Riding the Tiso Overland 500? Make it a Purposeful Adventure.
Trash Free Trails is a Community Interest Company that exists to protect our trails and the wild places they take us! Their mission is to remove 75% of Single Use Pollution (aka: Litter) from our trails and wild places by 2025 and (re)connect people with nature through Purposeful Adventure.
The organisation is built upon a firm belief in the power community led stewardship of trails and wild places. In short, Trash Free Trails couldn't and shouldn't exist without a strong and empowered volunteer community. At the heart and soul of this community are their ambassadors, or A-TEAM for short. This group of permanent volunteers have stepped up to represent the global #TrashMob, and the trails that mean the world to them, from the Highlands to the Himalaya.
Purposeful Adventures:
Mindfulness + nature connection = purpose
The Overland 500 has been built to be an epic adventure. It's a journey that will take you over the roads less travelled, through landscapes so tranquil you will be left with only yourself and your thoughts. It's an opportunity to connect not only to your truest self, but to the nature around you. Trash Free Trails believe that if we ourselves are connected to nature, this connection will inspire us to make decisions and cause actions that are purposeful and selfless.
The Tiso Overland 500 is a bikepacking route that can be turned into an epic Purposeful Adventure.
1. Brevet Card
On one side of the Tiso Overland 500 brevet card is a suggestion list created by Trash Free Trails on how to have a purposeful adventure. Use this list as inspiration to make your adventure more of a mindful one! These brevet cards can be collected from Tiso Overland 500 checkpoint stores.
2. Trail Clean Bags
To help look after our trails we are supplying trail clean bags available to collect from the Tiso Overland 500 checkpoint stores. Take these you on the route and reuse them where you can!
LEARN MORETo keep doing what they're doing, Trash Free Trails need your support!
Trash Free Trails have a mission to reduce single use pollution (SuP) on our trails and wild places by 75% by 2025 and (re)connect people with nature through purposeful adventure.
Your donation will help their 'smallnormous' team deliver a series of projects that focus on the following priorities;
- Empower and enable community led, environmental stewardship.
- Remove HUGE amounts of SuP.
- Gain a scientific understanding of the prevalence, impacts and (most importantly) solutions to SuP on our trails and wild places.
- Use the SuP issue as an educational tool.
- Inspire a sense of 'purposeful adventure' in our community.
- Develop our advocacy plan to play our role in the global social and environmental ecosystem!
FAQ's
Who created the Tiso Overland 500 route?
Nomadic bikepacker, Andy Cox (@doubletrackfanatic) created the Tiso Overland 500 route. Andy is the creator of the well known European Divide Trail that rides across Europe.
What kind of terrain is the route?
The surfaces vary, with the majority of the route being off-road - a mix of natural terrain, unpaved surfaces, gravel, asphalt and paved surfaces.
How many checkpoints are there?
There are 7 checkpoints. These checkpoints are Tiso stores: Inverness OE, Tiso Aberdeen, Tiso Dundee, Perth OE, Edinburgh OE, Glasgow OE and Aviemore OE.
Do I need to visit every checkpoint store?
It’s up to you. The checkpoint stores are there to allow you to have some rest or to stamp your brevet card. If you are racing, you must follow the GPX route that passes the checkpoint stores.
What is a brevet card?
The name 'brevet' comes from the word for 'certificate'. The card should be carried by riders and is used to record the time and date at each checkpoint. Riders can have their card stamped at checkpoint stores along the route.
Where can I get a Tiso Overland 500 brevet card?
Brevet cards are available to collect from checkpoint stores. The checkpoint stores included on the route are: Inverness OE, Tiso Aberdeen, Tiso Dundee, Perth OE, Edinburgh OE, Glasgow OE and Aviemore OE.
Where can I collect a trail clean bag?
Trail clean bags can be collected from checkpoint stores.
How do I use the trail clean bag?
Take a trail clean bag with you on route and collect any rubbish you see on the way. Remember to take your own rubbish with you and not leave anything on the trails. You should dispose of the rubbish properly when you get to a town and reuse your trail clean bag where possible. Leave no trace!
What are the trail clean bags made of?
The trail clean bags are made of biodegradable polythene and are biodegradable.
How can I race the route?
To race the route you need to record your attempt at the route via an app or wearable tech. Examples include Komoot, Strava, Garmin, Map My Ride, etc. When you have completed the route we need the total 'Elapsed Time', from start to finish, this will include any stops, breaks or delays. On Strava you will need to make sure that your cycle type is set to 'Race' to get total time from door to door. Please send your results to overland500@tiso.co.uk for the chance to appear on the Tiso Overland 500 Leaderboard.
Disclaimer
Riders are liable for themselves on this route. Tiso, Trash Free Trails, Cannondale and any other partner brand do not take liability for any riders. This route is a recommendation and might be subject to change by riders for unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather or closed roads.
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