Lon Las Cymru - Machynlleth to Bangor

A Wildlife Trust conference at the Centre for Alternative Technology Centre in Machynlleth gave me the chance to try out some of this iconic route.  I live on the North Wales coast, and happily Route 8 takes me right to the door of CAT.      Stunning views, challenging hills (particularly between Dolgellau and Aberlefenni), and a freaky cycle cattle grid on the section between the A470 crossing and Dolgellau.   A sharp downhill bend,  and confronted with a choice of the grid or going straight into a gate, I took the grid, but it was a tight turn, and my wheel slipped on the grid (see gate photo).  This resulted in bruising and a badly bent wheel, which I had to suffer with the brake partially locked on until I foudn an open bike shop.   Early closing on a Wednesday meant the Dolgellau and Llanbedr shops weren't open, but the excellent KK Cycles in Porthmadog straightened my wheel, getting me home.   No idea why the image is upside down!