If you’re not already, inject some new energy into your local riding with our VeloViewer Tile Hunting tool. There are 27K Pro VeloViewer users, and an ever increasing number of them regularly tiling, and exploring new routes to increase their Max Square or Max Cluster of tiles.
For those new to the sport, here’s what tile hunting offers and how it can spice up your riding.
🟥 VeloViewer is the original tile hunting tool which enables users to ‘collect’ geographical tiles which are ‘zoom level 14’ which means they are roughly a mile square.
🟥 The goal is to visit as many squares as possible, and after its launch in 2015 tiling has now gathered pace and the real challenge is building your ‘Max Square’ and ‘Max Cluster’.
🟥 Max Square is how big you can make your complete square.
🟥 Max Cluster is the largest connected tiles regardless of their shape.
🟥 Both have leaderboards within VeloViewer and competition is rife – you can view them here Max Square | Max Cluster
To find out how everyday riders put this tool to good use read British cyclist Mat Grove’s story of his discovery of tiling, and how it has encouraged him to explore local routes he wouldn’t have previously considered.
What prompted your interest in tiling?
It started as a challenge to ride all the bridleways and byways in Kent, creating rides to link them up into a loop out from various starting points throughout the county. I used VeloViewer to track progress, and map out my coverage. Once I’d started I noticed I was getting a cluster together, and began adding tile gaps to each of the rides, now I try to cover tiles and the byways.
How much time do you dedicate to tiling in a week/month?
I’m short on time to get out for big rides, so I ride locally during the week, and plan for a loop out on the weekend. The planning primarily is via an online map tool, but combining it with my tile coverage, to keep the gaps in the map to a minimum.
How has tiling changed your riding experience/types of riding?
It’s made me look at the mapping and planning in a different way, including the scope of tiles and missing gaps, means I get to link up my trails with routes I would likely not have taken before.
Most challenging situation
Any of the bridleways that have been overgrown in the summer, or are total mudfest / washout in the winter, and there have been plenty! Sometimes they’ve been gated or blocked, which leads to lift and shift of the bike and rider, but on the main, it’s the weather and overgrowth that’s the biggest challenge!
Most memorable riding moment
More surprising than memorable, I’d not expected my county, Kent, in the South East of the UK, with a big population, motorways etc, to be so beautiful, full of quiet trails, wildlife, and a great variety of riding, From chalk and flint, sharp and fierce on tyres and legs, to sandstone, and clay. Castles and Norman Churches, the seaside, woodland and farms on the North downs, I’ve seen it all, and still have some left to cover.
What are your kit essentials for tile hunting?
I use a Garmin 830 currently, but have been through a couple of previous models, loaded with maps. For planning I use Komoot and the Ordnance Survey OSMaps app, it’s well worth the subscription, and of course the VeloViewer data. I used to carry a backup paper map, but find I no longer need this, with the data on the phone etc. While out riding, I try and keep it simple, a few tools, the phone and Garmin, and snacks…. I swear by a Star Bar!
How would you recommend others get into tiling?
I’ve spread the word to other cyclists by sharing my experiences, had people along with me for some of the rides, but mainly when I get asked what I’m doing, I point them towards the VeloViewer site and my progress so far.
The main message I tend to share is that it is such a good way to get out and see not only your local area, but gives an opportunity to look further than your normal loops and rides, and try to see more of the country.