UPDATE: Zwift has made this route available in-game, for events only. Perhaps the first time the community has created a route which Zwift later implemented!
This is the newest addition to our list of “Rebel Routes”–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!
Route Description
This perimeter route covers portions of Watopia’s three “flat” routes, (Tick Tock, Volcano Flat, Watopia Flat). We call it “Watopia’s Waistband” because it nicely encircles key landmarks in Watopia proper including downtown Watopia, Fuego Flats, the Italian Villas, the Volcano, and the Fishing Village.
We begin on Fuego Flats at the spawn point, moving clockwise around the desert loop until it drops us off on Ocean Blvd. Take Ocean Blvd toward the Fishing Village (away from Downtown), turn left toward the Italian Village, then another left at the fountain to head toward the Volcano.
Ride around the Volcano clockwise, make our way through the downtown start/finish line and onto Ocean Boulevard before a quick left back to Fuego Flats.
This route was inspired by Zwifter Ryan Goldenberg, who created a Strava segment for this route but in the opposite direction and beginning at the downtown start/finish line. We prefer the desert start/finish in the clockwise direction due to how the finish lays out, with little rise near the end leading into a long finishing sprint.
Profile
At 3.25 meters of climb per kilometer of travel, Watopia’s Waistband is flatter than all official routes except Tempus Fugit and Tick Tock. The only noticeable uphills are the rise outside of Saddle Springs, the ramp out of Ocean Boulevard and the climb to the Italian Villas which follows, the volcano kicker and the shallow climb back into the desert.
Getting Started
When freeriding, select the “Out and Back Again” route to begin–this reduces your number of manual turns required to just 3.
You will spawn just before the desert start pens, giving us a lead-in of approximately 2.5km before the sprint finish line rock arch, which is the official start/finish line for this route.
Turn by Turn
Here are the turns you’ll make to complete this route. Only turns labeled (manual turn) require you to change from the default turn selection, so this route only requires 4 manual turns:
- Straight towards Epic KOM
- Right onto Sequoia Circle
- Left towards Italian Villas
- Straight towards Italian Villas
- Left towards Italian Villas
- Left towards Volcano Circuit (manual turn)
- Straight to go around Volcano Circuit
- Left towards Volcano Circuit
- Left towards Downtown (manual turn)
- Left towards Downtown (manual turn)
- Left onto Ocean Blvd (manual turn)
- Left towards Desert Flats
Route details:
Distance: 25.5km (15.8 miles)
Elevation Gain: 83m (273′)
Strava Forward Segment
Rebel Route Suggestions
Got an idea for a great rebel route? Share it below and maybe we’ll publish a post about it!
Looks like a good route option for tough workouts; plenty of scenic variety. Would it reduce the number of manual inputs, to start by selecting the out-and-back-again route?
Pete–you’re a genius! I just modified the post to reference Out and Back Again instead. I tested it and if you use Out and Back Again, only three manual turns are required… all the other default turns are correct.
Zwift should certainly add this as a route. It reminds me of the flatter sections of a spring classic or grand tour race because you pass through a number of Watopia’s small “towns”.
I made the route yesterday, I found some error in the description of the turns. I added two turns (1 and 8), they are default turns so they don’t have much importance. I also found a fourth manual turn (10). In addition I have put the names of the turns as they appear in-game screen.
1. Straight towards Epic KOM
2. Right onto Sequoia Circle
3. Left towards Italian Villas
4. Straight towards Italian Villas
5. Left towards Italian Villas
6. Left towards Volcano Circuit (manual turn)
7. Straight to go around Volcano Circuit
8. Left towards Volcano Circuit
9 – Left towards Downtown (manual turn)
10 – Left towards Downtown (manual turn)
11 – Left onto Ocean Blvd (manual turn)
12 – Left towards Desert Flats
Excellent work! I bestow upon you the honorary title of “Rebel Cartographer”, matey.
I’ve updated the post above.
he, he, he “Rebel Cartographer” is a nice title. Tomorrow the rebel cartographer will check the “Triple Flat Loops” route ;-P
Hi There
I cannot find out how to ride a rebel route?
Am I being dumb or is it an inside secret at this stage?
Please can you send a link with instructions.
Thank you
Neil
Follow the instructions above under “Getting Started”.
Basically, you pick a route that will do most of the turns for you, then start riding… and do the manual turns as needed. This particular route, as noted above, works best if you pick the “Out and Back Again” route to start.
Personally I like Ryan’s route direction, but maybe because I did it that way first? Aesthetically it’s better because you get the volcano out of the way first. Also really easy. Just Uturn on volcano flats, and only 2 turns – right on Epic Kom and left on Desert flats. Pretty finish coming out of the desert and down to the ocean too.
Just rode this, great stuff!!! I’ll do the perimeter ride I suggested when I get brave! hahaha!
I did this with the original instructions and got it completely wrong… Good to see they’ve now been updated and I’ll give it another go. 👍👍
In the new version 1.0.36681 it has become an official route but marked as event-only
Just noticed this, Jesper, can you confirm that it would need no manual turns if booked as an event?
So, today I was starting the “Bigger Loop” and once it came time to turn left after the flats to do the Epic KOM through the towns and chapel I decided to turn right and do Watopia’s Waistband. I think the manual right hand turn to go under water on ocean BLVD was the only manual turn I had to make!!! The only one I’m not 100% on was if I manually had to enter the left turn on the sequoia island to climb out, after that though it’s definitely all Watopia’s Waistband. I guess this could be a way to start and finish it downtown with only one(at most two) manual turns, also this would change where you start and finish. Hopefully it will be a featured solo route soon enough. Keep up the great work Eric!