As seen in Motorcycle News [print and online]: British rider Vanessa Ruck, who is more commonly known on social media as ‘TheGirlOnABike’, has become the first woman to start and finish the Tunisia Desert Challenge.
First run last year, the ‘TDC’ desert rally covers 2500km over eight days. With four different rider categories ranging from experienced racers to relative novices, it’s a ‘pay and play’ affair with bike entry fees ranging from £2800-£3500.
“It was a gruelling endurance event, covering up to 469km each day,” Ruck said. “But it wasn’t all sunshine! I slept in the dunes with a camp fire awaiting rescue, I had a medical close call after seven hours in 45°C sand dunes and a helicopter med evacuation and got lost in a sand storm with 65km winds… But I just kept going!”
A total of 398 vehicles – including cars, buggies, race trucks and 55 bikes – took part, although Vanessa was the only female rider.
She tackled the trip on her Beta 480 RR, riding with the Desert Rose Racing Academy, and finally came home 35th in the bike category as the first-ever female to finish.
The 35-year-old from Kent developed her social media platforms while undergoing numerous surgeries and extensive recovery after being hit by a car while cycling in 2014.
No longer able to cycle, motorcycling – particularly off road – became her favourite form of adventure and her accounts of her experiences all over the world in places such as Bolivia and Iceland have been featured in MCN before.
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.
As seen on Portsmouth: An international business studies graduate of the University of Portsmouth, uses her experiences to help inspire and empower her 260,000 followers on social media, in schools and through motivational speaking.
She collided with a red light-jumping car while on her bicycle, shattering her right shoulder and right hip in the process.
This led to reconstructive surgery and seven operations in as many years. It was while on her long road to recovery that this adrenaline-loving woman decided to take up off-road motorbike riding, and so The Girl on a Bike was born.
Most recently this included being the first woman to enter, and then complete the gruelling eight-stage Tunisia Desert Challenge – but not without another life-threatening incident.
During the fourth stage, her bike malfunctioned at around 10.30am, and at first Vanessa, 35, was fine. ‘I was pretty chilled out. It was almost peaceful – I was sat in the dunes, I could randomly see and hear other competitors in the distance and there were quite a few vehicles going through.
‘Now I feel like I’ve taken back control’
‘The organisation really is incredible. I can’t emphasise enough how good the organisation is far as safety. There’s no need to die of heat and dehydration – we have the emergency systems in place. The organisers were spot on.
‘Competitors were stopping to give me food and water, I didn’t have shade, but I had my emergency blanket.’ However the winds began to pick up – to 50mph – and Vanessa was unable to prop her bike up to create a shade – the sand was too soft to dig in. But another vehicle stopped and helped her prop the bike and use a cape to create a bit of shade for her while waiting for sweeper truck at the back of the race to collect her.
Even with nine 1.5l bottles of water and keeping her skin covered from the sun, with the temperature reaching 45 centigrade, as Vanessa says: ‘The body can’t handle that heat and intensity for that long. ‘It was when the wind picked up to the point that I couldn’t breathe that I was getting panic attacks. My headache was building and there was so much sand.
‘I lay in the foetal position in my little patch of shade and I wrapped this scarf double to make a little air pocket I could breathe in. ‘Through my accident recovery I’ve discovered a lot of mindfulness, and it’s one of the ways I manage the chronic ongoing pain I have with my hip.
‘Loads of people picture you sitting on the floor humming, I’m not a sitting on the floor humming kind of person – I get itchy feet, I’m not very good at sitting still. Mindfulness has made me more able and more aware to be in control of my conscious thoughts, which leads your subconscious and your emotions directly link to your thoughts.
‘I was lying in the dunes trying to do my mindfulness. I was lying there going: “Right, Vanessa, you’re fine”, and I’m like: “I’m not fine. I’m in the desert on my own, and my head feels like it’s going to implode”. And I could hardly breathe because of the sand. I knew they were coming for me but I didn’t know when.’
And she still convinced herself: ‘I wasn’t a medical emergency, I hadn’t called for help, I wasn’t bleeding, I wasn’t broken. I was just hot.’ But the panic attacks kept coming, and it was then that Vanessa decided to press the help button, bringing aid to her via GPS location, but even that wasn’t simple in her addled state.
‘I never realized it would help so many people’
Vanessa Ruck
‘I’m very often judged by my appearance. I’ve got naturally long eyelashes, I’m blonde, I obviously don’t know how to ride’, she says sarcastically, ‘and I’m just there to try and look pretty with a motorbike.
‘Seriously, when I’m riding, there’s nothing about trying to look pretty right now!
‘I think I have to work extra hard to be credible, to learn about the engines, to be able to have a conversation and an opinion, and I get people going: “Oh you know about that?” Well yes, I’m a motorbiker too.
‘I have a lot to learn still, but I’m getting that ability, and when I can overtake a guy who’s judged me before, it’s a little bit satisfying.’
For the rest of the Portsmouth 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.
As seen on over 17 different websites: Vanessa Ruck, Also Known As The Girl On A Bike, Has Been The First Woman To Ever Enter Into The Tunisia Desert Challenge, An Extreme Rally Over Sand Dunes And In Blistering Temperatures.
The 35-year-old Portsmouth Graduate Went On To Complete The Gruelling Eightday Endurance Event, Covering Up To 469km Each Day, Enduring Sandstorms With Up To 85km-an-hour Winds, Bike Problems Leading To A Night In The Dunes, And Another Mechanical Failure Ending With The Rescue Helicopter Being Sent Out.
Despite Being On A Motorcycle, Only Able To Take What You Can Carry, Competitors Are Required To Carry Various Safety Items Such As Flares And Emergency Blankets.
On The Third Stage, Through The El Borma Dunes, Vanessa Suffered An Electrical Fault Miles From Anywhere. She Was The Furthest Bike Of 16 To Be Recovered. During The Fourth Stage, The Bad Luck Continued As Vanessa’s Bike Malfunctioned So She Was Stranded, Deep In The Dunes With The Temperature Peaking At 45 Degrees Centigrade.
Vanessa Said: ‘i Had Water As Thankfully Passing Cars, Trucks And Buggies Gave Me Some, But By 5pm I Was Bad. I Called For An Emergency Evacuation And When They Saw Me, They Were Clearly Scared. I Was Terrified. I Had Been Trying Not To Breathe In The Hot Sand But It Felt Like My Head Was Going To Explode. I Was Delirious And Was Put On A Drip. One Competitor Sadly Died Due To The Heat As They Didn’t Activate Emergency Support From The Organisers, I’m Glad I Found The Strength To Hit The Button’.
But Vanessa Went On To Complete The Gruelling Event, Becoming The First Ever Female To Enter And Finish It.
For the rest of the The Dirt Bike Academy 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.
As seen on AdvPulse: The Tunisia Desert Challenge is one of the toughest rally races in the world, covering eight days of racing with an average 325 km distance daily and taking competitors across some of the most demanding terrains in Africa.
This year, the extreme race conditions claimed the life of French competitor Matthieu de Saint-Exupery: during Stage Three Saint-Exupery tragically passed away as a result of heat and fatigue, despite the organizers’ best efforts to rescue him.
Known as an ‘extreme’ Rally Raid event, the Tunisia Desert Challenge 2022 was won by veteran Dakar racer and two-time Africa Eco Race champion Alessandro Botturi, who admitted this was one of the hardest rallies he has ever been in. However, there was another memorable victory at the race this year: that of Vanessa Ruck, the first female rider to ever enter and finish the TDC. The Brit came in 35th overall out of 55 riders who started in the race – just five places below the Extreme Enduro star Pol Tarres.
Vanessa Ruck is better known to her fans as The Girl On a Bike, and her obsession with motorcycles began after her recovery from a horrific car accident eight years ago. Having survived multiple surgeries and hip and shoulder reconstructions, Vanessa took up motorcycling and soon found her passion was riding dirt. Along with her husband Alex, Vanessa has progressed from adventure riding and traveling to taking on some of the world’s most extreme races such as Romaniacs, Rallye du Maroc and, most recently, the Tunisia Desert Challenge.
Riding a Beta 480 RR called “Sandy” with the Desert Rose Racing support team on her side, Vanessa was determined to complete the race. Out of 55 motorcycle racers starting on Day One, only 40 reached the finish line, and her 35th place overall didn’t go unnoticed by the race organizers. “Normally, for a category to exist, there need to be at least three competitors, however I am making an exception for this young lady as the first female to ever enter,” Gert Duson, the race director, announced at the prize-giving ceremony.
Although Vanessa was racing in the same main category as the other riders, she was awarded the winning trophy of the Female Riders category as she was the only woman to show up – and finish the extreme race.
Rescue in the Dunes
According to Vanessa, the Tunisia Desert Challenge more than lived up to its fame for brutal conditions. She had to endure 85km/h sandstorms, mechanical issues with the bike, searing heat, and a helicopter rescue – but she wasn’t the only one.
Stage Three in the El Borma dunes proved to be impossible for many riders. Due to extremely difficult terrain and sandstorms, sixteen riders (including Pol Tarres the following day) got hopelessly stuck in the dunes and had to be rescued. Vanessa was among them: having faced an electrical fault, she had just six kilometers left to the end of the dune section – and the one furthest from all the other riders stuck in the sand.
“In those conditions, however, a mere 500 meters is a grueling slog. I had no other choice – I made a campfire and waited for help to arrive. After a rescue in the dark of the night, I made it back to the bivouac at 3:30am, grabbing less than three hours of sleep while my Desert Rose Racing mechanic team frantically got Sandy back to life,” Vanessa recalls.
Because of the rescue, Vanessa, like fifteen other riders, got a hefty time penalty, but was allowed to start the next day. During Stage Four, however, the bad luck continued as Vanessa’s bike malfunctioned in the morning and she found herself stranded – again. Alone in the desert, miles from anywhere, deep in the dunes with the temperatures peaking at 45°C (113°F), Vanessa survived by taking water from other vehicles and using her bike as meager protection from the deadly desert sun.
“At these temperatures the body starts to shut down and even with water, severe dehydration and heat exhaustion is just a matter of time. I had water as thankfully passing cars, trucks and buggies gave me some, but by 5pm, I was bad. I called for an emergency evacuation and when they saw me, they were clearly scared. I had been trying not to breathe in the hot sand but it felt like my head was going to explode. I was delirious and was put on a drip. One competitor sadly died due to the heat as he didn’t activate emergency support from the organizers… I’m glad I found the strength to hit the SOS button,” Vanessa shares.
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.
As seen on Rad Season Podcast: The accident changed Vanessa’s life as she realised she would not longer be able to do some of the sports that she loved. She turned to motorbikes initially as a way of getting around and adventuring on the open road.
Vanessa Ruck grew up in England keeping fit in the outdoors doing loads of sports. When she went to University at 18 she got hooked on wakeboarding, snowboarding, mountain biking, anything that got the adrenaline pumping. In 2014 Vanessa’s life took a turn when she was out cycling and was hit by a car.
After multiple surgeries she started The Girl On A Bike when she was bed bound to channel her energy into something positive. Vanessa shares all the ups and downs of her recovery. Her goal is to make the most out of each day and help others do the same.
Tune in to find out how Vanessa got on in the Tunisia Desert Challenge extreme rally. The physical and mental recovery process, inspiring others through her journey, going from riding Harleys to Hard Enduro, social media and loads more!
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.
As seen in The Cross Countryadv: Experience the thrill of Tunisia Desert Challenge, a captivating rally event by the seasoned organizers of Morocco Desert Challenge. Join now!
The brainchild of Gert Duson and his team – the organizers behind the Morocco Desert Challenge – Tunisia desert Challenge is a new and an old event at the same time. Seeing just the second edition this year, Tunisia may sound like a newcomer in the North African rally scene… except, its organizers have been organizing the Morocco Desert Challenge for well over a decade now, and that experience transfers over to Tunisia.
According to Duson, TDC isn’t simply a copy of the MDC: the Tunisia edition is all about dunes, dunes, and more dunes. Overall, the competitors cover 2,500 km of desert in eight days, and the rally already has a reputation of being extremely brutal. So much so that this year, it has claimed the life of motorcycle pilot Matthieu de Saint-Exupery who, despite the best efforts to rescue and resuscitate him, tragically passed away due to heat exhaustion.
Extreme conditions aside, Tunisia Desert Challenge is also known for very short liaisons, and this year, the organizers have added the “TDC Classic” category aimed at vehicles older than twenty years.
First Female to Finish the TDC
This year’s TDC proved extremely challenging: Alessandro Botturi, the Italian rally-raid champion with two Africa Eco Race wins under his belt, commented that this was one of the toughest races he’s ever experienced. Day Three saw sixteen riders stuck in the El Borma dunes so badly they all had to be rescued, and out of 55 motorcycle pilots who lined up at the start line, only 40 made it to the finish line.
Among them was Vanessa Ruck aka the Girl on a Bike who became the first female to ever enter – and finish – the Tunisia Desert Challenge.
“During the 4th stage, the bad luck continued as my bike malfunctioned at 10.30 AM so I was stranded. Miles from anywhere, deep in the dunes the temperatures peaked at 45 degrees. At these temperatures, the body starts to shut down and even with water, severe dehydration and heat exhaustion is just a matter of time. I had water as thankfully passing cars, trucks, and buggies gave me some, but by 5pm I was bad.
I called for an emergency evacuation and when they saw me, they were clearly scared. I was terrified. I had been trying not to breathe in the hot sand but it felt like my head was going to explode. I was delirious and was put on a drip. One competitor sadly died due to the heat as they didn’t activate emergency support from the organisers, I’m glad I found the strength to hit the button”, Vanessa shared. Despite receiving a hefty time penalty after being rescued, Vanessa finished 35th overall – just a few positions below the legendary Pol Tarres.
Who Can Race the Tunisia Desert Challenge?
The TDC is a serious desert race, and attempting it as your first rally might not be the best idea – but, as many other rally raids, Tunisia Desert Challenge offers the Raid category for rally racing amateurs where riders aren’t timed and cover 70% of the rally route. This is a fantastic option for riders wanting to try out a desert rally but not yet ready for a full-on, timed race. The entry fees start at 3,350 euros, and while it’s not exactly pocket change, it’s still nowhere near as prohibitive as most North African rally prices.
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.
As seen in The Cross Country Adv: Discover the synergy of seasoned organizers from the renowned Morocco Desert Challenge as they bring their expertise to the emerging rally event in Tunisia. Join us for the second edition, where tradition and innovation unite in the North African desert adventure.
The brainchild of Gert Duson and his team – the organizers behind the Morocco Desert Challenge – Tunisia desert Challenge is a new and an old event at the same time. Seeing just the second edition this year, Tunisia may sound like a newcomer in the North African rally scene… except, its organizers have been organizing the Morocco Desert Challenge for well over a decade now, and that experience transfers over to Tunisia.
According to Duson, TDC isn’t simply a copy of the MDC: the Tunisia edition is all about dunes, dunes, and more dunes. Overall, the competitors cover 2,500 km of desert in eight days, and the rally already has a reputation of being extremely brutal. So much so that this year, it has claimed the life of motorcycle pilot Matthieu de Saint-Exupery who, despite the best efforts to rescue and resuscitate him, tragically passed away due to heat exhaustion.
Extreme conditions aside, Tunisia Desert Challenge is also known for very short liaisons, and this year, the organizers have added the “TDC Classic” category aimed at vehicles older than twenty years.
First Female to Finish the TDC
This year’s TDC proved extremely challenging: Alessandro Botturi, the Italian rally-raid champion with two Africa Eco Race wins under his belt, commented that this was one of the toughest races he’s ever experienced. Day Three saw sixteen riders stuck in the El Borma dunes so badly they all had to be rescued, and out of 55 motorcycle pilots who lined up at the start line, only 40 made it to the finish line.
Among them was Vanessa Ruck aka the Girl on a Bike who became the first female to ever enter – and finish – the Tunisia Desert Challenge.
Who Can Race the Tunisia Desert Challenge?
The TDC is a serious desert race, and attempting it as your first rally might not be the best idea – but, as many other rally raids, Tunisia Desert Challenge offers the Raid category for rally racing amateurs where riders aren’t timed and cover 70% of the rally route. This is a fantastic option for riders wanting to try out a desert rally but not yet ready for a full-on, timed race. The entry fees start at 3,350 euros, and while it’s not exactly pocket change, it’s still nowhere near as prohibitive as most North African rally prices.
For the rest of the Cross Country Adv 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.
As seen on the Moto Adventures in Belize: Belize is best known for its perfect white sand beaches, Caribbean turquoise blue waters, island resorts, sailing, and world-class diving. It’s a tiny country wedged between Mexico and Guatemala and isn’t exactly famous for motorcycle adventures.
Five fearless adventuresses joined our Belize expedition, including Vanessa Ruck, better known as “The Girl on a Bike.” Vanessa’s story is nothing short of inspirational.
She suffered a horrific accident on her bicycle a few years ago when she was struck by a car. Since then, she’s undergone several hip and shoulder reconstructions and years of recovery and physiotherapy to become (miraculously) even stronger than before. She took up motorcycling during her recovery, first riding street motorcycles, then throwing herself right into the deep end with dirt bikes. Last year, she finished the Romaniacs, one of the most brutal enduro races in the world and took part in Rallye de Maroc—a Dakar qualifying rally race that can, and does, make grown men cry.
In addition to her incredible story of recovery and persistence, and her racing record, Vanessa also loves to travel, preferably on dirt bikes. So, when we invited her to join the mayhem in Belize, she said “Yes!” without hesitation. Our other four comrades in the Caribbean and sketchy bike life were Canadians Alana and Golnoosh, Suzanne from the U.S., and Mariska from South Africa. Different skill levels, backgrounds, countries, and one goal—to have as much dirt biking fun as humanly possible and live to tell the tale.
Crocodile-Infested Rivers and Friendly Pythons
Starting our adventure in Hopkins, a small beach town a few hours from Belize City, we headed straight for the rainforest trails crossing the Cockscomb Jaguar Sanctuary, a wild place of jungle greenery and red earth trails that lead deeper into the rainforest.
We didn’t spot any jaguars along the way. Still, Suzanne, a Florida native, managed to pet a friendly python as it crossed the road, earning herself the title of “Snake Whisperer.” We’d been worried whether our riders would do well in the insane heat and humidity. Still, here they were, crossing crocodile-infested creeks like nobody’s business and taming boa constrictors as if they were cute puppies.
We rode north, covering a section of the Hummingbird Highway for the next few days. This is one of Belize’s most scenic roads, meandering across green, rolling hills and crossing Mennonite country. Belize is as diverse culturally as it is spectacular when it comes to landscapes: The Garifuna, Mayan locals, and Spanish influence here mix and merge with ex-pats from North America, Europe, and China, as well as Mennonite communities and just about everyone in between.
Belizean nature is as pristine as its Caribbean Sea coral reefs—the greenery of the rainforest brimming with wildlife is a sight to behold, and the deeper into the jungle you ride, the more you feel like Indiana Jones looking for some long-lost treasure in Mayan temple ruins being carefully guarded by iguanas and howler monkeys.
The Lifan Life
Speaking of motorcycles, riding Lifans was a first for all of us. We were aware of the reputation Chinese bikes have in the West, but the funny thing was, those 250s took on anything we threw at them—mud, rocks, creek crossings, tip-overs, overly-enthusiastic clutch abuse, and a lot more.
nowhere near as sprightly as Huskies or Yamahas, but they’re wonderfully forgiving for beginners, stable and reliable on any surface, and capable enough on dirt and gravel roads. That said, long highway miles on the Lifans would be painful, but we weren’t riding Belize for the highways. Instead, we were off exploring the most remote trails we could find, and for that purpose, the Lifans held up brilliantly. We bent some gear shifters and shattered a few handguards, but all in all, they were steady, ready, and fun.
As for our intrepid adventuresses? Jurga and I couldn’t have asked for a better crew. There was no shortage of both the classy and the hilarious, the ballsy and the sweet, the adventurous and the kind—but most of all, it was about the connection and the sisterhood (and, yeah, sweaty boob jokes).
For the rest of the Moto Adventures in Belize article Download 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.
As seen on the Kent Online: Vanessa, also known as The Girl on a Bike, took part in an extreme rally raid over sand dunes and scorching temperatures.
Tunbridge Wells woman first female to ever enter into the Tunisia Desert Challenge
Vanessa, also known as The Girl on a Bike, took part in an extreme rally raid over sand dunes and scorching temperatures.
For the rest of the Kent Online Tunisia Desert Challenge video 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.
As seen on ASAP Conference: Vanessa Ruck visits schools to tell students her story and how they can achieve their goals and also offers hands-on inspiring workshops.
A MONMOUTH biker uses her inspirational story to teach people how to overcome obstacles, whatever they may be.
“Before my accident, I was working full time and had a passion for sports,”
VANESSA RUCK
She was bedridden for some time and required seven reconstructive surgeries over the next seven years, including one on her right shoulder and five on her hip. It was during the period when she was bedridden that she became interested in motorcycles.
I was taken to bed and told my husband I wanted a dirt bike,” she said. “He looked at me like I was crazy and said ‘let’s get you that motorbike.
It took me five months to get to sit on the bike because I couldn’t even get out of bed to go to the bathroom, so I set myself small goals like getting out of bed to go to the bathroom rather than going to the bathroom. use a bedpan.
These are the types of goals that Ms. Ruck uses to help young people. In addition to participating in motorcycle events around the world, she now gives motivational talks and hands-on sessions at schools.
When you believe in yourself, it’s absolutely amazing what you can accomplish,” she said. This is the message she wants to convey to young people who see her sessions.
She was inspired to deliver these sessions after the pandemic hit and saw media reports of how children and young people will lose 40% of their future income due to wasted time in school and loss of vital education and experiences.
It’s so sad to see this written,” she said. “And they will also believe it because they see it in the media.
NO MORE NEWS:
I wanted to use my story to show that you can achieve anything you want and to show how people can achieve their dreams and goals by setting smaller goals and creating a positive mindset.
In one inspiring workshop, one of the students was causing distractions and was sitting at the side of the room,” she said. the goals were.
She said the student ‘didn’t have any’ but then said he wanted to do a 180 degree spin on his bike and couldn’t because he was being punished for not doing well at school. Ms Ruck said that when she explained how setting goals such as being better at school would lead to being able to ride on her back while not being anchored and then the goal was closer, the eyes of the student lit up when the penny dropped.
For the rest of the Asap Conference 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.
