As see on Monmouthshire Beacon: Monmouth’s motorbiking superstar Vanessa Ruck, also known as The Girl On A Bike has brought home yet another medal. This time from the Valleys Xtreme 2022, at the Walter’s Arena.

Valleys Xtreme claims to provide the hardest and most challenging riding in the UK Enduro calendar. Set in the Welsh Valleys over two days at Walters Arena, Valleys Xtreme offers a big challenge for professional and expert riders.

Running late to the event as a result of having to take care of a faulty killswitch, Vanessa prepared for the track the night before by watching video footage.

With the help of her husband, she signed up, kitted up and rolled out the bikes in time for a run on the prologue stages.

The track features obstacles, such as skips, rocks, think mud, and ‘terrifying stuff’.

Following the first timed lap is the fast lap, where riders battle it out for the fastest time. Performance on the fast lap determines her starting position for the race the following day.

Vanessa can be seen on the prologue tearing through thick mud between concrete and softer barriers around a treacherous and dangerous track.

Following the fast lap she said: “That lap was longer than I expected it to be, super muddy and sloppy, but fast.”

Vanessa Ruck (A Girl On A Bike)

Checking out the track ahead, she scoped out five rows of placed boulders, which bikers had to tackle, puddles a foot deep, and hurdles made of tyres. She explained how when she reviewed the Neil Hawker track preview she was terrified, however scoping out the track from ground level allowed her to assess and strategise in a way she felt relatively confident about.

Back on the track with the other riders, she battled the obstacles as the sun was going down. A collision with another rider knocking her front tyre out almost caused her to retire early, but she powered on.

After the qualifying stage, she said: “I’m quite pleased that I survived it, I got around it, I think I actually enjoyed it in the end. I’ve got a broken gear shifter from where the guy rode into me.”

On the morning of the race, Vanessa had found herself placing on row two, which meant she achieved a relatively fast time in previous day’s qualifier.

After what she describes as a ‘gruelling, beautiful’ lap, she won a silver finish.

This win was a milestone for Vanessa, marking two years on from her very first race, which was also at Valleys Xtreme.

Vanessa’s Valleys Xtreme laps can be found on her Youtube channel (The Girl On A Bike).

Vanessa worked in marketing for 10 years when life took a devastating turn, cycling to work and being run over by a car jumping a red light.

She said: “Motorcycles, something I started post-accident, have become my love and passion. If you’d asked me seven years ago whether I would be racing off-road motorcycles I’d have probably choked on my drink! But life takes us on some amazing journeys. People can relate to my story because everyone goes through bad times and I think they’re cheering me on to keep doing better and better. Hopefully I am inspiring others to show that if I can bounce back after seven surgeries, others can get through their hard times.”

Vanessa is an accomplished social media star, standing at nearly 30,000 subscribers on Youtube, gaining around 600 every month. Her channel pulls in around 60,000 monthly views.

The competitive Enduro Rally racer had just come back from the Rallye Du Maroc when bagged the prize. She thinks that it is because of the footage of her entering really challenging events or travelling to stunning countries, is why her videos on Youtube are energetic and inspiring.

Check out the Monmouthshire Beacon for the full Valleys Xtreme article 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.

GQ Magazine Car Awards party photos featuring top celebs and Vanessa Ruck aka The Girl On A bike

It’s really been an exciting few weeks! I’ve made it into the GQ Magazine Car Awards Party pictures with Michelin! It was such a huge honour to be there alongside such incredible people!

On a night of high energy, GQ kick-started the year with the first-ever GQ Magazine car awards, hosted at The Berkeley in London’s Knightsbridge. As well as the great and good from the automotive industry, GQ and partners Michelin welcomed guests that included grime artists, actors, fashion designers, racing drivers, television presenters and athletes to celebrate the best battery-powered machines of 2022. And although it was an evening where the electric cars (and one remarkable motorbike) were the stars, there were plenty of powerful performances on stage.

The electric racing world was out in force, with Extreme E star Max Chilton and Formula E presenters Nicki Shields and Josh Denzel handing out awards, while Max Chilton represented the traditionally-fuelled Formula 1 world. From Tesla to Porsche, Mini to Mustang, the most innovative, insightful – and beautiful – electric vehicles had an evening in the spotlight.

The only thing the GQ eCar Awards couldn’t quite do was beat the traffic, as guest presenter Mist discovered when his petrol-powered McLaren 720S ended up in gridlock on the M1. Maybe the Gassed Up presenter should have taken up our offer of a chauffeur-driven all-electric Jaguar I-Pace – EVs are clearly the future.

For the rest of the GQ-Magazine 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.

It’s an honour to be included in Quad Locks list of top female motorcycle riders you should follow.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2022 and women around the world – Quad Lock thought they would highlight some of the most empowering female motorcyclists you should keep track of (pun intended) on Instagram. Here’s our favourite motorbike riders you should follow.

Vanessa Ruck @thegirlonabike

Born and raised in London, Vanessa has built her brand on the goal of making the most out of her life and helping others do the same. After getting into a bicycle accident that left Vanessa unable to cycle to work, it led her to pursue motorcycling and thus birthed the beginning of ‘The Girl On A Bike’.

Making an effort to share both the good and the bad days, Vanessa embodies transparency with her audience to dismantle the “too perfect” and unrealistic bounds of social media.

Her love for motorbikes has taken her all over the world from Bolivia, Ukraine, Sardinia, to Iceland; sharing her journey online to prove that anyone can get up and enjoy life on two wheels and normalising girls on motorbikes.

Kinga Tanajewska @onherbike

“Life was never the same again” – Kinga was gifted her first bike by her parents after graduating from high school. Born in what was known as Communist Poland, Kinga immigrated to Australia where the start of her tours began

Beginning with a solo ride around Australia called the ‘Tour De Oz,’ Kinga has built a cult following on her Youtube channel where she now documents her travels around the world on her bike ‘Chillie’ (a BMW F800GS).

Maria Costello @mariocostellombe

Maria Costello is a British motorcycle racer that broke history as the first woman to stand on the podium at the Isle of Man TT in 2004.

Since then, Maria has encouraged other women around the world to feel comfortable riding a motorcycle by creating women-only track-days, ‘Woman on a Motorcycle,’ where she mentors young riders in the European Junior Cup, and hosts women-only skill days.

Ana Carrasco @anacarrasco_22

24-year-old Ana Carrasco is a Spanish motorcycle racer who began riding motorbikes at the age of 16. Previously, Ana won the 2018 Supersport 300 World Championship riding a Kawasaki Ninja 400 – being the first woman in history to win a World Championship in solo motorcycle racing.

The journey was not easy as she faced isolation when she first joined the Moto3 World Championship, where she acknowledged the lack of support and acceptance for female riders such as herself.

Now she seeks to show the world that “a woman can be just as good as a man,” paving the way for the next generation of female riders and empowering women on the track and online.

For the rest of the Quad Locks article of female motorcycle riders to follow 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.

Life isn’t always about doing what everyone else does! So how about a motorcycle rally in a sidecar? Super excited to have chatted with Eglė Gerulaitytė from ADV Pulse about the mayhem of racing on three wheels in the O Nosso Dakar rally with my husband. One mighty adventure!

Extract from ADVPulse – Vanessa Ruck, a British rider and rally racer who took on the Portuguese adventure Dakar piloting a Ural Gear Up sidecar with her husband

A well-known rally race aimed at adventure bike riders, saw its 9^th edition this year. The rally took 315 riders across rugged Portuguese terrain covering over 400 kilometers in the Algarve area in two days. What was unusual about O Nosso Dakar this year were two sidecar teams racing alongside two-wheelers.

Tracks at the Rally consist mainly of gravel roads, single track, hill climbs, ruts, washed out water channels, and just about everything in between. It’s no walk in the park for motorcycle riders, and for a sidecar, it’s a serious challenge.

I spoke to Vanessa Ruck, a British rider and rally racer who took on the Portuguese adventure Dakar piloting a Ural Gear Up sidecar with her husband Alex Ruck as her co-pilot. Vanessa is an experienced rider – just last year, she completed Romaniacs, one of the most grueling hard enduro races in the world, and took part in Rallye du Maroc. However, her sidecar experience amounted to just a few days of training prior to the race. 

Although the organizers provided several detours around the steepest climbs for the sidecar racers, Vanessa and Alex chose to stick to the rally route – and made it.

Racing a Sidecar

O Nosso Dakar rally mostly sees riders aboard bikes like the BMW R1200GS, Honda Africa Twin, and Yamaha Tenere 700. When Vanessa got the invitation to race in a sidecar, however, she didn’t hesitate.

“Back in November, I spent three days with Ural Experiences Portugal learning to ride a sidecar for the first time. On the final afternoon of the trip, my best friend Emma and I came up with an idea: why not do a rally in a sidecar? The seed was planted, and it grew from there,” Vanessa shares.

According to her, a sidecar motorcycle handles very differently from a two wheeler. Sidecars have different reactions, unique controls, and a whole extra wheel to think about. It also weighs nearly half a ton and completely transforms the riding experience. “Three wheels may sound easy, but an adventure motorcycle sidecar really is its own beast,” Vanessa explains.

When Ural Portugal invited Vanessa to race the O Nosso Dakar, there was little time for preparations. She and her husband rode a Ural Gear Up sidecar with upgraded suspension, but there were no rally-specific mods on the bike.

Vanessa did one crash-course day of training just before the rally, and she shares it was a steep learning curve. “I had to seriously up my game, learning to use the front brake to turn to the left, sliding the 500+kg loaded unit across the terrain with the throttle on to pull away in a new direction. Get it wrong and it will spit you out,” she explains.

In addition to her own training, her husband Alex needed to adjust to the co-pilot position quickly, too. A co-pilot in a sidecar helps the rider by flinging their weight to counter the physics of centrifugal forces as well as navigating.

“It’s a shared experience and team work. If either one of us misses a beat, we’re both taking the consequences with half a ton of mass beneath us,” Vanessa says.

“I entered the rally as a complete sidecar novice and finished it with confidence. Sometimes, calculated risks, stepping outside your comfort zone, and trying new things is the best way to progress and learn. I certainly progressed my riding more in two days of the rally than I would have in a week trail riding. So if you’re tempted to try a rally, then I’d say get up and give it a go!”

Currently, Vanessa is planning her 2022 racing season – and a race in a sidecar may be on the cards again, too.

For the rest of the Adv Pulse 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.

With IWD’s themed to #BreakTheBias, smashing the gender stereotypes, I’m honoured to have been featured on YouTube’s UK International Women’s Day feature.

The Girl On A Bike – Vanessa Ruck

Vanessa is a motorcycle rider and racer who speaks passionately and authentically about her ongoing challenges recovering from a life changing accident she endured in 2014. Through her content Vanessa gives a refreshingly real account of the highs and lows of everyday life.

For the rest of the Introducing Women of YouTube 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.

GQ Magazine’s Motorcycle of the year 2022 at the recent GQ Car Awards 2022 Awards in London.

In recognising the Arc Vector as the bike of 2022, GQ magazine acknowledged our product as a sector-redefining hyperbike. The Arc Vector is not only the most advanced electric motorcycle ever brought to market; it’s a bike that utilises exotic materials, thoroughbred componentry, cutting-edge architecture and technological innovations that have never been applied to two-wheeled transport before.

In accepting the award on the night, Arc Founder & CEO Mark Truman thanked his team of ground-breaking British designers and engineers pioneering electric machines and all the support staff, saying “This award is great recognition for all the hard work over the last few years and especially during a time of great global uncertainty. With a growing order book and pre-production models pretty much completed, the start of the year has been a strong one for Arc, with a lot more to come in 2022”.

The award now rests proudly at the Arc Facility in Coventry, England.

For the rest of the Arc Vehicle Post 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.

It’s an honour to have been mentioned on Rent a Bike. This is what they say about girls and motorbikes:

Vanessa Ruck, aka The Girl On A Bike, pictured above, is a shining example of a female motorbike rider. Her story is quite compelling and probably quite different from yours. But, by the same token she is someone that shows you it is possible to take the bull by the horns and do what you previously never thought possible. Once you have gotten used to the smaller bikes like the Leads and the Blades, let’s say, take a look at her site for ‘tips for your first month of riding a motorcycle‘ and a whole lot more for some serious encouragement. 

For the rest of the Rent a Bike 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.

Podcast feature with The Action Sports Podcast: If you let obstacles stop you from achieving your goals, then you are giving up too easily. When it comes to communication, we have many hurdles thrown in our way and we have the choice to either stop and give up, or push through and make something happen. Today’s podcast was recorded from one side of the world, to the other side of the world. We didn’t let an obstacle as big as the ocean stop us.

Today we are stoked that Vaness Ruck was available to join us on the podcast. Known on social media as “The Girl on a Bike” Vanessa has a crazy story that is fascinating and can make you feel like you are leaving more on the table. When Vanessa Ruck was faced with a life changing decision, she made the right choice, in our opinion, which has aided her in her recovery for close to a decade in length!

The roads we travel will always have pot holes, speed bumps, cliffs on one side or the other, snowy conditions, high winds, or slow moving traffic in front of you. Depending on where you are in your life will determine how you let these obstacles you face control you. Choosing how you will react to these obstacles speak volumes to the type of person you currently are, but do not dictate the person you will become.

This podcast episode is full of lessons taught and if you are like us, you want to keep pushing yourself and learn everything you can to become successful.
So take notes!
Enjoy!

For the rest of the Player FM 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 an active user and lover of Rabaconda I am delighted to have been featured on their website page about choosing the right motorcycle tyre changer. Here is the article:

Tired of changing your own tires with a set of irons and a bucket or bringing your bike to the shop every time you need new rubber? We’re with you. Changing your motorcycle’s tires can be a tiresome job (pun intended), and that’s where a motorcycle tire changer can come in handy. Motorcycle tire changers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and price points, and it’s up to you to decide what will work best. Before you do your research and commit to buy, here’s what you need to pay attention to when shopping for a motorcycle tire changer.

Why Use A Motorcycle Tire Changer?

Before we dive in, let’s figure out whether you need a motorcycle tire changer in the first place. While we think the ability to change your own tires is liberating and saves you a decent chunk of change in the long run, not all of us are mechanically minded – and that’s OK. If you own one motorcycle, and you typically only change your tires when they’re worn (as opposed to swapping them often, depending on the terrain you’re riding), you may as well just trust your local garage. Changing your tires once a year means you don’t necessarily need a motorcycle tire changer of your own, especially if you don’t enjoy wrenching.

But let’s say you own several bikes, ride them often, and ride them on different terrain as well as tarmac. Now, you may need to change your tires a lot more frequently: gnarly knobbies for technical trails and 50/50’s for dual-sport riding, aggressive rubber for motocross training and road-friendly tires for pavement… You get the gist. If you’re someone with several bikes who likes to hit different trails often, you’ll be changing tires monthly, if not weekly – and if you race, we don’t need to tell you how frequent your tire changes will be.

Now, we have no doubt you can change your own tires with just a set of irons. You know what you’re doing, and you’re getting the job done. But the thing is, the job is a hell of a lot easier with a motorcycle tire changer. Regardless of brand and model, bike tire changers are designed to make the process faster, easier, and safer. Go to any garage or dealership, and you won’t see their mechanics wrestling tires with irons and spoons – nope, they’ll be working with machines, because nobody has a half an hour to spend on a five-minute job.

Getting your own motorcycle tire changer will do just that: allow you to save time, effort, and pinched tubes or messed up bib mousses. You’ll be able to get the job done more efficiently and a lot faster, and if you opt for a portable tire changer, you can simply throw it in the van and take it with you to the races. Hell, if you trailer your bikes for your off-road sessions, you can throw your tire changer in the truck just in case – we bet you’ll thank yourself when you get a flat out there.

Different Types Of Motorcycle Tire Changers

Alrighty, so now you’re ready to compare the tools available. What’s the best motorcycle tire changer option for you? There are several decent products to choose from depending on your needs, your budget, and your garage space.

A lot of bike dealerships and garages use tire changer machines like this one:

Now, this chunky baby will have you changing your tires in no time – it’s got all you need:a powerful turntable, motorcycle wheel clamps, a bead breaker, lubricator and air pressure regulator, and all the other bells and whistles. It’s good stuff, but it’s got three big issues: one, this thing is heavy, massive, and you can’t exactly take it with you to the trails, races, or a road trip. Two, it’s expensive – coming at a price point of $1,800, it’s not exactly a cheap option. And third, it isn’t suitable for bib mousse changes.

Then, you’ve got a lighter, simpler version that looks something like this:

The Bike Master is just $86, it’s simple to use, and it will definitely do better than just a set of tire irons. The trouble is, breaking the bead is hard with this one, and because of the way it’s designed, it may move when you’re taking the tire off – which, safe to say, just isn’t safe. And while it’s much smaller and lighter than the Nationwide 400, it’s still way too chunky to be carried around. additionally, you can’t just easily push off the tire, so you’ll still need to wrestle with the thing, especially when changing harder tires.

Enter Rabaconda. As much as we hate blowing our own trumpet, we spent years perfecting a motorcycle tire changer that would tick several boxes: be efficient and easy to use, fit different motorcycle tires, break the beads easily, and remain solid and stable while being completely portable. It works on tubeless, Tubliss, bib mousse, air tube, no rimlock, one rimlock, or even two-rimlock setups.

How To Use A Motorcycle Tire Changer?

Whichever option you go for, always do a little bit of research and comparison first. Brands and prices aside, here’s what you should look for in a motorcycle tire changer:

• Sturdy, durable materials. If the company is skimping on solid materials, the tire changer won’t last long – spades and irons will bend, and you’ll need to replace the tool often.
• Adjustability. Can the motorcycle tire changer handle different size wheels?
• Portability and weight. If you know you’ll be needing your tire changer at the races, trails, or travel situations, not just your garage, look for tools that pack small and are portable.
• Installation and ease of use. Does your chosen motorcycle tire changer come with a clear set of instructions, easy installation, and simple use?

For the rest of the Rabaconda 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.

Vanessa Ruck among some of the top names in the adventure motorcyle world talking at the MCN London Bike Show.

Let’s talk…struggles, fears, discovering motorcycles, throwing myself into extreme riding conditions, mental health and balancing drive with physical limitations. It was a huge honour speaking at the Motorcycle News London Bike Show.

I also shared news about my free schools workshops sponsored by Horse Power Motorcycles. Do get in touch if you’re a school looking for something a little different to help engage and motivate. I’m also available for corporate or club motivating speaking worldwide so please share the word. If I can help just one person each time I share my story, it make what I went through so much more worthwhile.

More about the schools programme:

School children are being inspired and encouraged to take a Because I Can attitude with free workshops. The movement is all about giving kids the right tools to take on life, despite the setbacks and uncertainties, such as covid-19. The initiative has come about as a vehicle to motivate kids to go beyond their comfort zone and demonstrate anyone can achieve great things with the right mindset and the appropriate training.

I believe that it’s about realising that wanting to quit is normal, that anxiety and stress can be overcome and that with the right mindset and strategies anything is possible. Born from real life experiences, their workshops bring highly relatable lessons and tools to help better equip youths, and adults alike, for the battles and challenges of life.

At a time when the world is full of doom and gloom, particularly for the ‘lost generation’ of school students interrupted by covid, I want to deliver a real drive and inspiration. Bringing real life challenges, battles and big goals to youth in the hope that it will encourage the future generation to get up and take life by the hands and focus on what they can do.

Organised by me Vanessa Ruck, I attend schools to deliver free workshops on finding ways to make things work, dealing with the lows and the set backs, whilst moving steadily towards the objective.

More details see the #BecauseICan free school workshops article 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.