Veloviewer. Who is using it, and what do you get from it?
Discussion
yellowjack said:
And just because I was wondering about it myself, here's my tiling state right now...
...plenty of gaps to fill, for sure. And plenty of space to expand into. But no one obvious area to head for really. Plus the A303 is really beginning to irritate me now. It literally is the only sealed surface road through many tiles, so it comes down to MTBing to grab tiles via byways and bridleways, or taking my life in my hands and riding on what, in many places, is a de facto motorway.
Explorer score:
3866 tiles (an average of 8.356 mi per tile)
Max square = 28x28
Max Cluster = 2379
Some very nice work getting that cluster up. Wonder if there should be a stat of max cluster vs explorer score to show how scattered your rides are....plenty of gaps to fill, for sure. And plenty of space to expand into. But no one obvious area to head for really. Plus the A303 is really beginning to irritate me now. It literally is the only sealed surface road through many tiles, so it comes down to MTBing to grab tiles via byways and bridleways, or taking my life in my hands and riding on what, in many places, is a de facto motorway.
Explorer score:
3866 tiles (an average of 8.356 mi per tile)
Max square = 28x28
Max Cluster = 2379
2379/3866 = 62% of all tiles are in your max cluster.
777/2989 = 26% for me, need to get clustering!
ukbabz said:
Some very nice work getting that cluster up. Wonder if there should be a stat of max cluster vs explorer score to show how scattered your rides are.
2379/3866 = 62% of all tiles are in your max cluster.
777/2989 = 26% for me, need to get clustering!
1169/2925 for me... Almost precisely 40%.2379/3866 = 62% of all tiles are in your max cluster.
777/2989 = 26% for me, need to get clustering!
Yellowjack:
It's getting much tougher to expand my Max Square now. I've gone at it without much of a plan up to now, and that "scattergun" approach means there is no obvious direction in which to go. There are gaps to the north, east and west that could be filled to contribute to expansion, but I can't see one direction which would yield a quick, efficient, and obvious route. So I'm now just working on chipping away at bigger gaps which won't do much for Square building, but will draw more tiles into my Max Cluster. Time is the issue for me really, because I'm a pretty slow rider, so any tiling ride of meanigful length takes me away from home pretty much for a whole day now.
So dont worry about max square. Just.go explore where you want to explore, the square will come. My cluster is now as misshapen as stallone's mums face, but at some.point in the future the gaps will close.until i think "aha! Square!" And i will prob get a big jump. from 22 to 26 in a week when the mood hits.
Thats my plan, anyway. I'm not drawn to tiling because "must go here", it's more "never been there..." And carrot is always nicer than stick.
If you do genuinely want a suggestion, to me its glaringly obvious which tiles you should do next. NW of current square, or the big dirty hole in the middle. The first wont improve max until you can ninja the unobtainables, but the bit in the middle would move and expand your square to somewhere with much greater potential way down the line.
It's getting much tougher to expand my Max Square now. I've gone at it without much of a plan up to now, and that "scattergun" approach means there is no obvious direction in which to go. There are gaps to the north, east and west that could be filled to contribute to expansion, but I can't see one direction which would yield a quick, efficient, and obvious route. So I'm now just working on chipping away at bigger gaps which won't do much for Square building, but will draw more tiles into my Max Cluster. Time is the issue for me really, because I'm a pretty slow rider, so any tiling ride of meanigful length takes me away from home pretty much for a whole day now.
===
So dont worry about max square. Just.go explore where you want to explore, the square will come. My cluster is now as misshapen as stallone's mums face, but at some.point in the future the gaps will close.until i think "aha! Square!" And i will prob get a big jump. from 22 to 26 in a week when the mood hits.
Thats my plan, anyway. I'm not drawn to tiling because "must go here", it's more "never been there..." And carrot is always nicer than stick.
If you do genuinely want a suggestion, to me its glaringly obvious which tiles you should do next. NW of current square, or the big dirty hole in the middle. The first wont improve max until you can ninja the unobtainables, but the bit in the middle would move and expand your square to somewhere with much greater potential way down the line.
Yellowjack just needs to get a new job https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/in...
I took the MTB out to close a gap just off the ridgeway, man that was the hardest 50km I've done. So much mud slowing everything down. Plus side is my shoulder held up!
2993 tiles (+4)
Max square 22x22
Max Cluster: 788 (+11)
Vv score - 99.494
Festive 500 coming up but think that's going to be mainly turbo as no mudguards and limited time during the day
2993 tiles (+4)
Max square 22x22
Max Cluster: 788 (+11)
Vv score - 99.494
Festive 500 coming up but think that's going to be mainly turbo as no mudguards and limited time during the day
Some Gump said:
Daft request - could eveyone enjoying this thread join the PH strava club? That way all of us tilers can see how each other are doing 
I've been on there since I joined Strava, I think. My username is the same as here, save for a space in the obvious place.
I've been struggling to do any tiling lately. Last week, though, completely unconnected to VeloViewer tiling, I finally managed to stitch together a near-12 mile Strava segment called 'Wareham Forest Smash' that I've been trying to work out using OS maps. A couple of attempts back in May when there had been a big forest/heath fire there, and one unsuccessful attempt last week meant I'd made all the obvious mistakes, so was able to iron them out and get two laps in.
Someone also mentioned the Festive500. I've signed up, but I'm not sure I'm going to bother with it this year. Various reasons, including, but not limited to: A grumbly headset on my nice road bike. The new tier 4 areas making a substantial hole in the areas I need to expand my Square/Cluster. A general loss of Mojo in recent weeks. I don't know what it is exactly, but I've found myself lacking the desire to get changed and drag a bike out. Once I'm on a bike I'm OK, it's just getting out of the door and starting the ride that keeps me at home.
And I know I can ride plenty of places that are in the same tier 2 restrictions as where I live. But I'd made some plans for the festive season that very much included riding in parts of Surrey, and around Berkshire, especially Windsor/Slough/Reading/Newbury way. Christmas Eve (daytime) may still see a bit of riding right on the edge of Berkshire as I have to go up to fetch my son home for Christmas (single adult living alone support bubble stuff). So I may take a trip up much earlier in the day and get some scattered individual tiles mopped up. But more generally, I'm keener to keep myself to myself over Christmas. I've also had enough of being glowered at while out exercising COMPLETELY ALONE WITH NO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER LIVING SOUL YOU ABSOLUTE CRETINS. Solo cycling is probably THE most Covid-secure exercise I can do. I certainly have less contact with other people when riding, and come into germ-spreading range of others a lot less than when I'm out walking or running. Yet I feel like I'm constantly being judged by the brainwashed masses. I should probably just get on and ride, but the news media at the moment? It's not doing my mood many favours...
yellowjack said:
I've been on there since I joined Strava, I think. My username is the same as here, save for a space in the obvious place.
I've been struggling to do any tiling lately. Last week, though, completely unconnected to VeloViewer tiling, I finally managed to stitch together a near-12 mile Strava segment called 'Wareham Forest Smash' that I've been trying to work out using OS maps. A couple of attempts back in May when there had been a big forest/heath fire there, and one unsuccessful attempt last week meant I'd made all the obvious mistakes, so was able to iron them out and get two laps in.
Someone also mentioned the Festive500. I've signed up, but I'm not sure I'm going to bother with it this year. Various reasons, including, but not limited to: A grumbly headset on my nice road bike. The new tier 4 areas making a substantial hole in the areas I need to expand my Square/Cluster. A general loss of Mojo in recent weeks. I don't know what it is exactly, but I've found myself lacking the desire to get changed and drag a bike out. Once I'm on a bike I'm OK, it's just getting out of the door and starting the ride that keeps me at home.
And I know I can ride plenty of places that are in the same tier 2 restrictions as where I live. But I'd made some plans for the festive season that very much included riding in parts of Surrey, and around Berkshire, especially Windsor/Slough/Reading/Newbury way. Christmas Eve (daytime) may still see a bit of riding right on the edge of Berkshire as I have to go up to fetch my son home for Christmas (single adult living alone support bubble stuff). So I may take a trip up much earlier in the day and get some scattered individual tiles mopped up. But more generally, I'm keener to keep myself to myself over Christmas. I've also had enough of being glowered at while out exercising COMPLETELY ALONE WITH NO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER LIVING SOUL YOU ABSOLUTE CRETINS. Solo cycling is probably THE most Covid-secure exercise I can do. I certainly have less contact with other people when riding, and come into germ-spreading range of others a lot less than when I'm out walking or running. Yet I feel like I'm constantly being judged by the brainwashed masses. I should probably just get on and ride, but the news media at the moment? It's not doing my mood many favours...
ukbabz said:
I've not had any issues north of Newbury on the ridgeway and surrounding. Even had some random bloke give me a thumbs up but that may have been to do with me being covered in mud and looking a right mess!
Hmmm? Maybe I'm just projecting my guilt onto others then? Or maybe I AM getting judgmental looks from other countryside users? I mean, it's by no means everyone out there. As you say, there are folk who will share a joke, or a wry smile when the conditions are bad. And generally I'm on (or at least try to be) good terms with other PROW users. I like to think I'm aware of my surroundings, and that I try to always be the one to yield the way. And mostly it's appreciated, whether it be another cyclist, a horse rider, or walkers. But there's an increasing cohort of miserable, and sometimes deliberately obstructive path user out there. The latest thing is the deliberate ignoring of the rung bell. Especially from groups out walking, and dog walkers with multiple animals not under close control. I don't expect people to go diving into hedges to permit me to steam through at full gas. But when I ring the bell from a distance, and they clearly hear it because they've turned to see me, it might just be nice if that's the point where they begin to corral the dogs and marshal their group into a narrower body. Yet they (deliberately, it seems) leave that until you are right upon them and forced to stop. And I'm not talking about narrow bridleways here. This is more the wide forest gravel roads of Wareham Forest, or the "wide enough to park cars diagonally and still have space for two cars to drive past each other" undercliff promenade on the sea front between Bournemouth and Boscombe. I can understand the other side of the argument though. While riding, running, and walking on such routes I've been subject to some unnecessarily close passes, at speed, by "cyclists". They're usually on a 'Beryl' hire bike, or some knackered old 80's road bike with the handlebars turned upside down, or the cheapest MTB in the Decathlon range. And to me they aren't 'Cyclists' at all, but the non-cycling population just see a person on a bicycle failing to be courteous and considerate and tar us all with whatever brush they've currently got to hand. Anyway, enough moaning. I should really get some porridge inside me and get a ride in, instead of sitting here in a gloomy living room moaning into a keyboard...
Aye it does vary, I try and remain cheerful . I don't actually have a bell on my MTB and just call out to folk - not sure if this elicits a different reaction. I've found my freehub is pretty loud too which works pretty well to get attention as people don't really know the sound to ignore it.
The one that bugs me / makes me laugh in equal measures is when folk lack enough awareness to step to the same side as the person they're with - making a slalom. When running I'll just carry on between them to make a point, on the bike I'm a little more cautious!
It'd be nice if we could have some cooler / dryer weather then the road would be more appealing!
The one that bugs me / makes me laugh in equal measures is when folk lack enough awareness to step to the same side as the person they're with - making a slalom. When running I'll just carry on between them to make a point, on the bike I'm a little more cautious!
It'd be nice if we could have some cooler / dryer weather then the road would be more appealing!
ukbabz said:
Aye it does vary, I try and remain cheerful . I don't actually have a bell on my MTB and just call out to folk - not sure if this elicits a different reaction. I've found my freehub is pretty loud too which works pretty well to get attention as people don't really know the sound to ignore it.
The one that bugs me / makes me laugh in equal measures is when folk lack enough awareness to step to the same side as the person they're with - making a slalom. When running I'll just carry on between them to make a point, on the bike I'm a little more cautious!
It'd be nice if we could have some cooler / dryer weather then the road would be more appealing!
The one that bugs me / makes me laugh in equal measures is when folk lack enough awareness to step to the same side as the person they're with - making a slalom. When running I'll just carry on between them to make a point, on the bike I'm a little more cautious!
It'd be nice if we could have some cooler / dryer weather then the road would be more appealing!
I find it's dog walkers doing this a lot. Instead of thinking about it for a moment and then stepping to whatever side the dog is on, they stand their ground on one side and shout at the dog to come to them. Which, naturally, the dog does. Except that it delays long enough that it will be across the path when you get there. Either that or the dog just looks at the owner/walker like they are utterly mad and then just carries on sniffing another dog's scent marking. Made all the worse when the dog is on a lead but still refuses to budge. Dog walkers? If you're reading this, ffs just move to the side of the path the dog is already on, eh? It's quicker, safer, and more likely to achieve the desired result...
Encountered a few walkers/dog walkers on my first ride from the new house today. Most complied with my shouts of passing on the right/left but a few were like deer in the headlights then tutted when I went past.
Was on the bike this morning for the first time in a month - my fitness has fallen dramatically. The intention of the ride was to scope out my commute to work now that I'm only 8 miles away, nice commute I must say - riverside paths and any road sections are on new cycle lanes that are 2 bikes wide and coned off so that cars can't enter. Managed it in 35 minutes today but will definitely need a shower at work once I do it for real. Detoured on the way back and went the scenic route following the river.
Stats:
VV score: 86.727 (Up from 86.028)
399 tiles (Up from 383 tiles), average of 2.460 (down from 2.513) mi per tile
Max square: 13x13 (No change)
Max cluster: 240 (No change)
Eddington Ride: 23 (No change)
Route:
Map:
Will get a few more rides in this side of the year. This has been my most active year by far - love the infographic VeloViewer provides.
Was on the bike this morning for the first time in a month - my fitness has fallen dramatically. The intention of the ride was to scope out my commute to work now that I'm only 8 miles away, nice commute I must say - riverside paths and any road sections are on new cycle lanes that are 2 bikes wide and coned off so that cars can't enter. Managed it in 35 minutes today but will definitely need a shower at work once I do it for real. Detoured on the way back and went the scenic route following the river.
Stats:
VV score: 86.727 (Up from 86.028)
399 tiles (Up from 383 tiles), average of 2.460 (down from 2.513) mi per tile
Max square: 13x13 (No change)
Max cluster: 240 (No change)
Eddington Ride: 23 (No change)
Route:
Map:
Will get a few more rides in this side of the year. This has been my most active year by far - love the infographic VeloViewer provides.
Comacchio said:
Encountered a few walkers/dog walkers on my first ride from the new house today. Most complied with my shouts of passing on the right/left but a few were like deer in the headlights then tutted when I went past.
Was on the bike this morning for the first time in a month - my fitness has fallen dramatically. The intention of the ride was to scope out my commute to work now that I'm only 8 miles away, nice commute I must say - riverside paths and any road sections are on new cycle lanes that are 2 bikes wide and coned off so that cars can't enter. Managed it in 35 minutes today but will definitely need a shower at work once I do it for real. Detoured on the way back and went the scenic route following the river.
Stats:
VV score: 86.727 (Up from 86.028)
399 tiles (Up from 383 tiles), average of 2.460 (down from 2.513) mi per tile
Max square: 13x13 (No change)
Max cluster: 240 (No change)
Eddington Ride: 23 (No change)
Route:
Map:
Will get a few more rides in this side of the year. This has been my most active year by far - love the infographic VeloViewer provides.
Not pro season:Was on the bike this morning for the first time in a month - my fitness has fallen dramatically. The intention of the ride was to scope out my commute to work now that I'm only 8 miles away, nice commute I must say - riverside paths and any road sections are on new cycle lanes that are 2 bikes wide and coned off so that cars can't enter. Managed it in 35 minutes today but will definitely need a shower at work once I do it for real. Detoured on the way back and went the scenic route following the river.
Stats:
VV score: 86.727 (Up from 86.028)
399 tiles (Up from 383 tiles), average of 2.460 (down from 2.513) mi per tile
Max square: 13x13 (No change)
Max cluster: 240 (No change)
Eddington Ride: 23 (No change)
Route:
Map:
Will get a few more rides in this side of the year. This has been my most active year by far - love the infographic VeloViewer provides.
Pro season:
I think I'll go with the latter
Gareth1974 said:
Fairly short ride today, ventured into an area I need some tiles in for max square expansion, don’t normally like riding on busy roads, but figured they’d be quiet on Boxing Day. Felt like a tour of North Birmingham council estates.
It was along the A35 for me yesterday...I'd actually planned it as part of a century (->Dorchester->A35->Honiton->A30->A303->), which was kind of predicated on Christmas Day traffic. Alas, couldn't get up early enough to make that work.
The A35 was still fairly quiet yesterday, at least Westbound, but with a howling headwind, I curtailed it to a metric century.
Still, it means I don't have to run the convoluted plan that I had to ensure that the A35 was primarily downhill. It also partitions West Dorset quite nicely.
I signed up for Veloviewer in July (the right hand image shows where I’d been to that point) and did my first ride targeting some new tiles in August. Since then I’ve increased my max square from 6x6 to 17x17.
My new year ‘resolution’ for Veloviewer is to reach 25x25 for my max square and build a 1000 tile max cluster.
My new year ‘resolution’ for Veloviewer is to reach 25x25 for my max square and build a 1000 tile max cluster.
Edited by Gareth1974 on Saturday 2nd January 12:07
It's gone a bit quiet on this front - people still playing? I follow Yellowjack on Strava so know that he's been up to his usual antics!
We're staying with the in-laws in Dumfries while nurseries are closed in Scotland so I've been trying to build a good cluster here while doing a 50-mile running challenge. Getting there slowly! Got me a gravel bike at the tail end of 2020 which is far better suited to exploring than my Specialized Tarmac with carbon wheels - albeit a bit slower.
We're staying with the in-laws in Dumfries while nurseries are closed in Scotland so I've been trying to build a good cluster here while doing a 50-mile running challenge. Getting there slowly! Got me a gravel bike at the tail end of 2020 which is far better suited to exploring than my Specialized Tarmac with carbon wheels - albeit a bit slower.
dirtbiker said:
It's gone a bit quiet on this front - people still playing? I follow Yellowjack on Strava so know that he's been up to his usual antics!
We're staying with the in-laws in Dumfries while nurseries are closed in Scotland so I've been trying to build a good cluster here while doing a 50-mile running challenge. Getting there slowly! Got me a gravel bike at the tail end of 2020 which is far better suited to exploring than my Specialized Tarmac with carbon wheels - albeit a bit slower.
Haven't been able to get out much here, especially the distances I need to do to get any new tiles. Hopefully the weather will improve and can get a couple of tiles in soon!We're staying with the in-laws in Dumfries while nurseries are closed in Scotland so I've been trying to build a good cluster here while doing a 50-mile running challenge. Getting there slowly! Got me a gravel bike at the tail end of 2020 which is far better suited to exploring than my Specialized Tarmac with carbon wheels - albeit a bit slower.
Not been doing it recently because a) its bloody horrible out there and b) going 50+ miles "to explore" during current situation feels a bit like a pisstake.
Sure, go out and ride but imo routes should be picked based on excersise / ability to not see many people rather than max no. Tiles
Not aiming to be a holier than thou post, you lot do what you want and i'm not judging.
Sure, go out and ride but imo routes should be picked based on excersise / ability to not see many people rather than max no. Tiles
Not aiming to be a holier than thou post, you lot do what you want and i'm not judging.
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