As seen in Moto gusto: Vanessa Ruck, also known as “The Girl On A Cycle,” started her motorcycle voyage in the Bahamas, not in the UK, where she rode around the island while toting a spear for fishing.

When Vanessa returned to the UK motorcycles became a fond memory. In 2014 whilst riding her push bike to work, a car jumped a red light causing her to crash and damage her right shoulder and hip. Unfortunately, these injuries were somewhat overlooked and dismissed as bruising and later turned out to be a lot more serious resulting in 7 surgeries over the years.

Shortly after Vanessa’s accident the realisation of a motorcycle being a missing element to life took hold and as soon as she was able to she bought a Suzuki Bandit 600. After riding for some time, as a belated anniversary present for her husband’s return from military service overseas, Vanessa organised a day out with two Harley Davidsons. By the end of that day, it was decided unanimously that it was far better to cruise on the Harley than the bandit. This bike was bought by the couple and named ‘Thug’. Vanessa warmly describes it as “a sofa on wheels’’.

Always light at the end of the tunnel

Vanessa’s accident helped to forge a solid passion for motorcycles. For many,  seven surgeries would deter from pursuing a life of extreme sports and getting out and muddy on two wheels. But Vanessa’s mindset of being in a long tunnel with a light at the end has enabled her to overcome any physical or mental setbacks. Combining her passion for the outdoors and motorcycling Vanessa has now competed in some races in the UK Enduro and some trials riding. At this point, I’m wondering what could be next for Vanessa as no signs of slowing down are on the horizon.

The long road to recovery

Throughout Vanessa’s recovery, she has had two body parts reconstructed several times. The physical and mental strain and hardship this brings are phenomenal and out of this “The Girl On A Bike” was born! Never looking back and focused on enjoying daily life to the fullest Vanessa has become a true inspiration. Make sure to get onto her website and social media accounts. Read her story in full and be witness to Vanessa’s incredible determination and self-belief – with time and patience, I knew I would get back to riding-only I had the power to make it happen and hard work pays off”.

For the rest of the Moto Gusto 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 Hog pod: An amazing story of how one person fought back both physically and mentally after being involved in a terrible accident.

LISTEN IN

This episode is available on all your favorite podcast platforms and you can listen in here directly on the website also!

WATCH NOW

All episodes of the HOG-POD are now available to watch on our YouTube Channel so be sure to check those out, subscribe to the channel and hit the bell to be notified of episodes being released

You can listen into all of the episodes from Season 1 and find out how to get involved by reaching out to us. The best way to get your Chapter onto the podcast is to get in touch with us.

For the rest of the Hog pod 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 Spirit and Destiny Magazine [print]: Following a life-changing accident, Vanessa Ruck found resilience by reframing her thoughts and embracing new adventures.

My life was full of adventure.

I was into extreme sports and would push myself physically and mentally in everything
I did. Kite surfing, wakeboarding and snowboarding were passions of mine, along with horse riding and mountain biking I’d cycle the 16-mile round trip from my home in Abingdon to Oxford, where I worked in marketing, and on lunch breaks Id go to the gym. I was very fit and active.

But my life changed forever on March 25th, 2014, when I cycled from my workplace to a wakeboarding lake, eight miles from the office.

I’d barely left work, maybe a mile of tarmac had passed beneath me, and I was cruising along with the traffic.

Delighted to see the lights ahead switch to green as I approached, I pedaled hard to keep momentum. That’s when it happened. Out of nowhere, an oncoming car pulled across in front of me.

Everything played out so quickly. There was nothing I could do. I felt my body crumple as I smashed into the vehicle’s rear passenger side, my right shoulder taking the full impact. My body screamed internally before I collapsed onto my right side.
I could hear my heartbeat, my pulse thumping through my veins, and my surroundings almost a blur.

Time we stood still.

Then, I snapped back to full-speed reality.
I could hear traffic, and people asking if I was OK. At this point, I didn’t even know. ‘It was a green light!’ I shouted in rage.
Caring passers-by helped me safely to the side of the road, and I was taken to A&E in an ambulance.

For the rest of the Spirit and Destiny Magazine article download from 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 exhibitionnews: At the London Motorcycle Show, ExCeL will feature the first indoor supersprint in history. The event had a fresh look for 2023, welcoming Devitt Insurance as the title sponsor and introducing a new live-action show with the world’s first indoor supersprint.

The supersprint saw a range of machinery, including Barry Sheene’s World-Championship winning Suzuki, Peter Hickman’s 2023 British Superbike, Honda’s MotoGP-derived RC213V-S, the BMW F900 R Cup bikes and the Triumph Scrambler’s from the James Bond film ‘No Time To Die’.

BMW Motorrad UK National Marketing and PR Manager Scott Grimsdall said: “The London Motorcycle Show is always a great way to kick off the year, and particularly encouraging to talk to so many riders new to motorcycling. The new supersprint show added another level of excitement, particularly for some of our keen F 900 R Cup racers.”

The Manx Grand Prix started their centenary celebrations at the show. Alongside a collection of race machines, stars such as Lee Johnston, Dominic Herbertson, Stephen Smith, and McGuinness were in attendance. The show’s Adventure Zone stage hosted talks from the likes of Austin Vince, Elspeth Beard and Vanessa Ruck.

Roadskin Owner Nicky Wilson, who attended the event, said: “It’s been a phenomenal show for us, by far the best show we’ve ever had at the Excel. We’ve sold out completely of several Roadskin lines, which we didn’t anticipate, and we have been fully rushed off our feet all weekend.”

For the rest of the exhibitionnews 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 MCN motorcycle show: At the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show, some of the most seasoned motorcycle adventurers in the world share this year’s hottest two-wheel destinations and essential travel advice.

Whether it’s a long weekend in the Peaks or organising the epic global trip of a lifetime, it’s essential to get advice from the people who’ve been there and done it. The Adventure Travel Stage, sponsored by Caberg, at this year’s Devitt MCN London Motorcycle show will be packed with experts who have first hand experience across a wide spectrum of two wheel travel so no matter what level your ambition or experience is, you’ll get the very best advice imaginable.

Here’s some of the fascinating experts who’ll be sharing their knowledge on the Adventure Travel Stage sponsored by Caberg, at the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show on February 17-19.

1. Vanessa Ruck

Otherwise known as ‘The Girl on a Bike’ Vanessa is an adventurer and presenter based in the UK. After a tragic accident on her pushbike followed by 7 years recovery, Vanessa discovered motorcycling and the thrill of exploring the world on them. From full blown desert rallies, to hard enduro and road touring, to knee down track days, and trials. If it’s got an engine and wheels, Vanessa will be excited.

As a force to be reckoned with, she’s a rider, racer and adventurer living with ongoing pain, and is determined to make the most of every day despite her past, and help others do the same. Vanessa will be joining us with her energetic real life experiences following her life changing story from accident to becoming a rider and international racer.

2. The Lightweight Adventurers

The Lightweight Adventurers started out in 2018, with just two regular blokes, filming for YouTube, what they loved doing…riding off road on their little Honda CRFs. With a combined 50 years in the military, both Marc and Jamie understand the value that being in a supportive community brings and with that in mind they started the Lightweight Adventurers, a group that aspires to bring people that think light, pack light and travel light, together.

They have traveled extensively through Europe and the UK racking up over 4000 miles in their last adventure to the deserts of Spain. They’ve even ridden to the Isle of Skye for a weekend from Lincoln, a 1700-mile round trip!  

3. Tiffany Coates

Tiffany is the world’s foremost female motorcycle adventurer having ridden over 300,000 miles, crossing every continent, some of them several times. She’s travelled just about everywhere including Timbuctoo, Outer Mongolia, Tibet, Madagascar and Borneo. On most of her journeys, Tiffany has ridden her trusty 1992 BMW R80GS nicknamed ‘Thelma’, a bike she rode to India on with just two months riding experience.

Tiffany is the world’s foremost female motorcycle adventurer having ridden over 300,000 miles, crossing every continent, some of them several times. She’s travelled just about everywhere including Timbuctoo, Outer Mongolia, Tibet, Madagascar and Borneo. On most of her journeys, Tiffany has ridden her trusty 1992 BMW R80GS nicknamed ‘Thelma’, a bike she rode to India on with just two months riding experience.

4. Sam Manicom

Motorcycle overlander and travel writer Sam Manicom was born in the Congo in Central West Africa where his parents worked. His family returned to the UK when he was 10, Sam has been travelling for most of his life. His first solo trip was age 16 by bicycle into Europe. His first major trip was a seat-of-the-pants 3 year backpacking voyage of discovery across Europe, India and Australia, which often saw him down to his last $10. What was needed, he earned along the way and this he says was a great learning experience.

Back in the UK, he decided that ‘growing up’ was what you were supposed to do and settled down into a career. But something was always missing. Wanting to do something completely different, Sam learned to ride a motorcycle and within 3 months of starting to ride, he set off to travel the length of Africa. This one-year trip turned into an 8-year around the world motorcycle adventure across 6 continents.

Sam now works full time in the world of adventure travel. He’s a keen advocate of motorcycle travel in particular and when not writing his books, magazine articles and conducting multimedia travel presentations within Europe and the USA, he’s very much involved with travel related organisations.

For the rest of the MCN motorcycle show 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 Trail and Adventure Motorbike Podcast: An amazing start to season 4, we even find out what her real name is!  From a hospital bed to kicking ass and taking names in some of the world’s toughest enduro events.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Vanessa Ruck.

Suuuper AnimeThe Suuuper Anime Podcast is a show that looks to entertain, inspire and inform you…Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Eye-Opening Moments PodcastEye-Opening Moments are stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives.

For the rest of the podcasts 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 More bikes: The 1000 Dunas is a challenging cross-country race that calls for the utmost resolve, aptitude, and self-assurance to win. This route is centred on the principles of off-road riding, where excellent motorcycle handling and navigation are requirements.

All terrains and routes require the strongest of souls and an unmistakable amount of bravery. The raid has recently been completed by none other than Vanessa Ruck, aka ‘Girl on a Bike’ (@thegirlonabike) on a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Showing off her skills as a rider and how well the bike can perform in heats of immense pressure.

The Challenge

The Challenge

Born and raised in England, Vanessa is a go-getter with all sorts of dreams she wants to accomplish. After a car hit her on her bicycle in 2014 she was hospitalised and in need of some serious medical attention. Over the course of 13 months, 7 operations, full shoulder reconstruction, 6 hip surgeries and countless steroid injections she was undergoing training to progressively work back to where she was before. Six years on, she’s back on the bike but this time with a motor too! Now an advocate for motorcycling she rides everything from dirt bikes to Harley-Davidson® cruisers. A testament to the strength of a determined woman, Vanessa is a role model for millions worldwide.

Tiger 900 Rally Pro

The perfect bike selected for this journey was the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. A bike built for the occasion, Triumph has dedicated time, resources and effort to make this the ideal bike for off-road adventure. Packed with a class-leading specification the bike was designed to withstand the toughest of riding conditions off-road or on the tarmac. Powered by the powerful 900cc triple engine and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the bike exceeds expectations in all areas. Not only does the bike come good to go as standard but there is a fantastic range of accessories and parts available within the Triumph genuine product catalogue and third-party alternatives too.

The Course

During this maximum intensity week, you’ll make a start from Granada (Spain) and make your way across the Mediterranean Sea via ferry from Motril to Nador. After that, you’ll ride through the land of the Berbers within the picturesque Atlas Mountains where you might even encounter snowfalls and flurries – perhaps even the first of the season. Once you’ve worked your way through the blizzard you’re descending down the mountain southbound into the desert terrain of Morocco to arrive at the peaks of the great dunes of Erg Chebbi. On the way back, you venture into more unexplored lands of the Morocco desert and into Merzouga, then Nador. It is here that your endurance and riding skill will be tested most. 

For the rest of the Laguna 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 Web Bikeworld: From my interactions with the ‘Most Winningest Rider,’ Shayna Texter-Bauman, to watching Vanessa Ruck win after win in the toughest two-wheel competitions in the world.

As I continue my journey writing in the Powersports industry, I find myself running into some pretty amazing women. all the way to picking Amber Spencer’s brain on new innovative technologies in electric motorcycles, the lineup has been incredible. 

Couple the successes of these lovely ladies with the fact that the number of women on motorcycles has been increasing as of late, and we totally get why the Italian Motorcycle Federation (IMF), or Federazione Motociclistica Italiana (FMI) has created a whole new championship for women. 

The race calendar is slotted to begin in 2023, with the following rounds projected as the ladies – christened the ‘Campionato Italiano Velocità Femminile’ (CIV), or the ‘Italian Women’s Speed Championship’ – join other riders in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC):

Round 1: April 30, 2023 – Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’

Round 2: June 11, 2023  – Magione Autodromo dell’Umbria

Round 3: July 2, 2023 – Modena Racetrack

Round 4: September 3, 2023  – Mugello Circuit

Round 5: September 17, 2023  – Varano de’ Melegari ‘Riccardo Paletti’ Racetrack

Round 6: October 8, 2023 – Enzo and Dino Ferrari Imola International Racetrack

We look forward to seeing how things pan out for the new year; meantime, stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter, join the WBW crowd if those pesky ads are driving you crazy, and as always – stay safe on the twisties. 

For the rest of the Web Bikeworld 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 Cross CountryAdv: Kickstart your rally bike build with our expert tips! Get ready to transform your bike for amateur rally racing and conquer the Hellas Rally Raid.

Ready for your very own rally bike build? As the winter has forced many of us to park the bikes for the cold season, it’s the perfect time to start a rally project. If you’re aiming for amateur rally classes and hoping to race Hellas Rally Raid or a similar rally, you’re more than capable of doing the rally bike build yourself. In essence, it’s about prepping your existing bike for a rally, and you can install most of the essential mods yourself.

In this post, we’ll touch on the most important rally bike build components and what to watch out for when working on your project bike.

Rally Bike Build: The Goal

First and foremost, you need the right plan for a rally bike build. Instead of focusing on getting a KTM 450 rally replica or obtaining the newest, shiniest farkles, think differently. Ask yourself: what will make your bike more durable, reliable, and suitable for the tough rally conditions and circumstances you’ll find yourself in during a race?

Next, think about what will give the function you need: navigation, fuel capacity, tires, mousses, and the like. Choose products and parts that are well-designed, tried and tested, not just known brands. If your budget is tight but you still want the Dakar-level quality and look, check out REBEL rally bike build products, especially their navigation kits – REBEL makes reliable, durable stuff that will last for Hellas and Africa Eco Race alike. Bonus point? Their roadbook holder mounts low on the handlebars, keeping the weight low, too.

Speaking of navigation: should you go paper or digital? While there is a big move toward digital roadbooks, we always recommend riders stick to the old, mechanical paper scroll method, and this isn’t just about the old Paris-Dakar nostalgia. Mechanic means two things – durable and reliable, and it’s much less likely to fail during a rally race when conditions are unpredictable and crashes, probably inevitable. Look for F2R or MigTec – this is what rally factory teams use at the Dakar, and for your trimpaster, ICO is still king. It’s still the #1 choice among factory teams, but if you want more features, personalization, and newer tech, check out the RNS.

Finally, think about what will give you more control, confidence, and safety. Suspension tuning and modification, steering damper (we love Scotts), and better footpegs may all contribute to that.

Building the Rally Bike for the Long Haul

When building rally bikes, people tend to forget one simple thing: your bike needs to be comfortable for long daily distances. You may have the best rally navigation tower, tires, and suspension, but things like handlebar vibration and noise add to the fatigue. Take a look at BRP or Xtrg handlebar mounts to minimize the vibration – your hands and arms will thank you after putting away hundreds of miles on rough terrain.

Equally, wind noise can be harmful, especially on those crazy distances, so think about a rally windshield. In addition, while it’s not exactly a bike mod, be sure to carry earplugs with you.

Next, think abut your feet. Racing a rally, you will be spending hours and hours standing up on your pegs. When riding off-road, you have dramatically less control of the bike while sitting and can’t see far enough ahead, so you’ll need to be standing. A lot. And much like with any small discomfort that seems insignificant for a day’s ride, it can quickly escalate into pain and pure torture during the long rally days. If you gear doesn’t fit well, chafing will soon turn into bleeding wounds.

If your footpegs are uncomfortable, your feet will be screaming with pain by Day Three. If you’ll be riding 200-300 kilometers a day – and that’s pretty standard at most rally races – you need wider, more comfortable footpegs.

Finally, think about your bum: when doing a rally bike build, a comfortable seat should also make it to your list of mods. Every rally has liaison stages – long stretches of tarmac or graded dirt roads – so you’ll inevitably get a sore bum if your seat is uncomfortable. So much so, in fact, that Vanessa Ruck confessed to using pillows strapped to her seat during the Morocco Desert Challenge. Avoid this by getting a better seat or, at the very least, a seat cover featuring quick-dry materials and gel or foam inserts.

For the rest of the Cross CountryAdv 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.