As seen in Ross Gazette: Vanessa Ruck, The Girl on a Bike, defies scorching desert sun and conquers the toughest bike rally, the Morocco Desert Challenge. A true inspiration.

Vanessa Ruck, also known as The Girl on a Bike, is making her mark in the male-dominated world of motorcycle racing For eight grueling days, she battled with the unforgiving Moroccan desert, setting an example for those who dare to defy societal norms and overcome physical limitations.

The Morocco Desert Challenge is no small feat. It is an extreme eight-day motorcycle race, covering a daily distance of up to 420km over arduous sand dunes. The heat, peaking at 52°C, is merciless, and the terrain is brutal. The challenges are so severe that a mere 40% of the motorcycle category riders complete the race. Vanessa, however, wasn’t among the ones to quit.

She rode through the heat, battling an upset stomach and severe hydration issues. She encountered two major crashes that triggered her life-saving air vest. She even fought an allergic reaction that almost cost her the race. Despite the odds, she prevailed, securing a commendable 25th position in her category.

Vanessa vividly recalls the harsh realities of the Moroccan desert, “It was scary. I knew I was racing others, but it felt more like I was fighting for my life. It was just me and my bike against the vast dunes and the unforgiving heat. The only way out was onwards. I had to dig deep mentally to fight to the finish.”

The event, unfortunately, wasn’t without tragedy. Two competitors lost their lives to the harsh conditions. Bram van der Wouden succumbed to heat and exhaustion, and Laurent Lichtleuchter met with a fatal vehicle crash. The perilous reality of desert racing was starkly evident.

One of the most challenging aspects of the race is the meticulous navigation. Competitors must follow a series of symbols, compass bearings, and distances on a road book attached to the handlebars. With physical exertion reaching its peak, the mental focus required to keep on track is intense. Vanessa’s resilience, honed through her recovery journey after a cycling accident in 2014, was put to the test.

Seven years ago, Vanessa mounted her first off-road bike, marking the beginning of her journey in the world of motorcycle racing. Through seven surgeries and a painful recovery process, she found her passion. Today, she challenges the status quo and defies the odds, becoming one of the few women braving the brutalities of extreme endurance races.

Her journey, however, is fraught with constant pain and struggle. On the fifth day of the race, an allergic reaction caused her face and eyes to swell, impairing her vision. Refusing to back down, she consumed antihistamines and soldiered on, eventually overcoming the initial difficulty and regaining her rhythm.

On the final day, Vanessa faced the most challenging and painful event of her career. A crash on the rocky tracks triggered her airbag and left her with an abdominal injury. Winded and in pain, she refused to let it stop her. Summoning all her strength, she pushed through the last 70km and made it to the finish line.

“Every bump felt excruciating, but I only had 70km to go! Just 10km at a time, I could make it. As I crested the penultimate dune, the finish line flags came into view and my heart leapt with joy! Everyone heard my screams of delight!” Vanessa recounts.

Vanessa’s 25th place in her class is an inspiration to both men and women. As she continues to defy the odds and break barriers, she’s also changing perceptions in the male-dominated industry. Her mission, she says, is to not let her chronic pain and past control her future.

For the rest of the Ross Gazette article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Motorcycle News: Join the ABR Festival at Ragley Hall Estate this June! Experience off-road trails, test rides, live music, and connect with riders across Europe. Don’t miss out!

The Adventure Bike Rider Festival will return to Ragley Hall Estate this June, promising up to 12,500 riders from across Europe the chance to get close to the latest metal, experience 30km of off-road, and live music.

Taking place from June 23-25, the event will be attended by more than 25 manufacturers including Yamaha, Honda, BMW, and KTM – with almost 1000 test rides available to festival goers, including the Honda XL750 Transalp and Suzuki V-Strom 800DE.

Part of the weekend’s riding is the 30km of off-road trails, including a 5km beginner’s loop, an 8km leisure loop created and designed in collaboration with the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF), and more.

When you’re not riding, you’ll be able to get up close with a number of adventure personalities and bloggers including Elspeth Beard, Nick Sanders, RyanF9, Vanessa Ruck (The Girl on the Bike), The Missenden Flyer, Lyndon Poskitt, and Austin Vince.

It also wouldn’t be a festival without live music, and you’ll find plenty at ABR. The main stage will feature a range of party and tribute bands, including Detroit Soul Collective, Definitely Mightbe (Oasis), Mercury (Queen), Red Hot Chilli Peppers UK and more. Headlining the ABR Festival VIP Party Night will be British ska/reggae group, The Beat.

For the rest of the Motorcycle News article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth graduate defies odds in epic race, surviving crashes, extreme conditions, and an allergic reaction, triumphing against all odds.

A BOURNEMOUTH graduate has succeeded in one of the world’s toughest endurance races and described the experience as like ‘fighting for her life’.

Vanessa Ruck has become one of the few to complete the grueling Morocco Desert Challenge – an extreme motorcycle race over sand dunes. The 36-year-old battled blistering temperatures and covered 2,500km of African terrain over an eight-day period.

She also tackled an upset stomach and two huge crashes that deployed her life-saving air vest, plus an allergic reaction that led to her being barely able to open her eyes. But a determined Vanessa fought on.

She said: “I knew I was racing others, but it felt more like I was fighting for my life.

“Fighting the terrain, battling the heat, the mental and physical fatigue, I was riding for my life. In the vast dunes, I knew that if I had an issue that was me done.

“I even started wording a message in my head to record on my phone for my family if the worst happened. It was scary.” In 2014, Vanessa had a cycling accident which led to seven surgeries over seven years of recovery, and a reconstructed shoulder and hip.

Despite this, she went on to ride her first off-road bike, and discovered the thrill of motorcycles. Since then, she has endured some of the toughest races going, and is one of very few females that has braved the Morocco Desert Challenge.

Describing her final push in the race, Vanessa said: “Every bump felt excruciating, but I only had 70km to go. Just 10km at a time, I could make it. “But then I realised I needed to pee. With the pain, I knew I had no hope of getting my trousers and kit down”.

She added: “As I crested the penultimate dune the finish line flags came into view and my heart leapt with joy. Everyone heard my screams of delight.”

Vanessa was able to battle through to the end, finishing 25th in her category.

For the rest of the Bournemouth Echo article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth graduate defies odds in epic race, surviving crashes, extreme conditions, and an allergic reaction, triumphing against all odds.

A BOURNEMOUTH graduate has succeeded in one of the world’s toughest endurance races and described the experience as like ‘fighting for her life’.

Vanessa Ruck has become one of the few to complete the grueling Morocco Desert Challenge – an extreme motorcycle race over sand dunes. The 36-year-old battled blistering temperatures and covered 2,500km of African terrain over an eight-day period.

She also tackled an upset stomach and two huge crashes that deployed her life-saving air vest, plus an allergic reaction that led to her being barely able to open her eyes. But a determined Vanessa fought on.

She said: “I knew I was racing others, but it felt more like I was fighting for my life.

“Fighting the terrain, battling the heat, the mental and physical fatigue, I was riding for my life. In the vast dunes, I knew that if I had an issue that was me done.

“I even started wording a message in my head to record on my phone for my family if the worst happened. It was scary.” In 2014, Vanessa had a cycling accident which led to seven surgeries over seven years of recovery, and a reconstructed shoulder and hip.

Despite this, she went on to ride her first off-road bike, and discovered the thrill of motorcycles. Since then, she has endured some of the toughest races going, and is one of very few females that has braved the Morocco Desert Challenge.

Describing her final push in the race, Vanessa said: “Every bump felt excruciating, but I only had 70km to go. Just 10km at a time, I could make it. “But then I realised I needed to pee. With the pain, I knew I had no hope of getting my trousers and kit down”.

She added: “As I crested the penultimate dune the finish line flags came into view and my heart leapt with joy. Everyone heard my screams of delight.”

Vanessa was able to battle through to the end, finishing 25th in her category.

For the rest of the Bournemouth Echo article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth graduate conquers the ultimate test of endurance, surviving the treacherous Morocco Desert Challenge on a motorcycle.

A BOURNEMOUTH graduate has succeeded in one of the world’s toughest endurance races and described the experience as like ‘fighting for her life’. Vanessa Ruck has become one of the few to complete the gruelling Morocco Desert Challenge – an extreme motorcycle race over sand dunes.

The 36-year-old battled blistering temperatures and covered 2,500km of African terrain over an eight-day period. She also tackled an upset stomach and two huge crashes that deployed her life-saving air vest, plus an allergic reaction that led to her being barely able to open her eyes. But a determined Vanessa fought on.

She said: “I knew I was racing others, but it felt more like I was fighting for my life.

“Fighting the terrain, battling the heat, the mental and physical fatigue, I was riding for my life. In the vast dunes, I knew that if I had an issue that was me done.

“I even started wording a message in my head to record on my phone for my family if the worst happened. It was scary.”

In 2014, Vanessa had a cycling accident which led to seven surgeries over seven years of recovery, and a reconstructed shoulder and hip.

Despite this, she went on to ride her first off-road bike, and discovered the thrill of motorcycles.

Since then, she has endured some of the toughest races going, and is one of very few females that has braved the Morocco Desert Challenge.

Describing her final push in the race, Vanessa said: “Every bump felt excruciating, but I only had 70km to go. Just 10km at a time, I could make it.

“But then I realised I needed to pee. With the pain, I knew I had no hope of getting my trousers and kit down”.

She added: “As I crested the penultimate dune the finish line flags came into view and my heart leapt with joy. Everyone heard my screams of delight.”

Vanessa was able to battle through to the end, finishing 25th in her category.

For the rest of the Bournemouth Echo article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Tailwind Nutrition: Vanessa Ruck, aka The Girl on a Bike, conquers the Morocco Desert Challenge, enduring extreme conditions, crashes, and health challenges.

British female finishes one of the world’s toughest endurance races…

• Facing 2,500km of brutal African terrain with peak riding with an attrition rate so high that only 40% of the motorcycle category riders successfully completed
• The gruelling Morocco Desert Challenge is an extreme 8-day motorcycle race over sand dunes in blistering temperatures hitting 52°C / 125°F
• Tragically two lives lost to the desert during the race
• Vanessa Ruck fought to the end finishing 25^th in category, showing the male dominated industry that women can too
• It was not smooth sailing for her with huge challenges from upset stomach, hydration, allergic reactions and two big crashes

Here’s the story…

Vanessa Ruck, also known as The Girl on a Bike, has successfully battled for her life to complete the gruelling Morocco Desert Challenge, an extreme rally-raid over sand dunes in blistering temperatures. As one of the world’s toughest endurance events, the 36-year-old Ryancompleted the 8-day event, covering up to 420km each day and became one of the few who finished. With an attrition rate so high that only 40% of the motorcycle category riders successfully completed, it’s a serious achievement for the British athlete. But it wasn’t all sunshine!

She endured the heat wave hitting North Africa with temperatures peaking at 52°C. She tackled an upset stomach and hydration challenges from the extreme heat, faced two huge crashes that deployed her life-saving air vest, and confronted an allergic reaction that led to her barely able to open her eyes just half an hour before taking to the start line. Many would have quit.

Unforgiving extremes in the desert

But with pure grit and determination Vanessa fought on, “I knew I was racing others, but it felt more like I was fighting for my life. Fighting the terrain, battling the heat, the mental and physical fatigue, I was riding for my life. In the vast dunes, I knew that if I had an issue that was me done. I even started wording a message in my head to record on my phone for my family if the worst happened. It was scary.”

The heat in the dunes is exceptional and unforgiving, and the human body is incredibly vulnerable on bikes when the temperature peaks at 52°C / 125°F in a heat wave. “I recall cresting a huge dune peak higher than a multi-storey house and scanning the horizon…there was nothing but sand and dunes in every direction and not a soul. It was me and my bike. My body was exhausted, I wanted to rest but the heat meant I had to keep pushing. The only way out, was onwards. I had to dig deep mentally to fight to the finish.”

Mental and physical extremes

Competitors are navigating but also tackling the rugged and rocky terrain of Morocco. The tricky navigation means following a series of symbols, compass bearings, and distance on a scrolling piece of paper mounted to the handlebars, called a road book. Road book navigation events, such as the infamous Paris-Dakar, are far more than just riding. Riders have to navigate accurately, retaining mental and physical focus for upwards of 6-8 hours of racing, and do this off-road day after day. Could you stay calm on your own in the middle of nowhere, digging deep into your energy reserves with only the supplies you can carry?

It would be easy to question Vanessa’s sanity and decision to enter such an event but when a cycling accident in 2014 threatened to derail the adventurous life Vanessa loved, she refused to take it lying down. Instead, she handled things the only way she knows how. Brushing herself off, she put herself back together. And then she upped the ante.

With a reconstructed shoulder and hip following a 7-year recovery with 7 surgeries, Vanessa discovered the thrill of motorcycles. Fast forward 7 years since she mounted her first off-road bike and she’s taking on some of the toughest races going and is amongst very few females braving the brutalities they put you though. Vanessa’s journey has not been smooth with pain now a daily feature in her life, but what she has learned is that it’s vital to never let your past control your future. It’s likely the resilience her recovery forced her to gain, helped her through many of the brutal Morocco Desert Challenge obstacles.

For the rest of the Tailwind Nutrition article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The BBC Radio Solent: Vanessa Ruck’s triumphant journey in the Morocco Desert Challenge, revealed in a captivating interview with Fern Buckley on BBC Radio Solent.

After successfully finishing the gruelling Morocco Desert Challenge Vanessa Ruck spoke with Fern Buckley to share more of the extremes she faces in the desert. As heard live on BBC Radio Solent on 15th May 2023.

For the rest of the BBC Radio Solent article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Biker Chick Chat: Join Biker Chick Chat as we delve into Vanessa Ruck’s inspiring journey from accident to enduro, exploring how it transformed her life.

In this episode of Biker Chick Chat I speak with The Girl On A Bike, Vanessa Ruck all about her accident and how it’s shaped her life today!

I had the honour of having Vanessa Ruck join me on the podcast, and we talk about a whole range of things from the accident through to racing and her love to Harley-Davidson. You can watch and listen here:

For the rest of the Biker Chick Chat podcast listen here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.