A MACHYNLLETH community bike workshop has received over £9,000 in funding, to help “expand access to bike maintenance skills shares and workshops within the Dyfi Valley”.

Cycle Dyfi has received £9,800, from the National Lottery Community Fun, to support their new project, Dyfi Mend & Ride - Trwsio a Theithio Dyfi.

Sam Burkill, chair of Cycle Dyfi, said: “The project sets out to expand access to bike maintenance skills shares and workshops within the Dyfi Valley, as well as a exploring e-bike conversion and use.

“We were happy to learn that we had been granted £9,800 to facilitate this.

“We are currently planning a series of training sessions for spring/summer which aim to teach participants essential bike care and maintenance, as well as workshops with a focus on brakes, and gears.

“There is funding for a new gazebo which will enable us to work under cover outside, increasing the number of people who can access our weekly Wednesday workshop.

“We will also be investing in two e-bike conversion kits and setting ourselves up to learn more about how these could help cut carbon emissions and offer an alternative form of transport for people living in rural areas.”

Cycle Dyfi was set up as a local community group 10 years ago, with the aim of promoting cycling, with am emphasis on utility cycling “so for commuting and as a general form of transport”.

They set up a bike workshop, “as a tool library” and offering a space for people to fix their bikes, which is run by volunteers out of Owain Glendwr institute, in Machynlleth, on Wednesdays between 10.30am and 3.30pm.