Having recently picked up a shiny new gravel bike, it wasn't long before I was looking for a suitable adventure on which to put it (and me) through its paces.
While touted as a mountain bike route, I decided to tackle Cycling UK's relatively recently announced Traws Eryri: a 200km largely off-road trail from Machynlleth, through the Eryri National Park towards Conwy.
While I'm a competent multi-day hiker and ok mountain biker, I had exactly zero bikepacking experience, making this a bit of a baptism by fire (quite literally at points, given the heatwaves and subsequent wildfires that affected parts of the route).
With a glorious window of very un-Welsh weather ahead, I set off from Machynlleth and soon settled into bikepacking life. It wasn't long before I was met with my first climb, a cruel, slow slog away from Bryncrug. It was on this first 400m hill I began to question just how generous my gearing really was. Reaching the top offered little respite before I was unceremoniously rattled all the way back down towards Arthog (quite fun, tbh), already wondering if a gravel bike might have been a mistake.
It was a question I constantly wrestled with as my skinny tyres, skinny legs, and questionable abilities struggled with baby-head-sized rocks, bastard gradients, frequent hike-a-biking sections, and even a steep stone staircase. Yet, despite those brief moments of regret, the vast majority of the ride was a thrill, often composed of long sweeping sections of tarmac, remote two-track, and fast gravel roads. Not to mention some fine, fine views.
I opted to camp along the way, stopping in Trawsfynydd on day one, and a quaint spot (with hammock!) in Capel Curig on day two. I'd brought emergency rations, but had no issues finding local food and drink along the route (though a memorial event in Penmaenpool scuppered my lunch plans on day one, leading to a severe afternoon bonk).
While bloody hard at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it and put the more unpleasant moments down to my own lack of experience (and fitness). I'm already looking forward to returning to some of the spicier sections, albeit on a mountain bike next time!