As seen in The ABR Festival: Are You Craving A More Adventurous Life On Two Wheels? Then Look No Further Because David Lloyd And A Selection Of ABR Festival Speakers Reveal How You Can Do Just That With A Simple New Year’s Resolution.
Are you tired of making the same old New Year’s resolutions that are doomed to failure? Lose weight, exercise more, drink less, blah, blah, blah… But what if instead you resolved to make 2025 your most adventurous year yet? And even better, what if I told you there is a guaranteed way to achieve it? Sounds too good to be true, right? But it isn’t.
So step off the scales, bin the pedometer, and crack open another beer, because it’s time to make 2025 your year of adventure by joining us at the ABR Festival in June. That’s right, snapping up a ticket to the greatest celebration of motorcycling in the world is your key to fulfilling your adventure biking dreams in 2025 and beyond.
GET INSPIRED
Trust me when I say, if your New Year’s resolution is to make 2025 your most adventurous year yet, there is no better place to be. Just be aware that festival attendance may result in your jaw becoming more chiselled, a veneer of trail dust could appear on your clothes at any time, and you won’t be able to resist striking heroic poses, be it in the queue for the Post Office or at a border crossing.
We’ll be revealing the full lineup of ABR Festival speakers soon, but in the meantime, we reached out to a select few to ask what their resolutions are for the New Year. Here’s what they said…
VANESSA RUCK (THE GIRL ON A BIKE), ADVENTURER, RACER AND CONTENT CREATOR “For 2025, my New Year’s resolution is centred around embracing the exciting transition into motherhood while continuing to live boldly and authentically as an adventure biker and racer. I want to show our little Ruckymonster that women can be unstoppable, and that we can be mothers and racers, explorers, and boundary-breakers.
COME AND JOIN US AT THE ABR FESTIVAL 2025 So, why not make your New Year’s resolution to come and join us at the ABR Festival and help make 2025 your most adventurous year yet? Unlike a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, it can be accomplished in minutes. Where weight loss demands toil and discipline, your ticket purchase requires minimal effort.
Vanessa Ruck’s Pregnancy Journey: The Realities of Riding and Motherhood
As a passionate motorcycle rider and athlete, Vanessa Ruck’s journey into motherhood is filled with excitement, challenges, and a few unexpected twists. Here’s her story
Yes, you see that right… A mini Vanessa – Ruckymonster is coming in December 2024. Eeek. I am 16 weeks pregnant!
Pregnancy is a magical journey, but it is different for everyone. And it is safe to say I’ve been a little off my game recently, and that’s down to the energy that growing another human puts on the body! As a female I feel like it’s’ something we don’t seem to talk about enough. We’re just expected to crack on and act like everything is fine. Which is not the way it should be, we should be sharing our experiences, uplifting and helping one another through what can be a very tough but also very rewarding 9 months. This is why I have decided to share my pregnancy journey with you all, from the good, the bad, the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
What is this new body I am living in? Where has all my energy gone? (18 weeks)
My goodness I feel like I barely even know my own body! The headaches, sporadic morning sickness [thankfully minimal for me], constipation [yes…and diarrhoea…], sore breasts but the toughest part is the energy! It’s like I’m running on 5% juice. Ok I’m not the best for resting in general… The Himalayas, ABR Festival etc are big events on a normal body but doing all these things with pregnancy has certainly been a learning experience.
While right now I can still see my toes, I know they will soon be disappearing behind my growing bump and already double sized boobs!…
What’s next in the adventure?
This is going to cause a pause in my motorsport activities; however, my longer-term goals remain the same! I will be riding, driving and not quitting as our family grows. I want to thank my sponsors for the incredible support they’re showing me, all bar one who has walked away.
My commitment to motorsports, providing a positive but real perspective of life, and giving energy to the world remains as solid as always!
Pregnancy is exhausting!
“You are the most badass women I know”… But even ‘tough’ people have lows. This is what happens when you decide to sit on the kitchen floor because you are too tired to stand and wait for the kettle to boil…
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9FdESvoZ5n/
Who’s body am I living in? And why is it so tough? (19 weeks)
Everyone says pregnancy is incredible but for many, like me, it can be a really tough period and I genuinely don’t feel society talks about it enough. I’m 19 weeks and I’ve had;
What feels like chronic fatigue for nearly four months
Raging headaches that cloud your entire world
A digestive system that can’t decide between gridlock or fast fire
Hormonal changes leading to frequent bathroom trips, even without my bladder being crushed
Up to four pees a night, disturbing sleep even more than my achy joints already do
Insomnia, likely worsened by the uncertainty of what’s ahead
A noticeable loss of strength, likely due to fatigue and energy diverted to growing a human
Constant feelings of hunger, as my tummy behaves like a rescue animal that’s never been fed
Dizziness and nausea, along with hip pain worsening from body changes and extra weight
The hormonal rollercoaster of irritability, tears, mood swings and (sorry to hubby Ruckymonster and Anika for having to deal with me)
And let’s not forget the body changes that feel completely out of control. My breasts have already doubled in size without even producing milk, and my belly is unmistakably growing. Thankfully, I still fit into Ruckymonster’s trousers!
It’s all totally overwhelming… Yet millions of women go through this, and we expect them to carry on as if nothing is wrong. In the first three months, when you can’t tell people you’re pregnant, it’s especially hard. I’m used to putting on a brave face with my pain, but I wish society was more open to sharing the realities of pregnancy. Yes, it’s wonderful; I’m growing a whole new human, but my goodness, it’s a journey!
The glow! The magic! (20 weeks)
Pregnancy isn’t all as it seems! As I have said previously I have been having a rough time, but I’m unbelievably relieved to have finally made it to the second trimester ‘glow’ that everyone raves about. I’ve now had 5 days without a throbbing headache and absolute exhaustion. OK my bowels still don’t know what’s going on, my abs are rapidly becoming unusable (you should have seen me stuck on the ferry top bunk in Norway…the mama belly roll onto the side has begun) and the shooting ligament pains as the abdominals stretch are there (worsened by my strong core), oh and no longer being able to fit 80% of my trousers…that’s all part of it. But I am finally starting to see the magical side of growing a little human inside me:
I no long just look like I’ve been eaten all the cake, I actually look pregnant which brings so many loving smiles from total strangers – that energy is invaluable
My porn star size boobs are no longer incredibly sore (bonus for Ruckymonster)
My hair is thicker, nails stronger and longer, and my skin clearer than it’s been since pre puberty
The baby bump massages from my family Alex and Anika are heavenly both for relaxation but also soothing the stretching skin
I’d love to say my energy is back to normal; it’s still far from it, but it’s considerably improved, making adventures with my bump fun! We even did a 5-mile hike up Sugar Loaf in South Wales.
The bond with hubby is incredible. Getting to see his face as he feels it wriggling inside me plus at scans as he holds my hand watching the little black blob on screen. It’s magical. You have my word that I will continue to share the honest realities of my journey so if there are any areas you’re particularly in, please let me know.
The excitement of motherhood is building
We have our first baby outfit!! Whilst I was riding a Harley Davidson Road Glide CVO motorcycle in Norway with Tour1 I was gifted this little outfit from Julie one of the lovely ladies on the tour.
Check out my YouTube for more detailed riding motorcycles while pregnant information
Emergency pregnancy hospital visit (22 weeks)
Following an excruciatingly painful night of cramps and next to no sleep I had to make an unplanned visit to the emergency maternity triage. With the NHS at breaking point I have to say I’m super impressed by the support. It was a considerable wait but the midwife, doctor and nursing team were wonderful at the Grange University Hospital.
I had initially just put the stabbing cramps to constipation (a common joy of pregnancy) but it seems something more is going on. I guess I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the baby is super happy and there are no issues or concerns with pregnancy. The bad news is the pain is due to the scar tissue caused by my three previous ovarian cyst surgeries. The scar tissue is effectively pulling and stretching with the uterus growing, which is causing excessive pain.
There is no treatment, way of helping it or improving it. It’s a case of trying to manage the pain. And it could disappear and go away. But it could come back again in two weeks time, for the rest of the pregnancy. But least we know what it is and it’s nothing malicious.
The good news is the little Mini Ruckymonster in my belly is happy, wriggling and with a strong heart beat. Life is never smooth sailing, so when you see all the shiny perfect lives on social media, please remember that we all have battles and challenges.
I still want to be me, active, fit and strong (24 weeks)
Pregnancy doesn’t have to mean losing who you are or what you do! Fitness through bump growth is certainly a new challenge but hey…who’s going to shy away from a challenge? Not me!
Listening to your body is a huge part of pregnancy, staying active is also extremely beneficial in more ways than people realise but also exercise with the correct technique is key, which is where I am so thankful to have Emily from EBWfitness to support with personal training and dedicated pre/postnatal bootcamps!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_QpafSoFN3/
Emotional rollercoaster or wake up call…? (25 weeks)
Recently I had an emotional break down over Ruckymonster opening the packet of wraps wrong… Like seriously!? No packet opening, or should I say ripping technique, matters that much in the scheme of life. The important thing was us realising that I’m pushing myself to hard. My hormones are a roller coaster with pregnancy but I’m not helping myself enough with the changes in my body and the energy it takes. I’m exhausted. Last night I snapped.
Millions of women have gone through pregnancy but somehow many of us feel so under prepared for the journey – or at least I do. As my bump grows I’m trying to adapt, some things are like post my accident, such as being kind to myself, resting, changing movements to avoid strain… Yet somehow I keep piling on the pressure to myself. I need to get more done, I need to build the right ‘nest’ for the baby, the big to do list, I need to keep fit and active, weed the garden, spend a week in the digger on our projects. Fight on…
Tonight was a wake up call. I need to rest more. Time for a new mattress to try and improve my terrible nights tossing and turning, time for an afternoon nap to help my bodies energy for baby growing and time to be kinder to myself. I’m terrible at resting!
I am terrified, the importance of having a support network during pregnancy (26 weeks)
How would you describe the emotions of being pregnant…? TERRIFIED, that’s the honest answer I would’ve given you two days ago. However this weekend I gathered together my family and closest friends for a baby shower, it felt a little bit American but I’m never one to put off having a celebration.
My lovely mummy did a baby bump blessing with me and my closest female friends. I didn’t really know what to expect, but, there is an amazing sense of tranquility within my soul following the ceremony.
My best friends, mum, mother-in-law and Anika all gave me so much energy love and support, not just telling me that things are going to be okay and perfect, but being realistic and helping me understand that there are going to be huge challenges ahead and that’s okay and that’s normal but with my personality and support from my tribe and Ruckymonster, I’m going to move into the next chapter of motherhood with great energy.
It’s incredible to know that I have such a strong support network and how that has given me a new level of peace about the huge transition and life change of going from an extreme sport athlete to being a mum… But don’t you worry! The extreme sport athlete isn’t going anywhere she’s just having a pause because she’s a fat Oompah Loompah
You’re too old… You’re too young… (27 weeks)
The world is so full of judgement about when is the right time to become a mum and have a baby. As I stand here today on my 38th birthday I can hand on my heart tell you that right now at this age, someone described as a geriatric mum, is the perfect time for ME to have children.
Yes I could’ve had children when I was 22, 17 or 28 but my mental state, my ability to create a nest, and my desire for adventure and my own life first were far from ready or fulfilled.
I will admit that my accident in 2014 dramatically enlarged the timeframes in which I felt ready to have a family, so much time in bed and in rehabilitation then I had this extra fire and desire to make up for lost time, pushing the idea of being a mum further back.
But thankfully with healthy lifestyle, fitness and incredible modern day medicine, having children later in life is perfectly acceptable and feasible. You might face fertility and falling pregnant complications, but I’m very grateful that Ruckymonster and I didn’t face these.
What I want to say here is that you and your partner are the only ones that can decide and say when is the right time pre-warning – if you’re like me, no time is the right time! Only you and your body will know.
Don’t let society push you into having a family early, into having a family at all or not having a family. It’s your life… own it!
The worst day of pregnancy so far (28 weeks)
As the 3rd trimester hormones escalate my goodness it’s worse than I thought. The last 5 days I have probably cried more than I have since post-accident.
The area I am struggling with the most is the catastrophic change. For Ruckymonster and Anika, not much has changed – other than having a fat hormonal Vanessa to deal with. But for me, I’ve had 6 months of losing sight of who I am. The baby arriving is not the moment life changes for a woman, it starts the day you get pregnant! I feel out of control of my own body but worse, my life.
The person I have fought so hard to become, a strong athlete, breaking boundaries, proving women can in countless races… it’s like she’s been erased. I can’t see my feet, I can’t even sit up in a bathtub without pretty monumental effort as my core has separated, my intestines, lungs and bladder have a fraction of my internal space making a lot of things awkward… even a sneeze is now scary for the separating pelvic floor. My work and world have almost totally stopped, no motorcycles, trips, riding.
I’m just at home facing a reflection in the mirror that I don’t recognise.
I’ve even had moments doubting this is even what I want. Yet, while I can pinpoint areas upsetting me there is also a strange feeling of knowing that I am actually OKAY and it’s just the confusion of change, the monumental impact of hormones and the uncertainty of the future.
I am okay but yet somehow, I am not. But what I do know is that deep down I 110% WANT THIS. I am READY TO BE A MUM and while terrifying, this storm, like all storms, will pass.
Pregnancy glow? (32 weeks)
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that, but I am relieved to let you know that I am doing heaps better than my last update. The baby resentment is dramatically better, my mind is able to see the positives of life again and I’m actively looking after myself, AND even possibly as far as… able to say I am excited to meet the new little human that’s been frantically trying to crack my rib cage or make me pee with a kick of it’s heel [seriously how is a 32 week old baby in a belly so strong?!]. The dark late trimester 3 phase has passed and I have to thank my parents, husband, friends and all of you for helping me through.
I’ve been overwhelmed by how many other women out there have also faced some hefty mental health and physical battles during pregnancy. So often we feel alone but the reality is that we are not, it’s just that the world hides the truth. These miss representations can be so harmful for our expectations.
The last few weeks I’ve been focusing really hard on self-love, being kind to myself as I grow a new human and hugely on increasing my readiness for motherhood. This has been in nursery preparations, second hand baby ‘stuff’ shopping and the wonders of audiobooks.
I’m not yet ‘ready’ for motherhood but I’m on the journey and there are smiles and excitement again!
This is not the time to give up
When life brings us tough times it’s import not to lock ourselves away and give up. So despite my struggles with pregnancy I’ve been determined to keep doing my free schools programme and have spoken to 1,600 more wonderful students taking my total to over 24,000. Find out more about my school programme here
With the addition of social media, I can’t imagine what growing up today must be like so if my story as a female breaking boundaries, battling back from a life changing accident, coping with turbulent mental health issues, living with chronic pain and giving tools that have helped me…empowers the future minds…Then I’m committed!!
Life isn’t about being perfect, always winning and getting everything smooth. Setbacks and struggles are normal, what’s important is how we pick ourselves up, learn from them and fight on for a better version of ourselves.
I’m unfortunately not going to be able to keep offering myself for free through the whole pregnancy due to most of my work having to stop but I’m determined to do what I can. If you’d like to donate to support my programme please contact me
Time for chocolate (37 weeks)
With just 24 days to go it’s time to open the first chocolate! Confused?
With our estimated due date being December 19th we’ve decided to shift the dates of our advent calendar to a fun bay due date count down. I’m still not feeling ‘ready’ as such for becoming a mother, but I’m feeling prepared.
Pregnancy for me, like for many, hasn’t been smooth sailing. Lots of complications, feeling like my body has been taken over by an alien (which in some ways it has), add the painful complications of my hip pain, and the sheer size a baby bump and additional 12kg of weight it brings. I certainly haven’t loved every moment.
Thankfully the last few weeks, supported by me slowing down a little but I actually possibly found that pregnancy glow people rave about.
Sadly it was somewhat short lived, and as the due day approaches the ‘beached whale’ like discomfort, ‘practice’ contractions called Braxton Hix, hip pain sleeplessness, and huge restlessness that comes with not being comfortable is really taking over.
The good news is we know when the baby will be born…on its birthday
Staying active (37 weeks)
Staying active throughout pregnancy is proven to help both mother and child. I wasn’t sure if I’d make it up Sugar Loaf again so close to our due date but I knew I wanted to try… And we made it!!! Such a good feeling!!
I’m so lazy! I’ve not done a proper work out in a month, I’m eating more than ever, I’m exhausted when I do just a fraction of my previous day…and my head is continually telling me I’m useless and lazy.
BUT… every day while I feel I am doing ‘nothing’ my body is going through dramatic changes as it throws colossal energy into growing a new human. Pregnancy is a wild rollercoaster and it was not until I saw these two graphics that I really truly comprehended the internal change women’s body goes through.
No wonder we need to pee continually, panic about a potential pee when we sneeze, have bonkers bowel movement, barely any lung capacity and find a kid size plate of food utterly filling. The human body is incredible.
Hypnobirthing – feeling empowered (39 weeks)
How big is its head? And it has to fit out of my?! YIKES!! yet… Mind blowing fact – if you were knocked unconscious, your body could still birth a baby!
Child birth is terrifying but…discovering hypnobirthing, which is effectively the science behind labour and natural birthing, has been a game changer for my readiness! My emotional state as the clock ticks… the impending due date ever getting closer…is like winding up a rubber band. My whole life I’ve had nightmares of labour, heard horror stories and watched absolutely completely miss-represented birth scenes depicted by Hollywood – which all set women up for miss expectations, the wrong mindset and, sadly the result is a statistically far higher need for medical intervention.
Labour is natural. Our bodies have evolved to do this exact process, the body knows what do to if you just relax, find the right head space for maximum oxytocin and let nature take over. Yet society and modern medicine have turned birthing into a medical procedure
How my labour goes, especially with the complications of my hip… only time will tell… but I can tell you that with hypnobirthing my aim is to be relaxed, listening to my body and letting it take control. Yes things can go wrong but the natural science behind it brings so much empowerment to the process.
Plan A is a home water birth with my family
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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.
Yamaha AG100 Review: The Most Robust Motorcycle on the Market?
Could the Yamaha AG100 two-stroke be the ultimate robust, low-maintenance motorcycle? In this in-depth review, I explore what makes this bike so unique, its standout features, and how it’s playing a critical role in transforming healthcare access in some of the most remote areas of Africa with Two Wheels For Life.
Designed for durability and reliability, the Yamaha AG100 is more than just a motorcycle—it’s a lifeline for countless communities. With its simple yet effective engineering, this bike is trusted by the charity Two Wheels for Life, which uses it to mobilize healthcare workers across Africa. The AG100 is ideal for navigating tough terrains, tackling dirt roads, and enduring the challenges of remote environments.
Its low-maintenance design and legendary reliability align perfectly with the charity’s “zero breakdown” policy, ensuring healthcare professionals can reach those in need without fail.
In this review, I take you through:
The AG100’s key specifications and features that make it a standout choice.
Why it’s the preferred motorcycle for healthcare mobilization in places like The Gambia.
How Two Wheels for Life is using these bikes to save lives, one journey at a time.
As a proud ambassador for Two Wheels for Life , I’ve seen firsthand how these bikes are making a tangible difference. From transporting vaccines to providing critical medical support, the Yamaha AG100 empowers healthcare workers to deliver life-saving services in areas where vehicles often struggle to go.
Want to see the Yamaha AG100 in action and hear more about its incredible story?
Watch my full Yamaha motorcycle review below.
Where I break down everything you need to know about this remarkable motorcycle and its life-changing impact.
If you’re inspired by the mission of Two Wheels for Life, I encourage you to learn more about their work and explore how you can help support their efforts. Together, we can make a difference.
You can learn more about the charity and see my two-wheel adventure through The Gambia on the AG100 here in this 2 part series
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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.
How to install dirtbike graphics for dummies: a step by step guide
Are you ready to give your motorcycle a fresh new look? Whether you’re updating old graphics or customizing your bike for the first time, changing your dirtbike graphics is a great way to make it truly yours. In this detailed guide, I break down the entire process to help riders of all skill levels achieve a professional finish at home in changing their dirtbike graphics.
Customizing your bike doesn’t have to be daunting! My comprehensive guide will walk you through:
Preparing your motorcycle for new graphics: Learn how to properly clean and prep your bike to ensure the decals adhere smoothly and last longer.
The tools and materials you’ll need: I’ll show you exactly what to have on hand to make the process efficient and frustration-free.
Step-by-step application techniques: From alignment tricks to removing air bubbles, I’ll share tips that guarantee a seamless application.
Pro tips for a sharp, long-lasting finish: Discover how to avoid common mistakes and get your graphics looking flawless.
Want to see how it’s done? Check out my full video below, where I walk you through the whole process of changing motorcycle graphics step by step. It’s packed with handy tips, the tools you’ll need, and some tricks to help you nail that pro look right in your own garage.
Whether you’re totally new to this or just want to give your bike a fresh look, this guide keeps it simple, fun, and doable. Graphics aren’t just stickers—they’re all about showing off your style and making your bike pop on the road or trail.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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.
Everything you need to know about motorcycle battery maintenance
Flat batteries are a motorcyclist’s worst nightmare, often striking at the worst times. With modern bikes relying on advanced electronics, proper battery maintenance is crucial to avoid breakdowns and extend battery life. Enter the CTEK CT5 Powers Smart Charger – a game-changing tool designed to keep your motorcycle battery in peak condition, ready to roar whenever you are. Discover how this easy-to-use device can save you time, money, and frustration while ensuring your next ride starts without a hitch.
You’re killing your motorcycle & don’t even know it! Here’s the solution…
Battery failure
If you look at the statistics, battery failure is often considered the number one cause for breakdowns around the world. This is both a big cost for possible call outs to get you home but also in the cost of new and replacement batteries due to failure from lack of maintenance. Not to mention the frustration, wasted time and disappointment of not having a reliable vehicle.
Our modern vehicles have pretty complex and sensitive electrical equipment that constantly draws current from the battery, which means there is an ever-increasing number of mechanical faults that are battery related. The good news is that the expense and inconvenience of battery failure is totally avoidable and can be heavily reduced by regular battery maintenance.
In this article I’m going to share one of my most recommended garage items. I’ve been using these CTEK smart chargers for near on 15 years now. An easy way to explain why is that a simply £65 ish can extend battery life by 3 times – this means the unit literally pays for itself and can continue to save you money in the long run!
Flat battery – jump start it?
Yes but…Did you know a normal jump start can actually damage your long-term battery health? I know I didn’t know this until I started swotting up. The intense surge a traditional jump pack gives can actually have detrimental implications for your long-term battery health. Plus with modern vehicle electrics the surge in power can damage electrical systems too. This is just yet another reason why we should be working to reduce the frequency of a flat or unhealthy battery.
Let’s start by looking at how a battery works
I’m going to simplify how a battery works to make it far easier to understand. Let’s start with a led acid battery. Inside there are plates of lead and sulphuric acid. When you don’t look after your battery, or it sits still, or its got loads of charge lost and then full charge, all those things that hurt a battery. The plates that are in the battery will get sulphur crystals on them from the sulphuric acid. When you get a plate with crystals on it, that bit of plate becomes useless. It can no longer hold change and no longer help the battery do what it needs to do for battery performance. You’ve basically lost part of the capacity of your battery.
Additionally, if you were to picture a pint glass, bear with me, and fill it with a muddy water mix which has lots of particles in it. If you leave that for a period of time it will settle and separate. And that is a similar thing that is going on in your battery, and when that happens you lose your performance again. So when you start to bring in products like the CTEK charger which are smart chargers that will actually send messages to the battery to work out what condition it is in, and then react accordingly. It will send forces that will break up those crystals, it will stir up the murky water. Obviously I’m simplifying this. But in that maintenance programme that the smart chargers are on, it will actually fix and maintain, and keep your battery health going.
Setting the scene – you bike won’t start
It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and you’re off for a ride. What is the most disappointing thing that could happen? Finding you have a flat battery!
make your battery last considerably longer and perform more reliably
save you money
Introducing the CTEK CT5 POWERSPORT providing fully automatic charging for a range of vehicles.
With busy lives, winter, injury or just life taking over seeing many motorcycles and cars parked up for prolonged periods of time keeping their battery health up is important for a few reasons:
ensuring the vehicle will start when you decide to use it
keeping the battery health up and charged to capacity
helping ensure longevity of the battery
guaranteeing your battery is ready to go when you are
Unfortunately, if left unused a battery will lose charge and when a battery loses is full charge it dramatically reduces the long-term life of the unit – picture the lead disks and pint of water mentioned about regarding battery health.
How to use a smart charger
The CTEK devices are designed to live on your battery when not in use. They are perfectly engineered to provide the optimal level of current to keep the battery life in the ready and happy range. It’s actually possible to keep a battery running for many years longer when properly maintained with a CTEK too. That is a big saving.
These chargers are easy to connect, spark proof and reverse polarity protected, so you can use them unsupervised and there’s no need to even disconnect it from the battery – simply ‘plug and play’ and the charger will do the rest. My recommendation is to install two pigtails to the battery, red to positive, black to negative. This little pigtail can then be left conveniently located on the bike ready to plug in when you park up.
All CTEK battery chargers are approved for outdoor use (IP65 and IP44). If you’re using a cheaper rival and you’re using a battery charger outdoors, you must use a charger that’s approved for outdoor use or you could run into trouble.
Why battery charging should be on your maintenance list
As vehicle technology continues to develop, more and more strain is placed on the battery. As a result, battery charging has become an essential part of bike and car maintenance which should be considered as important as checking tyre pressures and oil levels.
There are various types of battery charger currently available – mostly smart chargers and trickle chargers. However, smart chargers present a much safer and efficient way of maintaining and prolonging the life of the battery.
How a trickle charger works and why you don’t want one
With a trickle charger once a battery has reached its optimum charge levels, a trickle charger will simply send in a level of charge for a certain amount of time and then switch itself off. It will continually repeating the process until it is removed from the battery. This method of battery charging can potentially overcharge the battery, causing it to dry out or even start to gas, and could ultimately kill the battery.
This is why I recommend a smart charger.
How a CTEK smart charger works
CTEK’s smart chargers move into a pulse maintenance mode once the battery is fully charged. Rather than sending in a charge and estimating what the battery needs, a CTEK charger will stay in constant communication with the battery, reacting and charging only when it is needed.
In pulse maintenance mode, the battery will be allowed to naturally self-discharge to a certain level before being fully charged once again. Not only does this avoid the risk of overcharging but, as the battery is being exercised as it would be during normal use, the lifespan of the battery is extended considerably.
CTEK’s unique range of smart chargers optimise the performance of lead-acid batteries through accurate readings of a battery’s charge levels, then ensuring the appropriate action is taken so the battery is always ready for use.
CTEK chargers extend the battery’s life and eliminates the problem of battery failure. More importantly, it makes sure that vehicles start first time, every time and the problem of battery failure is eliminated.
What vehicles can CTEK work on?
CTEK designs and manufactures a range of smart battery chargers and accessories to suit all types of lead-acid batteries for vehicles including cars, bikes / motorcycles, marine vessels, agricultural vehicles and even lawnmowers.
Why CTEK?
They are the leaders in the market, and they’ve got years of R&D to ensure the optimum performance int heir produces. The most important property of a battery charger is that it reaches the exact voltage during the charging cycle. Ge this wrong and your battery is in trouble. If the voltage is too high, the battery boils. The battery then becomes unusable due to dried-out cells and crevice corrosion, which occur when there’s high acid concentration and overheating during charging. If the voltage is too low, you end up with an incompletely charged battery that will lose more and more capacity until it gradually becomes unusable.
CTEK have designed a range of products fit for purpose. Many times a vehicle is going to be parked outside when needing charging, leaving you at risk with the elements and electrical products. However, CTEK know battery chargers are often used in damp and dusty environments, such as:
Outdoors
In garages
On caravans and campers
Around harbours and on boats
Smart chargers have three advanced modes
The CT5 POWERSPORT has been designed specifically to charge and maintain powersport batteries using advanced technology to give you three fully automatic charging and maintenance programs:
Normal
AGM
Recond
Normal – this is for living on your battery and maintains the correct charge to be ready for action. The units come with small battery connections that can be fitted and left discreetly on the bike. You can then clip the CTEK on and off in seconds giving you no excuses to not pop it on when you park up. Recond – if your battery has run flat or is losing charge rapidly, the CTEK CT5 POWERSPORT can be put on an intelligent mode than will effectively recondition your battery. It’s not guaranteed to bring it back to live but I’ve many, many a battery living on after a CTEK recond.
What is the CTEK CT5 Powersport
The CT5 is a smart charger to optimise the performance of lead-acid batteries through accurate readings of a battery’s charge levels, then ensuring the appropriate action is taken so the battery is always ready for use. It effectively charges and maintains your battery when not in use.
CTEK CT5 Powersport Ease of use
Attached using two battery connections you simply install these once and you’re then good to go. You can leave it on for endless amounts of time. I’ve left my Harley for 10 months before and she started first turn over having had the CTEK CT5 POWERSPORT on to keep the battery maintained and ready for action.
The Techy Bits – CTEK CT5 Powersport (40-138) General Information Comfort Connect compatible: Yes. Rated voltage: 220-240v AC 50-60Hz. Charging current: 2.3 amps. Current, mains: 0.5 amps RMS (at full charge current). Back current drain: <1.5 Ah/month. Ambient temperature: -20 deg.C to +50 deg.C. Output power is reduced automatically at high temperature. Battery types: All types of 12v lead acid batteries (wet, MF, GEL, Ca/Ca and AGM). Battery capacity: 5-25Ah Dimensions: 292 x 132 x 102 mm Insulation class: IP65. In the EU, all battery chargers must be CE marked. Third party testing and approval of equipment is required for your safety.
Limitations of the powersport
Honestly, as someone who has owned a CTEK charger for over 15 years with the original unit still working, I have not found a single limitation. Having correctly maintained batteries with a CTEK unit installed on each vehicle, I would never be without them.
Maybe the limitation is on the human. If you forget to connect your CTEK you’re going to regret it….
How much is a CTEK smart charger?
You’re looking at £60-75 for a unit that comes with a warranty and is likely to last 10 plus years. You’ll have a ready for action bike or car and the piece of mind that you’re properly maintaining them. Avoiding the disappointment of a ‘sputter, sputter, sputter’ is worth every penny. Also, by monitoring your battery condition, you can prevent a deep discharge occurring, which will result in loss of performance and early replacement.
The sooner you get one the sooner you’ll keep your battery health up Get in the habit of having it permanently connected when parked up, it’s designed to be so it won’t over or under charge. It’s kind of magic how a totally dead battery that you thought was only destined for scrap can be fully reconditioned and live on reliably after a CT5 revamp – saves you money on battery’s.
Overall Rating of the CTEK CT5 Powersport
Small but highly powerful and practical device giving you the confidence that you’re ride will be ready to go when you are. Looks after your battery for the longest life possible to give the most reliable performance so that nothing can come between you and that adventure. Must have for anyone with a vehicle with a battery!
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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.
Win the Ultimate Riding Experience with Vanessa Ruck and Paul Bolton!
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! I’m thrilled to announce my partnership with Boys Competitions to bring you an incredible chance to win not only epic prizes but also an unforgettable riding experience with me and legendary pro rider Paul Bolton.
What can you win?
The Ride of Your Dreams
Winner Plus Friend: Join me and Paul Bolton at the stunning Wern Duu venue in March 2025 for an exclusive day of riding and adventure.
Morning Ride with Vanessa: Kickstart the day with a fun, adventurous ride alongside Vanessa. It’s the perfect way to ease into the action while enjoying valuable riding time and tips from her.
Lunch with the Pros: Recharge with a delicious lunch and mingle with Vanessa, Paul Bolton, and fellow winners. It’s your moment to chat, capture memories, and soak in the excitement.
Afternoon Thrills: Shift into high gear as Paul Bolton takes the lead for an adrenaline-packed riding session. Elevate your skills, tackle new challenges, and gain insider tips from the pros.
Exclusive Memorabilia & KTM Giveaway: Walk away with signed keepsakes from Vanessa and a shot at winning the ultimate off-road machine—the 2025 KTM 300 EXC Champion Edition – A beast of a bike that’s built for legends.
Your own KTM 300 EXC Champions Edition!
One lucky rider could win the ultimate off-road machine: the 2025 KTM 300 EXC Champions Edition—the bike that’s built for thrills and adventure.
Over £84,000 in Prizes
That’s right—this competition is packed with experiences, new bikes, memorabilia and cash prizes! Tickets start at less than £1, so everyone has a chance to win.
Choose Your Tickets: Starting at under £1 per entry, you may enter this competition up to 2000 times
Mark Your Calendar: Winners will be announced in March 2025.
Who Can Enter?
This competition is open to riders of all levels, but you’ll need to bring your own bike and gear to participate in the Wern Duu event. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this experience is designed to be fun, engaging, and unforgettable.
Don’t miss this opportunity to ride with me, meet Paul Bolton, win cash prizes, merchandise and possibly take home the bike of your dreams. Enter now and let’s make 2025 a year to remember!
For full terms and conditions see boys.co.uk website.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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.
Pregnancy and motorcycles – can you ride a motorbike pregnant?
Can you ride a motorcycle pregnant?
Pregnancy is a magical thing, but it is different for everyone. You need to really listen to your body and understand what risks you’re willing to take. In this article I’m going to be talking about riding motorcycles into pregnancy but before we start, I want to make it clear. I am NOT a medical professional and this is all based on a lot or research done myself and based off my own experience with my first pregnancy.
Who am I?
I’m Vanessa Ruck a professional motorcycle rider and racer, adventurer, content creator, motivational speaker and also rally car driver. At the time of writing this I am 22 weeks pregnant with my first baby at the age of 37. My physical history is a little of a roller coaster in a few areas, key elements related to pregnancy are:
History of ovarian cysts with 3 surgeries removing these, polycystic ovaries and endometriosis. My first cyst appeared and was removed within 24 hours of seeing the GP at the young age of 13 due to the excruciating pain. But thankfully over the years the medical professionals have been able to stabilise my female system, normalising my periods including the pain and making life a lot easier. But I was always warned that getting pregnant might be somewhat challenging. I’m grateful to say our first came quickly on trying.
We then have my hip. I had a road traffic accident while cycling in 2014 which led to 7 surgeries including 5 on my right hip. The hip pain is something I now manage on a daily basis and has since been a worry for childbearing and birthing. I found the additional pregnancy weight has put further strain on the hip. Plus my usual pain medications are something I have had to change and really try to limit the use of due to the pain medication traveling across the placenta [always speak to your doctor]. Pregnancy has made my pain management more challenging. Time will tell on how the birth goes. You can read more about my accident here.
In terms of fitness I would say I am in the top percentile in society despite managing my chronic hip pain. This January 2024, 3 months prior to conceiving I competed in one of the worlds toughest endurance races in the world, the Africa Eco Race – the original Dakar on my motorcycle . This is a gruelling 13-day 6,000+ km extreme desert off road race across multiple African countries on a motorcycle. Upon making it to the finish line I became the first British female to ever successfully finish the event.
The fitness involved for these sorts of races is a testament to the training, nutrition and activities I do to look after my body. I am fit! 6 pack, low body fat, strong cardiovascular fitness and a very healthy well-balanced diet. My lifestyle is active and adventurous.
When it comes to motorcycles I probably ride bikes on average 4 days a week, with some adventures being 2-3 weeks of daily 8+ hours riding. My body is very used to being on a motorcycle, including both on road, off road, adventure, enduro, trials, touring and even track. Skill wise I am a very confident rider both on and off road in a huge breadth of conditions.
I realise this is not vital information for your pregnancy but I wanted to ensure you understand my position. This article is going to share key things to consider in your decision process as to whether you want to ride a motorcycle into pregnancy, and so knowing my situation will help you evaluate.
If you prefer to watch than read, here is the two-part video series explaining things to consider for riding motorcycles while pregnant
Part 1 – Everything you need to consider for riding a motorcycle while pregnant
Part 2 – Vital tips for riding a motorcycle into pregnancy without complications
Motorcycles and pregnancy
The key thing I’ve been told and repeatedly read is that you should “keep doing what your body is used to” and “listen to your body”. Our bodies are incredibly capable of telling you if you should not be doing something. Take Norway 2 weeks ago, I decided to jump into a glacier melt lake…it was very cold. The moment I hit the water at 20 weeks pregnant my body went…. “No! No Vanessa, this isn’t where we should be, get out”. So I listened to it, I didn’t try to fight the inner voice saying no stay. I climbed out and dried off. Later on, in googling I realised that extreme shocks like cold water are best avoided but the wonderful thing is that we don’t always know these things, instead our bodies tell us. We are designed by nature to survive and so our natural instincts are powerful.
Always listen to your body
Always listen to your body! As your bump grows, you’ll start to realise that things are changing, you can’t move in quite the same way. My pelvis and hips and moving for example and this morning I just had this urge to sit on the floor, straight back and feet together, pulling the hips apart. I don’t remember ever sitting like this before. I’d not read it anywhere, but my body told me to do it. Later chatting to some girls at my new prenatal group I learned that it’s one of the most effective positions to support the strain as the pelvis moves. Again, my body, my own natural instincts told me what to do though the little voices inside.
Be kind to your body
You then need to be kind to your body. Pregnancy is a huge transformation on the female form. We grow a whole new organ with the placenta AND we grow a whole new human. The development, changes, growth of milk ducts, relaxation of joints, moving of the pelvis, adjustments in the brain for nurturing and the energy to do all this is colossal. I would describe the first 22 weeks as being totally out of control of my body for the first time ever. I’ve always been so attuned to it, so aware and knowledgeable of every feeling…and now I can’t even see my own female parts from the bump. My centre of balance has changed, my breasts have nearly doubled in size, I’m already 6kg heavier, my hair and skin is different [actually in a good way] but my body is changing so much. For more on my pregnancy journey please see my pregnancy articles here .
Being kind to your body means looking after it and realising that the energy we had pre pregnancy might be a long way off the pregnancy energy. The strength in your body might feel gone. I feel that I have maybe 60% of my normal strength now and same with my energy, which had plummeted to maybe 20% in the first trimester is now sat at around 50% of my normal energy. Everything feels harder, more strenuous and far more effort.
Pregnancy is not the time for new sports
This alone could be a strong factor in the activities you want to do while pregnant. So a key thing is to not throw even more new things at your body. Pregnancy is not the time to take on a new sport, strive to increase your fitness, lose weight or push your PB. Pregnancy is really a time to accept a changing body and try to stay active. There is numerous amounts of research showing that an active pregnancy helps both your health and the babies, but also can lead to a smoother less painful birth and recovery – huge bonus.
It’s proven that staying active in pregnancy is a good thing
Staying active in pregnancy is a really good option for both your mental and physical health, and that of your babies. So if you’re used to running, then go running. If you MTB, then go out there and ride. If you swim, play netball, or ride motorcycles, then keep doing it! Your body will tell you if you shouldn’t be doing it. If it hurts, stop. If it’s uncomfortable, don’t do it. If a little voice in your head makes you feel uneasy, then listen to it and stop, adapt and be kind to yourself.
While you are carrying on doing what you do, remember the previous point on being kind to yourself. Your body is doing a LOT growing a whole new little life, and so allow your expectations on yourself to adjust. This is something I am and have been really struggling with. Non pregnant Vanessa was far better at all this, far more energy, more strength, even more coordination [as the bump grows your centre of gravity changes]. My husband and family have really had to keep reassuring me that it’s ok to be a little slow and also a little more cautious. That’s my body slowing me down to divert the energy to the beautiful little creation happening inside.
Do we have to avoid impacts, bumps and vibrations while pregnant?
In short, yes, we do need to be more careful, but this does not mean a blanket ban to all things outdoors and bed rest!! In fact, it is far from it! As your pregnancy develops you do need to be more mindful of impacts and the risk of falls or hits to the bump. I raced my rally car at 10 weeks strapped into a 5-point harness and bucket seat. I realise many would say that was risky, but I know my body is used to being in a rally car.
There was no bump yet, so the harness had no pressure point to worry about on the bump and I was protected by a roll cage. It’s possible my driving was a fraction more cautious with my precious baby load but I felt comfortable in the car. I think my hormones were the most problematic with me close to tears and having to pretend all was fine as at 10 weeks no one knows you’re pregnant… There is very little discussion online about racing motorcars pregnant, but I felt comfortable that the risks involved were less than that in a car on the road. There is no accident caused by someone else in a rally car like on the road!
When I MTB from around 21 weeks I started to pick slightly different routes. Opting for the smoother fire track trails and less aggressive single-track routes. The bumps just feel a little too much for my body. If I do encounter some bumps, I simply slow down and pootle through them. Again, listen to your body.
Himalayan ADV motorcycle trip at 13 weeks pregnant
At 13 weeks I did a full-on off-road adventure motorbike ride for two weeks in the Indian Himalayas. I have to say this was one of the most extreme ADV trips or motorcycle adventures I have been on. We faced 10+ hour days out on the motorbikes, altitude of up to 19,000 feet, temperatures from -4 to 36 degrees and very basic accommodation with no showers or heating. Riding a motorcycle in pregnancy could unlikely be pushed much harder than this. So how was my body?
It was a tough trip, that I won’t deny. But it was also a tough trip for the two non-pregnant people I did the adventure with. Being pregnant certainly added to it but it didn’t make it impossible. There were 2 or 3 days where towards the end of the day on rocky off-road trails my body started to ache. My insides felt just a little too shaken and I felt ready to get off the bike. These days we eased off a little and balanced the time for stops verse making progress to the end destination. The tips to follow in this article will help you understand how I got through the trip and the pregnancy motorcycle learnings. You can watch the full Himalayan series here:
Adapting to pregnancy – mental health
As a very fit and active female, the transition to pregnancy has been a challenge. The day you see that positive test results doesn’t just mean BANG life as you knew it is over .There is a 9 month process, and across those months, what you can and can’t do will develop.
For me as an athlete my mental health is a huge consideration. For me to just stop doing all the thing that make me, me, the things I enjoy, the hobbies, outdoors and fitness, just stopping would have crushed me mentally. My way of coping with life’s pressures, stress, managing pain, clearing my mind, enjoyment and social interactions all come around active sports. If I simply stopped, then there would be huge mental health implications. Pregnancy has made me not feel like me on a pure physical level of my body changing so dramatically, so losing my lifestyle overnight would be a step too far mentally. It’s about finding the balance of doing verse not doing, managing the risks you’re prepared to take and doing what YOU feel fit and comfortable doing.
It is your pregnancy, not societies
Don’t let society norms and judgement from others, or even just others’ opinions on what they think is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, impact you. Do your research, know your body, your risk appetite and do what feels right for you.
Only you know your body and your relationship with riding motorcycles
There are some key things to consider in your decision process to riding motorcycles so let’s run through them:
What motorcycle to ride in pregnancy
Who are you riding with
What terrain to ride in pregnancy
Know your skill
Gauge your own risk
What protective clothing can you wear
1. What motorcycle to ride in pregnancy
Not all bikes are equal. Consider what type of riding you are doing in terms of the risk, the body position and the impact. I was comfortable off road ADV motorcycle riding up to 13 weeks pregnant. Now at 22 weeks I would happily take my enduro motorbike down a gentle track, but it would be pretty pointless as it would feel rather tame. Instead opting for a road bike is far more suitable for later pregnancy. At 18-19 weeks pregnant I rode a 15-day motorcycle trip to Norway on a large Harley-Davidson cruiser. This is like a lovely big sofa with an engine. It was a group ride, with long ish days but lots of stops and it was perfectly comfortable. There were a few days where my energy struggled but the tips below will help that.
A leant over sports bike with a bump is going to be far less comfortable. A trials bike or hard enduro is going to be high risk [depending on your skill] but even these can be toned down to make them safer with a gentle green lane on known trails.
For me as pregnancy developed, I opted for more comfortable and more upright road bikes. Lower risk, lover impact, more comfortable and less stress on the body.
2. Who are you riding with
This is more important than you might think. Being with people you trust, who know you and can help you recognise when you’re pushing yourself too far can be really helpful. Plus, we all know those small ego people who can make riding a little more dangerous or maybe even bring out the more competitive nature in you. A relaxed riding buddy with no worries on pace if you’re feeling a little higher self-preservation or caution as you ride, someone happy to have a few more breaks and stops for that frequent pregnancy toilet requirement will take a lot of pressure off, and thus risk.
3. What terrain to ride in pregnancy
This one is pretty obvious. Wern ddu Quarry , a hard enduro park, probably isn’t the best place for a baby bump. But some familiar roads or known trails are going to be far more appropriate. As mentioned, I did a pretty extreme off-road ADV trip in the Himalayas at 13 weeks , I stopped off-road riding at around the start of the 2nd trimester. But I continued with road. Most roads are smooth, flowing and enable you to ride at the pace that suits you. Avoiding big bumps and the risk of impact is key. As a road rider on a motorcycle we’re always going to want to avoid falling off
4. Know your skill
This one is a VERY honest conversation with yourself. You have to know your own risk. A world champion enduro rider or trials rider is probably going to be pretty safe from the risk of falling or having a little dabble on their bikes. A newbie would be a different story and so the risk of riding that motorcycle during pregnancy changes.
Do you fall off? Do you feel 100% in control 100% of the time? You are the only one that can answer this question.
This is where your own risk perception is vital. Take me and mountain bike riding. I can’t remember the last time I feel off my MTB on my local trails. I ride 1-1.5 hours on my eMTB regularly. My fitness is good, I am confident in my skills for control and I know the trails well. This means I am happy to keep riding right into pregnancy. Many online sites say no cycling after 3 months because of the risk of falling. I personally don’t see a risk of falling as I am a competent rider. If you’re experienced at something the risk is totally different to the risk of falling for someone less skilled. You have to gauge your own risk. MTB I am comfortable with.
Take enduro ride, I am a very competent rider, I completed multiple extreme desert rallies but the risk off-road for me is too much now at 22 weeks. I’ve decided to stick to the road now until that becomes uncomfortable
5. Gauge your own risk
How much risk are you willing to take. I have a family friend who couldn’t even go up a 3-foot ladder in pregnancy for fear of falling. I don’t think I have ever fallen off a ladder so to my brain there is no risk involved. How does your body feel?
Remember to bear in mind that your body is changing. Your abs split and your core strength literally changes, a huge bump grows too, and all this is going to affect your ability to do things while pregnant, including riding motorcycles.
6. What protective clothing can you wear
This is obvious but your body is going to grow! Riding a motorcycle in the correct gear is always vital. Dress for the slide not the ride and with pregnancy your size is going to change. Do you have kit with enough flexibility / stretch to fit as your bump grows and hips widen? Can you buy some second hand kit to fit for the few months you’ll need it? What about borrowing a partners or larger friends kit?
When I left for Norway at 18 weeks I bought a pair of stretchy Oxford Product jeans two sizes bigger. I put them on and found a 4inch slack for growth. I knew that week’s 18-20 the baby can grow by 25% and so anticipated a bump acceleration. Two weeks later these trousers were snug and now at 22 weeks they are very tight! I am still able to wear my husband’s riding jeans and his jackets have enough slack for my bump.
Consider what kit you have and make sure you are always wearing the right protection on a motorcycle.
Pregnancy and motorcycles – a few more important things to consider
The foundation on extreme sport and pregnancy is covered. If your body is used to being on a bike and you’re happy with the risk then you can ride! I’ve gathered a few more detailed things to consider before you decide how far into pregnancy you’re willing to ride a motorcycle but remember that this is about YOU and YOUR body, and the opinions of others is 100% irrelevant! You do YOU!
It’s OK to be too tired to ride
Always, always, always have water with you
Don’t get too hot
Snacks on snacks!
Know where the bathrooms are
Bumps aren’t bad
Acceleration, deceleration and leaning
At some point, your gear or bike might not fit
1. It’s OK to be too tired to ride
Pregnancy is absolutely exhausting. I was well past the halfway point when I got the second-trimester energy boost everyone talks about… but the energy boost was not back to pre-pregnancy energy, just an improvement on trimester one. The first thing I learned is that I couldn’t ride as long or as often as I used to but due to work I didn’t have much choice. It wasn’t until 22 weeks that I reduced my calendar and cancelled some big trips like off road enduro riding in Iceland with Ride with Locals [see my last Iceland trip here . I found a long day ride really draining. I would get to the end absolutely shattered and I would not recommend this. Do try and plan to be kinder on yourself. If you have the energy for a full day, great — ride your heart out! But if you don’t, please don’t be hard on yourself. You’re growing a human.
2. Always, always have water with you
Staying hydrated is critical in maintaining a healthy level of amniotic fluid for the baby. I rarely ride without water anyway but with pregnancy this is essential. I’d suggest a tank bag or even easier backpack with bladder and straw. I also add SIS electrolytes to help hydration and made sure I always had plenty of water. If you can’t carry the water, then make sure you plan lots of stops to drink.
3. Don’t get too hot
Our pregnant bodies can easily run hot, and throughout pregnancy this is something to avoid. It’s the same reason saunas and hot tubs are not recommended. You want to avoid your core body temperature going over 101 degrees / 38 Celsius for a prolonged period. Heat like this can lead to neural tube defects. It’s important to stay cool and not get overheated. This can be tough in summer months. Depending where you live, be careful with heat, maybe rider earlier in the day or pick cooler routes by the coast or mountains. Take breaks, hydrate and try to cool down.
4. Snacks on snacks!
I’m generally always a snack fan but my goodness pregnancy has taken it to a new level! Although it’s a misconception that you’re eating for two, you’re not, but you do need to increase your calories by around 300 calorie-per-day. For me with the fatigue I found regular grazing and snacking a powerful way to maintain energy and definitely avoid letting yourself get to hangry [hungry-angry]. I found that if I didn’t eat about every 2 or 3 hours, I would feel nauseated and drained. Keeping protein bars, apricots, nuts and healthy crackers on hand was vital.
5. Plan toilet stops
Be warned you will be needing to pee! I didn’t realise this at first, but it’s not so much the pressure of the growing baby that makes you have to pee all the time, but the hormones. You’ll likely find that in the first trimester you’ll have to pee A LOT. Just let your riding buddies know you may need some frequent stops and it’s also helpful to plan out where bathrooms may be unless you’re comfortable with a gateway pee.
6. Bumps aren’t bad
I’ve mentioned bumps already but hitting a bump on the motorbike isn’t going to hurt the baby. According to my maternity team, going over small bumps is perfectly fine. The baby is protected by the amniotic fluid. During the first trimester and early in the second, your baby is very small and thus more protected. But I would say you really shouldn’t be going full send over speed bumps or larger bumps, especially off road, but those minor bumps in the road are okay. In the same sense, the vibrations of the bike are also safe. The key with the bumps is that your body will tell you if it’s too much. If you feel any discomfort don’t do it.
7. Acceleration, deceleration and leaning
I also worried about whether it’s OK to aggressively get on the throttle or brakes or to do quick transitions in tight corners. Look at it this way, you’re not supposed to ride a rollercoaster while pregnant. Why? Because the jarring motion can separate the placenta from the uterus and the placenta is the baby’s lifeline. Rapid/aggressive acceleration or deceleration or abrupt transitions leaning on and off the bike are similar. That’s what the research says, but I rode some incredible twisty, curvy roads in Norway, at a moderate to face pace while pregnant and my placenta remained perfectly healthy. I did try to make my transitions in terms of speed and lean angle as smooth as possible and not abrupt but that was more my body telling me to be smooth than anything else. Listen to your body!
8. At some point, your gear or bike might not fit
Depending on your bike, body and kit, when this happens will vary. You might find your bump to big to fit with your tank. Only you will know this one!
The motorcycle community & pregnancy
I assumed my pregnancy and motherhood wouldn’t be well-accepted or supported in the motorcycling community. I think I made that assumption because I see so few women motorcyclists share their pregnancy journeys, babies, or even the fact that they’re mums, on social media. There are some women I follow on social media who I would never even known were mums without having learnt about it on a personal level. This led me to perhaps think the industry isn’t supportive, but I’ve had a different experience than what I thought. The community and industry have been surprisingly supportive. Even on the sponsorship side, all bar one sponsor has stuck with me [one brand has left me behind very disappointingly, but I’ll leave you to figure out which one that is].
The wonderful thing about pregnancy is that it is probably the most relatable journey humans go through. Nearly all humans have contact with pregnancy, birth and children at some point.
I really hope this article helps you with your decision about riding motorcycles during pregnancy. My inbox is always open on Facebook and Instagram if you want to ask any questions, share your story or simply say hi.
Part three – Returning to sports post baby birth | Postpartum motorcycle riding advice
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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 Pick Me Up!: Clipping my helmet into place as I left the office, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I’d had a busy day, but I was ready to hit the road.
Jumping on my pedal bike, as the wind hit my face all my stress melted away.
I’d always been active and exercise was a huge part of my life. My weekends were filled with road trips, kite surfing, mountain biking and climbing. I cycled the 16-mile round trip to work every day, hit the gym at lunchtime, then liked to get out onto the water in the evening when I could, too.
And that day, a glorious spring evening in March 2014, I left work and headed off on the eight-mile ride to a lake just outside of central Oxford for a spot of wakeboarding. Coming out of the city, I headed a mile down the road – and as the traffic light ahead of me turned green, I pedalled hard to keep momentum. But as I sailed through, a car came out of nowhere, cutting across my path. It must have skipped a red light. And before I knew what was happening, I felt my body crumple as I smashed into the rear passenger door at 15mph. It felt like hitting a wall.
Screaming as I fell to the ground, one of my feet was stuck on the pedal thanks to my cycling cleats, while my other foot had come out of the shoe and my leg splayed out under the bike.
‘Help!’ I shouted out.
‘Are you OK?’ a stranger asked, rushing over to me.
In a daze, I tried to take in my surroundings. Trapped under the bike, I realised I couldn’t move as pain shot through me.
The traffic noises around me started to fade as people helped lift my bike off me, and passers-by who’d stopped to help shuffled me to the kerb.
Thankfully once the initial shock had subsided, I seemed to be mostly OK, apart from a few scrapes and bruises – although my right arm was in a lot of pain.
One of the people who’d stopped to help called an ambulance, while I called my husband Alex, 37, as the police showed up, too.
‘I’ve been in an accident,’ I told him, my voice trembling.
Alex met me at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford half an hour later, where the extent of my injuries became clear. My finger was dislocated, my right shoulder had doubled in size and my hip was damaged, too.
‘Get some rest, you should be fine,’ doctors said, discharging me after a few hours.
Back at home I was completely exhausted but in good spirits.
‘I was lucky,’ I said to Alex – I was confident that with a bit of rest I’d be fine and back out cycling, wakeboarding and climbing again in no time.
The thought of cycling on a road again was scary after what I’d been through, but I refused to let that stop me.
But as the weeks passed, if anything the pain got worse.
I assumed it was just the bruising and swelling.
These things take time, I told myself. But I couldn’t help thinking that something bigger was wrong.
And after two months of steroid injections to help the pain, I was referred to a specialist who discovered that my shoulder was dislocated.
I underwent full reconstructive surgery in April 2015 and I knew I faced a daunting recovery – but I was prepared to do whatever it took to get back on my feet.
I couldn’t help thinking something was wrong And a few months post-op, I decided to buy a motorbike to commute to work as I was still unable to cycle.
I was terrified, but I knew I had to overcome my fear of being on the roads.
‘I don’t think I can do this,’ I said to Alex as I straddled the bike on our driveway.
But as I gently revved the engine and eased off the drive, I felt a rush of adrenaline. The motorbike gave me the adventure I craved, without pushing my physical limitations too far.
I spent the next year slowly trying to build my strength up and get my life back, and for Alex and me, motorbiking became our new hobby.
But in April 2016, I was devastated to discover I needed hip surgery. It had been causing me a lot of pain, and doctors discovered it was more badly damaged than they’d first realised.
I underwent a seven-hour operation at Cambridge Spire Hospital to fix my joint, ligament and cartilage.
Life as I knew it came to a halt – again. I became dependent on Alex for basic tasks, and I had to learn how to walk all over again.
For someone who’d always been so fit and active, I really struggled. It had been over two years since the accident, and at times it felt like I was going backwards – but I was determined to get back to my old self again.
‘Please can I have a dirt bike?’ I spontaneously said to Alex one morning.
‘If that’s what you want,’ he replied, grinning excitedly. I’d never ridden a dirt bike, but I loved to ride motorcycles, so I was excited to give it a go.
Of course, I had to wait to be mobile enough post-surgery, but we started the hunt and found a great beginner’s bike.
And I was over the moon to see it sat on our driveway a few days later.
Five months later, in September 2016, I was able to steadily ride my dirt bike near to home.
It was completely blissful. I was only going slowly, but it was enough to give me a glimpse of my old life.
But there was a niggling feeling in my hip, and eventually I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
After a private scan, I was devastated to discover that my previous surgery had broken down and I had shrapnel in my hip.
My whole world fell apart when doctors broke the news that I needed yet another operation.
Over the next four years, I underwent four more surgeries to fix my hip and it felt like I was constantly doing physio.
I was craving off-road racing, but I couldn’t take the risk with the damage to my hip.
I spent countless nights in my garage just practising and strengthening my core by doing squats and lunges.
Eventually, I mastered a lot of balancing techniques on my dirt bike, and Alex and I were both so proud of how far I had come. I even started riding again tentatively, too.
‘I’m starting to feel like me again,’ I whispered to myself happily.
And the more I rode my dirt bike and the more I got my confidence back, the more I realised how much I loved it – and how good I was at it.
So in 2020, I took the plunge and competed in my first off-road race.
It was exhilarating – zooming around on off-road courses like gravel, mud or grassy roads. Over the next few years, I entered more competitions and I fell more and more in love with the sport.
In a twisted way, I’m grateful for the accident And in February 2024, I completed my most challenging race yet – an extreme 13-day race from Nador in Morocco to Dakar in Senegal, nearly 3,500km.
Afterwards I was absolutely shattered and every muscle in my body was tired.
But it was definitely my biggest accomplishment outside of my recovery.
I’m the first British female to ever finish this event, and I’m proof that a bad accident doesn’t define you.
The past 10 years have been a rollercoaster ride for me, but without the accident I wouldn’t have found my new favourite sport or achieved any of the amazing things I have.
So in a strange, almost twisted way, I’m grateful for it.
It was hands-down the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, but it’s taught me strength and resilience.
If I can overcome that, I can overcome anything.
Now, with a collection of nine bikes, I’m on a mission to inspire other women to join me on the track.
You can do anything you put your mind to – don’t let fear hold you back.
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.
Riding across the breathtaking Himalayas on a motorcycle seems to be one of those bucket list adventures for everyone, including myself, it has been on my list for years. And I can finally tick it off, after an incredible eight days of epic but largely intense riding I completed the ultimate Himalayan adventure across India on the new 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 350cc motorcycle.
Day 1
Following 2 days of altitude acclimatization in Leh (12,500 feet / 3,810m) we set off into the Himalaya mountains. Leaving the hustle of Leh it was apparent within minutes that we were in for some spectacular scenery on this adventure. The expanses of rugged mountains, the rock formations, raging rivers and aggressive canyons. The road quality was an immediate expectation exceeder, with such high military activities close to the Chinese border the roads are better than most in Europe. We left the tarmac on some small windy canyon roads with dramatic rock faces and minimal traffic. With just 28km to go we turned a corner to face a huge landside, thankfully the Himalayan is made for all roads or no roads…
Day one landslide haults bucket list trip in Himalayas India
Day 1: Leh to Zangla
Total time: 11hr 10min Riding time: 7hr 52min Distance: 176miles (283km) Max altitude reached: 16,257ft (4,955m) Mountain passes/Road/Highway Names: Indus Valley, Yapola River, Sir-Sir La Pass, Sing La Pass, Zanskar Valley (landslide/diggers)
Day 2
The second day in India was by far the scariest & most intense day on a motorbike I’ve had outside of extreme desert racing! In the Himalayas you have to plan for the unexpected!
After an awesome day with some beautiful scenery, we arrived to the Shinkula Pass military check point at 15.30… which was less than ideal as the friendly soldier told us we were too late. The weather was pulling in and strong winds and snow would make it dangerous and impassable. The 2-hour ascent would mean a 17.30pm summit in the worst of the blizzard… But after showing him and explaining what gear we had and that we were equipped he happily let us pass. Well the 2 hour accent quickly turned into 3 and then into 4… The terrain was quickly becoming more slippery, the wind, snow and ice were increasing rapidly, and temperatures were dropping even quicker, the desicion to ride the 16,580ft mountain pass became questionable.
Caught in a snowstorm at 16580 feet in India – brutal day
Day 2: Zangla – Darcha
Total time: 9hr 43min Riding time: 5hr 12min Distance: 113miles / 181km Max altitude reached: 16,532ft Mountain passes/Road/Highway Names: Shinkula Top Pass (Blizzard Mountain pass)
The Himalayas as definitely living up to expectations! A trip of a lifetime! Next up we will be facing the infamous Manali Highway on motorcycles
Day 3
The day of three peaks, riding the Himalayas in India but on a magnitude like nothing before – the Manali Highway, notoriously known as one of the most dangerous roads in the world. And after facing numerous near head on collisions, suicidal chicken buses, plus herds of shaggy goats, pedestrians and stray dogs…and then a 4 hour traffic jam…I can see why!
Riding the Manali highway we faced a mega traffic jam at over 16,000 feet. And at 16k ft on a motorcycle we’re vulnerable. A weather front could be life changing without a car for protection. Politely but forcefully we got vehicles to move slightly and allow bikes through. Soon, 50+ bikes were moving. I stopped to kick snow away to make a gap & quickly realised how little oxygen was available for my increased heart rate. Thankfully we had oxygen tanks and a few puffs later I was back hustling with the goal… Get off this mountain!
4 hour traffic jam on world’s most dangerous road – the Manali highway
Day 3: Darcha – Tso Kar
Total time: 10hr 28min Riding time: 7hr 03min Distance: 170miles/ 275km Max altitude reached: 16,643ft Mountain passes/Road/Highway Names: Baralacha La 16168 ft, Nakee La 16158 ft, Lachalung La 16634 ft
Day 4
As the ultimate Himalayas motorcycle adventure continues we get a scary reality check… altitude sickness. It’s a very serious, real and dangerous things. Starting the day at Tso Kar lake, a considerable altitude, our energy was grounded with the news that a fellow UK traveller had been taken ill with altitude sickness. His oxygen levels down to 52% instead of the desired +80% leaving him no option other than an ambulance ride to Leh hospital. The reminder kept us sharp on our own acclimatisation activities and encouraged us to get checked.
The views that followed across the Tso Kar salt flats as we headed on made from frequent wows with wild horses and wild asses roaming freely. Stepping into another Indian Army run cafe stop in Nyoma it was ideal timing as a sandstorm blew through. We could feel the rattles of the roof panels fluttering and totally lost sight of the bikes parked just outside with the clouds of dust.
Altitude sickness hospitalises biker – the brutal reality of the Himalayas
Tso Kar – Nyoma
Total time: 5hr 22min Riding time: 2hr 12min Distance: 57 miles / 92km Max altitude reached: 16,263ft
Day 5 is our marathon loop tackling a world record awarded road!
Day 5
It’s time to take on one of the riskiest roads in the world on a motorcycle! Umling La Pass in India.
Having to cover a large distance in one day of 386km and like all routes across the Himalayas, there is very little certainty on the road conditions you’re going to face. We’ve been using multiple data points to triangulate the best route plan, but the conditions change so quickly on the ground that you have to plan for the unexpected.
Umling La is the highest motorised road in the world, reaching 19,024 feet /5,798m – sailing higher than Everest base camp and only 12m lower than the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The air density at the top is sub 50% of sea level oxygen levels. Having spent multiple days gradually increasing our altitude and progressively enhancing our exposure to the risk of altitude sickness we were still unsure if the three of us would make it to the top.
Riskiest roads in the world – Umling La Pass, Himalayas – the world’s highest!
Day 5: Nyoma – Day trip to Umling La via Henle
Total time: 11hr 19min Riding time: 7hr 31min Distance: 240miles / 387km Max altitude reached: 19,009ft Mountain passes/Road/Highway Names: Photi La (number of hairpins = 84) Umling La
Day 6
A roadside repair, a wrong turn, nose picking, snacking and some epic Himalayan mountain passes make this a fun day in India riding the Royal Enfield Himalayan. Today we take close proximity to the Chinese border at Pangong Lake after leaving the Diskit Eco lodge homestay in Nyoma. With enthusiasm for the 123km shorter day ahead, we may have got a little ahead of ourselves, and of course as we have learnt during this motorcycle adventure – not everything goes smoothly when in the mountains and when relishing in the off road “shortcuts” things are bound to happen, expect the unexpected.
Drama braving the Indian Himalayas on a motorcycle
Day 6: Nyoma – Pangong
Total time: 7hr 21min Riding time: 3hr 56min Distance: 105 miles / 170km Max altitude reached: 17,800 feet Mountain passes/Road/Highway Names: Kaksang La, Satatho La
Day 7
The Himalayas never give a dull moment especially on a motorcycle. Day 7 sees us leaving the Pangong Tso lake at Rangjon Resort and heading north west back towards Leh. But as always it’s not a smooth sailing adventure riding, I’ll give you some good tips about riding the Himalayas…including showing you that the holy cows are best not hit!
Our ride took us north hugging the lakes sandy banks running along the twisty single track road boasting breathtaking views of the Caribbean like crystal clear waters. Leaving the proximity of the Chinese/Tibetan border behind, our worries for being around an unexpected military conflict eased and the winding roads continued. The tarmac quality lulled us into a false sense of peace. With 60km left the tarmac ended and super rocky dusty adventure trails begin. A sporty final 15km for the day as we overtook and undertook between trucks, cars and 30+ motorcycles using our horns in the Indian way. Boop boop.
It was an adrenaline rush with our new Royal Enfield Himalayans absolutely sucking up the terrain. When you’re on capable off road adv bikes why wouldn’t you overtake and keep pace?
Close encounter with a cow while adv motorcycle riding Indians Himalayas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM-PlcQ6xko
Day 7: Pangong – Nubra
Total time: 7hr 20min Riding time: 4hr 22min Distance: 116miles / 187km Max altitude reached: 14,400
Day 8
The final push back to Leh was a strange feeling but it felt like the Himalayas didn’t want us to leave… landslide after landslide! As a team we were certainly starting to feel weary of the long 11+ hour days riding, basic sleeping and minimal washing so in some senses we felt ready to reach the end of the trip but with such incredible scenery, mind blowing views, epic roads/lack of roads and such reliable bikes…we also didn’t want the trip to end!
The final day saw us heading south conquering our final pass Khardung at 17,982ft. It’s mad to think that 10 days ago making 12,600ft in Leh had us breathless, and now we’ve been to 19,024ft on the worlds highest motorised road!
With 118km of terrain it was a day of tarmac. However the Himalayas were not going to let us have it easy on our last day! We must have encountered 5+ road blocks from landslides. At one in particular they were drilling into the towering rock face… quickly followed by stuffing some form of dynamite equivalent deep into the holes. We stood by our bikes watching and wondering if our life choices of being on this mountain side at this time was a wise one. Was there another way around?
The Himalayas didn’t want us to leave…landslide after landslide
If you would like to see the full route we took whilst riding through the Himalaya mountains in India, or use our route as a basis to plan your next adventure you can find the map files in the links below
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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.
For many people across Africa the only way of reaching medical care is to walk miles by foot, travel the bumpy roads on a donkey and cart or get pushed in a wheelbarrow. And many do not make it at all. Two Wheels for Life works to ensure healthcare reaches people in the poorest and most remote parts of Africa – using reliable, appropriate vehicles including motorcycles. This is a charity for moto lovers!!
They support the mobility of healthcare in areas where the roads would be considered more like a ‘fun enduro track’ to many of us. Providing 300+ motorcycles and 100+ vehicles without Two Wheels For Life many people would be left with absolutely no medical help. The sounds of that two-stroke entering their village must be an incredible noise to hear.
In the video below I will share with you everything you need to know about the incredible work Two Wheels For Life do to support the mobility of healthcare in Africa. Including a guided tour of the Riders For Health HQ that is supported by the funds raised by Two Wheels For Life in The Gambia. I will be showing you the key elements of the organisation from the mechanical workshops, maintenance bar, stores and stock department, refueling areas and processes, plus showing the Yamaha AG bikes used by healthcare workers and of course riding them, testing out their capabilities and exploring the remote villages of The Gambia.
Motorcycles save lives – here’s how
Two Wheels For Life have a zero breakdown policy supported by extensive mechanical training to both the healthcare workers and the network of facilities across The Gambia for vehicles to have regular services. Here, if a vehicle breaks down it means medical support stops and that could quite literally mean a life being lost. They also train them on riding and provide safety gear for a holistic life cycle for use.
Without them, there would be zero ambulances or healthcare vehicles in The Gambia – zero!! That’s something I personally want to continue to support.
I hope you also feel inspired by the work they do. It’s an honour to be working amongst such brands and individuals.
How can you help?
The simplest way you can help that does not cost anything is by watching or sharing my video above. Every extra soul who sees this video is a step towards greater awareness, support and hopefully donations.
As the official charity partner for the Goodwood Festival of Speed and MotoGP, Two Wheels For lIfe provide merchandise you can purchase, take part in auctions, buy official MotoGp memorabilia, meet your motorcylce hero’s, exclusive behind the scenes tickets for MotoGp and so much more! With which every penny raised helps Two Wheels For Life deliver this life saving healthcare.
Alternatively you can make donations directly via the Two Wheels For Life website.
What does a day in the life of a healthcare worker look like in The Gambia?
It’s time to get behind the scenes and see! I had the opportunity to ride alongside Lamin, a local Gambian healthcare worker, on the Yamaha AG motorcycle and spend the day visiting the remote villages and seeing firsthand the amazing and impactful work that Two Wheels For Life provide.
Watch here:
It was an absolute honour to be able to spend time on the ground, visit rural villages, visit the immunization clinics, and be part of this incredible programme. I hope you enjoyed watching and reading about Two Wheels For Life, this is an organisation that does so much more than I could fit into these videos and article so if you would like to learn more, see what else they do, or see other ways you can help or support, please check out their website below.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding 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.