We will create another segment beginning at the start pens to cover events on this route, once events begin running here.
Achievement Badge: 840 XP
Strava Segments
BestBikeSplit Model
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Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
The first half of this route is quite flat, while the second half contains its two climbs.
Beginning in Fuego Flats, we make our way across the desert then descend through the redwoods down to Ocean Boulevard. Hanging a left at the Jarvis Tree, we climb our way up the false flat to the Italian Villas, then twist through The Esses and turn left toward the Volcano.
Our Volcano KOM climb begins almost exactly at the 20km mark. Ride up the volcano, descend, then take the flat land bridge road back to the Italian Villas where the second climb, the Hilly KOM Reverse, waits just up the road.
Once you’ve completed the Hilly KOM and descended to sea level, you’ll hang a right onto Ocean Boulevard then a quick left toward the finish line at Fuego Flats. After that it’s just a long, flattish haul to the line!
Eric,
I am working on my Route spreadsheet and notice that the Zwift route information now differs (in some cases substantially) from what I had previously and what you now show. This route is a good example.
Out and Back Again I had as 39.8Km 303M and now Zwift support shows it (with lead-in) as 42.1Km and 334M.
Since Zwift now shows routes with lead-ins but zwiftinsider and your strava links show them as separate, do you have any intent of updating all your routes to match the zwift routes?
The new course descriptions are amazing. Well done.
When using this as a meetup route the event finishes before the route badge so need to keep pedalling past Fuego flats finish line. Not very kind
I’ve done this route a few times going over 40k each time. I haven’t received a badge – new to Zwift so it’s just a question of interest more than concern? Is this common on zwift?
The same happened to me today… after 42 KM. Any ideas??
You need to pass through the desert arch. Virtually all of the route badges are awarded after passing through a finish arch. They’re not going to magically appear after a given distance.
Hitting this one up right now for the route badge, interesting route with a bit of everything you would want
I have ridden Out and Back now 3 times, over 68 miles and STILL have not earned this badge. I am getting very tired of reading up on a particular route, doing the entire route and earning nothing. I think it is time to move on to a different bike app. Why is it so hard just to publish the route, the miles, and get it done Zwift? Makes absolutely NO SINCE.
To have ridden this route 3 times you will need to have ridden a cumulative total of over 75 miles so you clearly aren’t riding the full route each time. To get the badge you have to keep cycling until the banner appears on your screen. As it says in the article; you can spawn up to 3kms before the official route start so you need to keep this in mind.
Would love to have direct access to this link by tapping the companion app route picture.
Brilliant site for getting to know the routes. Well done all.
Still something wrong with this route. I passed arch on desert. Didn’t get a badge. I continued my ride. After 60 km i gave up. It’s my 2nd attempt on this route.
I had that happen on a route, and it turned out I already had the badge. *shrug*
When creating a meetup and making it a no drop ride. Will segments still count. If not how can i set up a group ride so that it releases all the riders on tje segments and keep them together for the rest of the ride?
Yes, you’ll still get credit for Strava segments, and in game segments, including route badges, KOMs, etc.
What I miss are the bike recommendations that earlier were part of the detailled descriptions…. would be great to get a hint.
The route details are great, I’ll always have a quick read before I take on a new route. However they would be even better if they included a recommended set up for the route. Aero bike? Climing set up? All-Rounder?