BBC Radio Oxford: Talking Turkey cycling, toddlers and adventure with Adam Ball
As heard on BBC Radio Oxford: I joined Adam Ball on 19 October 2026 ahead of our Turkey cycling adventure — two mums, two toddlers, two e-bikes and a whole lot of unknowns!
There’s a strong Oxfordshire connection to my story. I lived in Abingdon for 12 years, and my life-changing cycling accident happened in Oxford in 2014. Now, after seven surgeries and with chronic pain and a reconstructed hip, I’m getting ready to explore Turkey by bicycle with my daughter alongside me.
My friend Tori Williams and I are aiming for more than 1,000 km and over 21,000 metres of climbing over 25 days, travelling with Skyla and Leo. We’re carrying camping equipment, keeping our plans flexible and raising money for Leukaemia UK in memory of Tori’s mum Wendy.
“Motherhood doesn’t mean adventure has to stop. It just means adventure looks different.”
Thank you to Adam and the team for having me — and for inviting me back to share an update during the trip!
Catch-up link to be added once the 19 October programme is available on BBC Sounds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_oxford
If you’re new here, I’m Vanessa Ruck, The Girl On A Bike — a motorcycle racer, adventurer, motivational speaker and mum living with chronic pain. You can read about the cycling accident that started this journey and how adventure helped me rebuild my life.
Follow the adventure on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. Comments and shares help bring more people along for the ride and spread our fundraising message.
The Girl On A Bike thegirlonabike
I'm a bike loving, free spirited adventurer born and raised in England. Life took a turn in 2014. In a single moment life as I knew it was taken away by the momentary lapse in judgement of a red-light-jumping car while I was cycling. My recovery to fitness took a little over 7 years with 7 major surgeries and since that day I've made it my goal to make the most out of life. My biggest goal is to help encourage others to get up and get out there. It doesn’t matter what it is, but we all start somewhere and if I can do it, so can you! Let’s make the most of life, what we do have around us and have fun doing it.
