Blog
Phil Stasiw rides the Traws Eyri on the A.130
8 June 2025
The Traws Eryri is one of the wildest and most breathtaking mountain bike routes in the UK… we think it’s THE most breathtaking, but we may be a little biased! For readers outside of Wales, Traws means Trans and Eyri became the official name for the Snowdonia National Park in 2022.
This epic 225km off-road ride across the heart of Wales starts just a few hundred metres from our HQ at the iconic Machynlleth clock tower and heads to Conwy on the dramatic north coast. Over four days in May, Phil led a group of eight intrepid riders over ancient mountain tracks, flowy forest singletrack, and rugged terrain, and of course the A.130 ate up everything in its path to make the ride even more fun than before!
This is raw, remote riding at its finest with stunning views of Wales’ highest peaks and we highly recommend it!
PS: It’s been a busy start to the guiding season here in Mid Wales. Three months in, and we’ve already clocked up countless miles across Mid and North Wales—just in time to mark three months since I took delivery of my stunning Atherton Bikes A.130. The timing couldn’t have been better.
Our multi-day tours regularly cover over 100 miles in 3–4 days and from day one, the A.130 has been a dream to ride. It’s tight and incredibly responsive on the trail, especially on the rocky climbs and descents of the Elan Valley. The bike feels perfectly balanced when climbing, even on steep 25% gradients. There’s no fear of flipping out or losing traction; it just keeps pushing forward as long as your legs can keep turning the pedals.
Out on the long stretches around reservoirs and through forest trails, the A.130 remains comfortable and composed. It smooths out the bumps and rocks, keeping the tempo high and your energy focused on the ride. It’s the kind of bike that makes you want to keep going, which is exactly what you need when the days are long and the miles stack up.
Taking on the Traws Eryri
My latest outing with the A.130 was on the Traws Eryri, a 225km trail from Machynlleth to Conwy. It weaves through some of North Wales’ most spectacular landscapes and packs in as much classic singletrack as you can handle. Originally put together by Cycling UK with support from Natural Resources Wales, the route has become a firm favourite among multi-day adventurers. You can download the GPX file or pick up a guidebook, but at MTB Wales, we like to take things a bit further.
Our version of the Traws Eryri adds a support vehicle complete with spares, Haribo and lots of cake, and extra flavour, with detours through the Dyfi Forest, Coed y Brenin, Penmachno, and Gwydir, turning an already memorable ride into something unforgettable for our guests at Staylittle Lodge. With its 140/130mm travel, the A.130 is built for exactly this kind of riding. Long climbs, tight switchbacks, technical descents, and rocky terrain, the bike eats it all up.
When we’re guiding deep into the rugged and remote wilds of Wales, equipment failure can be a serious liability. That's why my bike, above all others, needs to be dialled in and dependable before even thinking about hitting the trail. My A.130 is built with a full Shimano XTR groupset for precision shifting and proven durability. It's rolling on DT Swiss 240 hubs, light, fast, and bombproof and the ride is smoothed out by Fox suspension, so I know I can push hard without second-guessing my gear.
The Ride, Day by Day...
Day One: We dived straight into Dyfi Forest within the first 10km, climbing fire roads with ease before dropping into "Tony the Tiger" on the ClimachX, just a stone’s throw from Dyfi Bike Park. This is one of the longest purpose built, unbroken downhill descents in the UK trails network and I made the best of every second on the A.130 and it’s awesome DW6 suspension platform that gives it such an awesome ride-feel, I still can’t get over how it rides way beyond its stats and figures on paper! Later, we traverse the slopes of Cadair Idris, taking in far-reaching views across Eryri. For our guests from Yorkshire, South Wales, and Devon, it was everything they hoped for from a Welsh adventure.
Day Two: Coed y Brenin, the "Forest of Kings," didn’t disappoint. We strayed off the main route to session the infamous Y Slab. It’s steep and can catch you out—just ask Dean, whose pedal clipped the crest! A quick regroup, and he nailed it on the second attempt. This whole section, including Snap, Crackle and Pop, showed off just how well the A.130 handles rugged, technical terrain.
Day Three: A day for big climbs and even bigger descents. Pont Cynyg near Capel Curig is a boulder-strewn challenge that rattles your bones but once again the A.130 handles it with such confidence that I’m grinning the whole way down.The lung-busting climb from Llyn Crafnant rewards us with panoramic views of Siabod. Brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Day Four: When the sun’s out, the final day feels magical. The Ogwen Valley delivers some of the most majestic views in the National Park, with Tryfan towering overhead. From there, we track high along the coast, crossing Sychnant Pass and finishing in the picturesque town of Conwy. A well-earned ice cream on the quayside is the perfect way to wrap up four epic days.
The Verdict
Rides like the Traws Eryri bring people together, supporting, pushing, and inspiring each other with every mile. The camaraderie is real, and the memories unforgettable. As for the A.130? I absolutely love this bike, not a single complaint. From tight singletrack to punishing climbs and bone-rattling descents, it hasn’t missed a beat. Roll on the next tour…
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Introducing new ambassador Phil Stasiw and his A.130:
Phil Stasiw is a bike industry lifer. He has been running Mountain Bike Wales for nearly 20 years with his partner and fellow guide Polly and is based at Staylittlejust 12 miles from our New HQ. Not only is Phil an awesome rider and guide he brings an encyclopaedic knowledge of the best local trails… we are so excited that he chose an Atherton Bike!