Zwift is getting a jump on traditional Oktoberfest fun by holding PretzelFest in September! “It’s time to don your lederhose, fill your stein with electrolytes, and stuff your jersey pockets with pretzels.”
Each ride is on a pretzel-themed route, and completing all 4 stages unlocks the coveted Lederhose kit.
Route and Schedule Details
Rides are 45 minutes long and scheduled five minutes past the top of each hour throughout the week.
- Stage 1 (Sep 4-10): The Mega Pretzel
- Stage 2 (Sep 11-17): The London Pretzel
- Stage 3 (Sep 18-24): The Uber Pretzel
- Stage 4 (Sep 25-Oct 1): Innsbruckring
Signing Up
To sign up for the series, click the card at the top of the homescreen and click “Register”. You’re all done! Clicking the card will now show your progress as you complete each stage.
Next you’ll need to join and complete at least one PretzelFest event each week. They’re scheduled hourly, so you should be able to fit one into your schedule!
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Badge Unlocks
Complete all four stages this month to unlock the Zwift Ride Series: Pretzelfest badge!
Lederhose Kit Unlock
The real news here is the Lederhose kit! Completing all 4 stages to unlock the full kit:
- Complete 1 stage to unlock the Alpine Socks
- Complete 2 stages to unlock the Alpine Shoes
- Complete 3 stages to unlock the Alpine Hat
- Complete 4 stages to unlock the Lederhose Kit
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
I am confused…how can the ride be 45 minutes long and have to complete each ride?
I’m guessing you just cover as much ground as you can in that 45 minutes and you’re done. Otherwise this series would only have like 10 registrants.
Haha. I think you’re right. I looked over the routes and lamented I’d never earn the Lederhosen with these requirements, but now that you point out I only have to make a fool of myself for 45 on each, I’m thinking there’s a chance!
Means you have to ride the full 45 minutes.
Whew!! Even I can do that…
Over what distance and speed. If someone was bad minded, they could ride slow and only do 5 km and get the kit.
It’s more inclusive that way. If you start to put requirements around how fast someone needs to go or how much distance, it becomes really limiting for a number of Zwifters and that results in the platform starting to favour stronger riders. The current criteria means everyone can join in and have equal opportunity to win the unlocks.
With late join its only 15 minuts 😉
You can also ride 5 minutes and sit 40 more
Entered the start pen early as usual, then quit and went back in again and already had the socks!!! Still did the ride but there seems to be a bug if you can get the reward without crossing the start line!
David, I signed up for stage 3 and entered the pen. Family duties had me log off and ride the next one. When I logged in I was awarded the Alpine stocks, as well. Definitely a glitch in the matrix.
If you do the 45 minutes, you will only need to keep riding for another 4:30 – 5:00 hours hours to finish the Uber Pretzl route
I did exactly that on the Mega Pretzel last week, 3 hour 47 mins. Thought may as well now I’ve done 45 mins.
Is this new Alpine stuff? I am sure, some items are already in my garage …
The Lederhose kit was introduced at last year’s PretzelFest. So some may already have it.
last year was way more fun and challengeing
45 minutes…. Zwift is focusing too much on the under hour events.
the race series under an hour
hill climb series
hourly group rides
tt series…
the alpe robopacer ride under an hour
where are the epic organized Zwift routes.
we are lucky we have Eric with the new epic series!
Not all of us have time for really long rides, so I guess they are trying to keep it manageable and fun so it’s not something only a small minority who like mega long routes. I agree there’s been a lot though and they should put more in for balance, like the fondos etc around TdZ time.
They used to have the categories with long-middle and short ride like tour de Zwift.
and I understand not everyone would like to do 2 hours plus. But an hour event should be a standard. Even a child soccer practice is longer in duration.
Zwift is not a fan of empty roads, as evidenced in their logic for World Rotation, Climb Rotation etc etc
For the longer events you need people to sign up for them, and show up, and finish them. Which doesn’t happen, for whatever reason, nearly as much for the long routes as for the short ones.
The drop of even at 30 mins is pretty noticeable in a lot of 90 minute rides (especially where there’s no late join) but the sub hour is probably chosen because the metrics Zwift is looking at show a -lot- of people stop riding after an hour or less (you could speculate for example that they have a lunch hour or a workout hour or whatever).
I can’t register…the card at the top of the homescreen has no “Click” nor a “Register”
I eventually want to do the complete Mega Pretzel to get the badge. But September is too early. It would be great if they did an winter format like this that ran over the weekend where they featured the Mega Pretzel and the Uber Prezel so you could have a bunch to start with and a few to complete the entire course for a badge.
Like this? https://zwiftinsider.com/epic-series/ 😋
Is there a chance to do make-up rides? I will miss the period of stage 3.
I was abroad for Stage 2 so I’d also like to make up.
Wondering the same. We were on vacation for the first 2 stages. Zwift is usually pretty good at having makeup days but not seeing anything for this challenge.
No make up stages, and you can NOT just repeat a stage to get four rides. Thx a lot Swift. >.<
Can we continue past the 45 mins to complete the entire route and get the route achievement badge?
Yep!
Are there make-up rides afterwards? I will not be able to ride stage 3.
I kind of wish there was a option to do the whole route for the crazy people like myself 🤪🤣
You can simply carry on after the 45 minutes, you’ll still continue the route and get the badge if you haven’t already.
Does it work with running
So annoying, when there are no make up events. Some people have to travel for work.
I missed last year with a conference, but I get through it this year by the skin of my teeth as I will be able to get stage 4 this year right before heading to the airport. I definitely have had times where a make up event would have been appreciated.
this is disappointing to those of us that road it last year. kit was rarer and therefore interesting, now it’s hardly a challenge… i’m no bike superman but i toughed it out, now same reward for way less effort. i know… everyone is a winner johnny, we all get ribbons…. at least make it a different color
If u missed week 1 will there be any make up rides?
Everyone id asking about make-up rides and it doesn’t seem to be an option, I wonder why not, we’ve had makeup rides in other events & missions.
Can I still get the full kit if I have started on stage 2?
Doesn’t look like it. You need to complete all 4 stages to get the full kit. According to the official event page you get the socks after completing one of the stages, shoes after you’ve completed any two stages, hat for completing any three stages, and full kit after completing all of the stages.
I missed sage 1 and 2. Will there be makeup events?
I wish there were make up events. I was busy moving my kid into college and missed the first “stage.” Did the other three but I really want the lederhosen.
I don’t see any make up events posted. I was in the back country and missed the first three stages. I want lederhosen!
No make up stages either! Looks like I’m going to have to wait to get all the apparel for the complete Lederhosen kit…
Is there a make up day?
Last year I missed the kit by one stage, as there were no make ups. I hope they bring this back again. LOL