The Hard Alpi Tour is one of the longest and most scenic off-road rallies for larger adventure style motorcycles in Europe. This 800km long event spanning over northern Italy has four classes to allow all levels of motorcycle riders to get involved; The Extreme 1000, The Extreme, Discovery and The Classic.
The Hard Alpi Tour is 80% off road terrain with different lengths and different time allowances for the varying motorcycle classes. You must ride in teams of three as there is no mechanical support available to you, only medical support, so it is vital you carry an array of basic tools that you may need.
The extreme class begins at 11pm and the time allowance is 36 hours, this is what hubby Alex, bestie Anika and I decided to take on. In the video’s below I will show you the full behind the scenes of this adventure, showing you what to expect and what is involved, including riding footage direct from the Harley Davidson Pan America motorcycle; an adventure bike never before seen at this event.
Watch here
Part 1:
Part 2:
How heavily did I have to modify the Harley-Davidson Pan America motorcycle to make it handle a 36 hour Hard Alpi Tour Extreme 780km event? Here you go:
Changed the rubber to my favourite adv Michelin Motorcycle Anakee Wilds for the best traction
Added OEM Harley LED lights on front bars
Strapped on Mosko Moto Reckless 40 panniers for my sleeping and bivi bag, and road snacks
Screwed on a Peak Design phone mount
Downloaded the Harley navigation app to load the events GPX file straight to the bikes screen
Paired up our Cardo Systems intercoms for the ultimate banter
Carried charging cables and power banks to recharge lights / phones on the road
Turned off HD traction control and selected off road mode Then…it was all down to me!
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.
Following an epic 6-day motorcycle adventure through Iceland with RideWithLocals I have compiled a list of top tips and key things to know before you head out on your own Icelandic adventure. In the video below I will explain and discuss the following:
What to wear on your feet
How to safely cross rivers
Water quality
Weather
Tyres
Accommodation
Risk factors
Icelandic roads, tracks & terrain
Safety and security
Animals
Culture
Food
Watch the full video here
I filmed this while on a motorcycle trip in Iceland, my number one motorcycle riding country in the world. I did this trip with RideWithLocals – the only local Icelandic run off road motorcycle company and based just a 2h 45min flight from the UK.
if you want to see more about the overall trip please see my other videos from this series here:
Part 1: Off-road motorcycling through the heart of ICELAND
Enduro bike off road review on KTM EXC-F 350 in Iceland:
Part 2: The volcano erupts daily and you can ride motorcycles right there – EPIC!
For a fully-inclusive motorcycle Iceland trip on KTM EXCFs with a support vehicle, fuel, meals, snacks, mountain huts, hotels, beer and all the local knowledge from the Vikings, expect to pay around €4400 per person.
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.
With so many enduro motorcycles on the market, it’s time to let you know my thoughts on the KTM EXC-F 350 and give you a full review. After spending 6 days and covering 300-400km each day in the saddle of this KTM EXC-F motorcycle riding through the heart of Iceland I thought what better place to do a review on this motorcycle than in this stunning landscape. In the video below I’ll talk through the key stats and get into the depths of how it feels to ride.
Enduro bike off road review on KTM EXC-F 350 in Iceland
The KTM offers a middle ground option for enduro riding that could be your ideal next or first enduro bike.
Some key areas I focus on in this review:
Size, power and weight ratio
Suspension
Ergonomics and riding position
Ground clearance
Seat height
Fuel tank
Weights
And of course, my concluding thoughts on the KTM EXC-F 350
I filmed this while on a trip in Iceland, my number one motorcycle riding country in the world, with Ride With Locals. Iceland offers motorcycle riding experiences like nowhere else on Earth so if you want to see more about the overall trip please see my other videos from this series here:
Part 1: Off-road motorcycling through the heart of ICELAND
Part 2: The volcano erupts daily and you can ride motorcycles right there – EPIC!
Top tips for riding motorcycles – Iceland
For a fully-inclusive motorcycle Iceland trip on KTM EXCFs with a support vehicle, fuel, meals, snacks, mountain huts, hotels, beer and all the local knowledge from the Vikings, expect to pay around €4400 per person.
Ride With Locals are the only Icelandic enduro company and based just a 2h 45min flight from the UK.
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.
Alpinestars Tech-Air Off Road Motorcycle Airbag Review
The Alpinestars Tech-Air Off Road Airbag is finally available on the public market! Boasting a 95% reduction in crash impact on the body – in my opinion that’s kit worth wearing.
I joined the Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road global press launch in Death Valley, USA to test out the third-generation airbag. In the video below I will talk to you about all the details of this life saving piece of kit and why you should consider wearing one. Having used the Alpinestars Tech-Air off road motorcycle airbag myself for 2 years of rally racing including 8 international multi day races and the infamous original Dakar – The Africa Eco Race – I can say it’s saved my body and potentially my life on 5 occasions.
This video also includes multiple motorcycle crash videos where you can see how my air vest deploys.
Watch it here
What is the Tech-Air Off Road Airbag?
The Tech-Air Off Road is the latest, state-of-the-art motorcycle airbag protection system. A fully autonomous integrated motorcycle airbag system, that’s completely independent of the motorcycle, and is designed to provide full upper body protection ahead of the first impact of a crash – the key word here being, ahead – be it with the rider and bike, another vehicle, the ground, an object or obstacle. I explain the difference between this pre-crash deployment and other options such as tethered air vests in my video above.
How does it look and feel?
The airbag has been developed with performance materials creating a protection chassis that is highly ventilated, lightweight, ergonomic, and robust. It appears and feels like normal full body protective armour, with integrated elbow, back, shoulder and chest protection as well as the air vest system. It is a little bit bulkier than a normal full body protection, but not a huge amount, it is incredibly slimline, is made from highly ventilates stretch fabric which means it is breathable, comfortable and ultimately life and body saving with unobstructed movement.
How does the airbag work?
The airbag uses a series of tri-axial sensors including 3 accelerometers and 3 gyroscopes, which in turn, communicate with the system’s computer, sending data inputs every millisecond (or a thousand times a second) which determines exactly when the rider needs it, deploying before you even hit the ground! As you ride along, if the system detects and determines a crash unfolding, the air vest system will deploy ahead of the first impact of the crash. From the moment of imminent crash detection to full inflation of the airbag bladder will take between 40 and 60 milliseconds. Thankfully due to these intelligent accelerometers and gyroscopes you’re not going to have an embarrassing curb side inflate as the technology is far more attuned, knowing what’s an actual crash versus a little stumble.
Different algorithms for different terrains
Built into the Tech-Air off road system are also three separate algorithms – RALLY, ENDURO, AND STREET. What this means is that the Tech Air off-road air vest system is a perfect solution for any type of Adventure, Enduro, and Dual-Sport riders, allowing you to easily and quickly select the ride algorithm based on the type of terrain or riding.
To outline the differences between each ride mode algorithm:
ENDURO mode is optimized for low and medium speed riding, including enduro, dual-sport, and general off-road trail riding.
RALLY mode is optimized for fast off-road action on any type of terrain, including cross country, Baja, and Rally Raid competition type use.
STREET mode, just like on other Tech-Air systems, is optimized for any type of street riding on paved roads.
What does the airbag protect?
When it comes to coverage, the airbag protects the rider’s full back, chest, shoulders, and neck* The chest, back, elbow, and shoulder protectors are all certified to CE Level 1, with the ability to remove both shoulder and elbow protectors if wanted. The Back protector provides new cell technology, and the slim design (3.5 cm max) is highly ventilated and makes the back protector light and flexible.
Additionally, and as mandated by the FIM (Federation International Motorcycling) regulation, the Tech-Air off-road airbag has been tested in static conditions to comply with the international regulation where neck movements are limited to a maximum of 40° on the rear and 30° maximum on a lateral direction, helping tremendously to reduce and/or mitigate any sort of whiplash and/or neck injury.
Neck protectors like the Alpinestars Bionic Neck Support (BNS) or similar are not to be used with the Tech-Air off-road system.
How many deployments / crashes can you have in an airbag?
Similar to the original Tech-Air RACE system, the Tech-Air off-road only deploys one canister at a time, providing riders with two individual deployments before needing to replace anything. So what that means, is that the rider can have a deployment, get up, keep going, and have another deployment ready if needed. Canister replacement is quick and easy, and the airbag bladder itself is good for up to 4 individual deployments before needing to be replaced, provided of course the bladder itself isn’t or wasn’t damaged. And canister replacement is made even easier thanks to the ability for a customer to change their own canisters, which is further facilitated by two red LED lights next to the canisters, indicating if they’re blown or not. It is worth noting that Alpinestars currently state a service requirements after 4 deploys but off the record conversations indicate that they are working to have this number increased based on experience that the air vest can take more deploys safely… but with all safety equipment, for Alpinestars to increase the number from 4 a dramatic time and cost is required for legal sign off. I haven’t said you can go more than 4… but…
How do I use it?
Simply put it on, zip it up, ride the highway to the trails, toggle the display to select your algorithm, and go. Simple as that… With the Tech-Air off road, it turns on and is activated simply by zipping up or unzipping the system, and there is also a 2-second vibrating haptic alert as well notifying the rider when the system is activated or deactivated.
Why choose this one?
This Alpinestars Tech Air Air Vest is specifically conceived for off-road riding, the culmination of more than 20 years of research and development, tens of thousands of man hours, and millions of kilometers of data logging and testing both on the track, and on public roads. And that’s not to mention the thousands of crashes not only our world-class riders have sustained in developing this revolutionary product, but also all the customers who have entrusted their safety, protection, and well-being to Alpinestars products. Even my own riding data has been collected by Alpinestars over the last few years to add to the data.
Sizing
The Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road airbag is available in 5 sizes: Small through to 2XL. Please note there is no women’s specific size, I’m 179cm tall and weighing approx. 65kg and the size Small is the perfect fit for me. For women there is a women’s focused air bag by Alpinestars – please check out the Tech-Air 3 Over Garment
Additional features:
1. Bladder water integration – The Tech-Air off-road also comes with the ability to easily use a hydration bladder without having to wear a separate bag or pack. There’s a breathable storage pocket with a connection loop to support the bladder on the back protector for even greater versatility and ease of use.
2. Battery life – When it comes to battery life, a fully charged battery will provide 30 hours of active ride time, and a low battery will fully charge in about four hours. The recharge plug is found on the upper right of the LED panel and is located to allow users easy access to quick battery charging.
3. LED display – The system’s status can be viewed at any time via its new LED display, which is located on the bottom left side of the chest protector and displays everything from battery level to armed or standby status. Also included on the LED display is a switch button and indicator showing which riding mode the system is in, which as mentioned earlier, includes RALLY, ENDURO, and STREET.
4. Washable – Additionally, riding and muscling the bike off-road can of course make you sweat, and the Tech-Air off-road System’s Electronic Control Unit and airbag are completely removable so that the Protection Under-Jacket can be washed separately, with the ability to keep it feeling and smelling fresh.
How much does it cost?
Alpinestars TechAir Off Road price tag is $999.95 USD (£800) with no subscription fee. Two new canisters cost around $169.95USD (£134) and will give two deploys / crashes. Every four crashes /deploys Alpinestars recommend getting the vest serviced for roughly $300USD (£235) at an authorised Alpinestars dealer.
Rider history using the Alpinestars airbag:
The final development version of the Tech-Air off-road Airbag System debuted at the Andalucia Rally in Spain in November 2020, and was worn by 52 riders at the Dakar in January 2021, including Kevin Benavides and Ricky Brabec who placed first and second in the race.
Then, in Morocco, the Tech-Air off-road System was worn by over 40 riders in the race, where there were 31 airbag system deployments, with 0 false positives. The Honda HRC, KTM, GASGAS, HERO, HUSQVARNA and YAMAHA official riders wore the Alpinestars Tech Air off-road V2 Airbag System. The riders in the top 3 overall for the race, all wore Tech-Air off-road: Pablo Quintanilla, Ricky Brabec, and Daniel Sanders.
In the 2023 Dakar, 83 riders on bikes and quads wore the Tech-Air off-road system earning 9 out of the top 10 positions including the full podium including Alpinestars rider, Kevin Benavides, the overall winner.
Needless to say, the air vest has been developed and proven in the world’s most demanding environments, time and time again. The 2024 Dakar saw over 110 motorcycle riders in the Alpinestars kit with all top ten riders in it. With over 300 crashes in the single event that was a lot of injuries saved.
I’ve had 5 crashes myself and every one of them was bad enough to know I would not have carried on without the airbag protecting me and taking 95% of the impact of the crash off me. Which is why it is so great to announce that the Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road Airbag is now available to the general public.
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.
Wern Ddu Quarry – UK’s toughest hard enduro location
Wern Ddu Quarry, arguably the best and toughest hard enduro venue in the UK. Offering an array of different level hills, tracks, gnarly rocky streams and more.
Welcome to Wern Ddu Quarry, arguably the best and toughest hard enduro venue in the UK. Finding decent places to ride and train hard enduro can be tough, especially with so many places closing down. The venue offers an array of different level hills, climbs, single track and even gnarly rocky streams. This means it is suitable for notice through to highly experienced riders.
In this video I’ll share a day riding at Wern Ddu Quarry in North Wales and you can see for yourself why it is one of the best enduro venues in the UK and how it nearly killed me!
Welcome to Wern Ddu
Expect to be exhausted and bruised by the end of the day, but you will be leaving with a huge smile and improved skills. It is open on weekends pretty much all year round, with pre booking available on their website.
Enduro bikes and trials bikes are allowed but there is a noise limit on bikes, so be sure to check as they are strict [OEM pipes recommended].
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.
The Africa Eco Race is one of the most difficult and prestigious rally raids in the history of Motorsport, following the original and real route of The Dakar.
What is the Africa Eco Race (AER):
This legendary off-road race is one of the harshest, most brutal rally raids (race) in the world. 500+ participants race their motorcycles, trucks, quads and cars, for 12 straight days across thousands of miles of some of the most remote, rugged and punishing terrain in the world.
Facing extreme weather, limited sleep, high speeds, long days, isolation and unforgiving terrains are some of the reasons why the Africa Eco Race remains to be one of the most difficult and prestigious rallies in the history of motorsport.
Why it is the real Dakar rally:
The Africa Eco Race was launched in 2009 by two men who wanted to keep the original spirit and route of Dakar alive after “The Dakar” Rally was moved in 2008 from its original location in Africa to South America, followed by Saudi Arabia where the race is currently held now. Subsequently with this move and the desire to keep the traditional, legendary and historic Paris to Dakar rally alive the Africa Eco Race was born.
The AER follows the original route of “The Dakar” rally through the African continent, crossing thousands of miles over multiple countries while traversing through the Sahara Desert with one goal – make it to the finish line; Dakar. Every year the AER makes minor alterations to various stages of the race to keep things fresh and exciting but ultimately the race is the same as the original just with a different name.
Why is it called Africa Eco Race and why is it special:
Although the Africa Eco Race has recaptured and kept the original Dakar spirit alive by racing the real and traditional route of Paris to Dakar, there have been some major changes in the values, focus and goals of the rally. During the time when “The Dakar” was in Africa there were many criticisms made in regards to the environment, inhabitants, livestock and human rights. Which is why the AER has captivated the world with their values and the way it is operated.
The Africa Eco Race has a special focus on the environment, the communities, the people and local businesses of those that which the race passes through. It operates in a way that puts the true values of human lives, eco responsibility, authenticity, sustainable development, environmental impact and sportsmanship at the forefront.
It is the most environmentally friendly and ecologically aware rally race in the world, running a series of projects each year that help provide long term contributions to improve the lives of people in the remote areas of the countries that are raced across. Whilst also contributing to the local economy and ensuring they are involved at a maximum.
Where is the race and how long is it:
This extremely brutal, intense and challenging off road rally begins in Europe and ends in Africa. Beginning in Monaco and continuing through Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal traversing across the unforgiving Sahara Desert all the way to Dakar.
Participants come from all over the world to take part in this incredible race, upon arrival they are equipped with nothing but an odometer, compass and a paper scroll road book and must navigate their way over more than 6500km/4000miles of punishing terrain during the course of 12 days.
Who can do it:
The Africa Eco Race welcomes amateurs and professionals, but this Rally is a true test of endurance for both the drivers/riders and their vehicles, and it’s not for the faint of heart. It is no easy task enduring extreme desert temperatures of up to 50°C during the day and -5°C during the nights while navigating through difficult and punishing terrain, unforgiving conditions, constantly maintaining and repairing your machine all while staying focused for 2 weeks in a row during this insanely long race.
Watch me:
Follow me Vanessa Ruck “The Girl On A Bike” as I take on the Africa Eco Race in 2024. I will be documenting the whole experience from start to finish and sharing a unique perspective on what its like to take on the real Dakar.
The 2024 Africa Eco Race departs Monaco on the 30th December 2023 and finishes in Senegal on the 14th January 2024. See the table below for more information on the race schedule.
Dates:
Day:
Stages;
Daily Distance
Special Stage Distance
Accumulated Distance:
02-Jan
Tuesday
NADOR / BOUDNIB
598 KM
SS: 174 KM
598
03-Jan
Wednesday
BOUDNIB / MHAMID
425 KM
SS: 383 KM
1023
04-Jan
Thursday
MHAMID / ASSA
523 KM
SS: 463 KM
1546
05-Jan
Friday
ASSA / FORT CHACAL
473 KM
SS: 468 KM
2019
06-Jan
Saturday
FORT CHACAL / DAKHLA
593 KM
SS: 405 KM
2612
07-Jan
Sunday
REST DAY IN DAKHLA
2612
08-Jan
Monday
DAKHLA / CHAMI
635 KM
SS: 205 KM
3247
09-Jan
Tuesday
CHAMI/ CHAMI
475 KM
SS: 454 KM
3722
10-Jan
Wednesday
CHAMI/ AMODJAR
485 KM
SS: 395 KM
4207
11-Jan
Thursday
AMODJAR / AMODJAR
467 KM
SS: 363 KM
4674
12-Jan
Friday
AMODJAR / AKJOUT
415 KM
SS: 390 KM
5089
13-Jan
Saturday
AKJOUT / ST LOUIS
477 KM
SS: 248 KM
5566
14-Jan
Sunday
ST LOUIS / LAC ROSE
325 KM
NIOKHOB – LAC ROSE: 15 KM
5891
SS Distance
3963
Total distance
5891
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.
Easy tips and exercises to help improve your motorcycle riding. From body position, braking, clutch control and ways to pick up your bike.
Motorcycle riding takes skill, practice and education, my biggest tip and ultimately the best way to improve your motorcycle riding is to go back to basics and work on the foundations. Whether you have just started riding or are an experienced rider, practicing the foundational skills is something that you can never do too much.
In the video below I will show you a series of exercises and talk you through some tips that you can use to help improve your motorcycle riding skills.
Tips to improve your motorcycle riding skill
I also had the opportunity to ride with John McAvoy of Fast Bikes, and as John has never ridden off-road before I thought a day at the Triumph Experience Centre would be a great way to test and show these exercises.
In the video above I discuss and provide tips and exercises on:
Body position
Balance points
Engine awareness
Braking techniques
Maneuvering the bike
Cornering
Bike pick up techniques
And more
More information on the Triumph Experience Centre: https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/for-the-ride/experiences
For my thoughts on the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro check out my 1000 Dunas series below where I become the first female to ever finish on a standard adventure bike.
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.
5 fantastic days in Southern Spain on immaculate BMW GS motorcycles – what more could you want from a trip? Here’s why I recommend Moto Hire Spain for bike rental.
As someone who has ridden a wide array of different adventure motorcycles I decided it was time to try the BMW GS. They are a massive love or hate bike, so I knew it was one I needed to get some decent saddle time on it, thus an adventure would be ideal. I found Moto Hire Spain near Malaga and decided to do 5 days around Granada, Zaraha de la Siere and Ronda with a girlfriend.
The Team
Run by English speakers who have lived and experienced Spain for many years, they are a perfectly armed team able to offer their extensive knowledge and services of the beautiful country. We had an easy and friendly welcome at the airport with our transfer and everything was easily explained.
Bikes
Moto Hire Spain have a large fleet of BMW motorcycles and offer pure rentals, part guided and full guided tours. We opted for the part tour where Moto Hire Spain provided us with a route plan and pre-booked hotels.
Bikes wise, in 2023 when I visited, they had:
BMW R1250GS ADV
BMW R1250GS
BMW R1200GS ADV
BMW R1200GS Rallye
BMW R1200GS
BMW 1200R
BMW F850GS
BMW F750GS
BMW F700GS
BMW F800R#
Triumph Tiger Explorer 800 XC/XR
You’ll notice that they are heavily BMW focused and all bikes can come with the option for luggage and tank bags. Our bikes were on premium Michelin Anakee tyres so a great choice but I realise that their fleet did have varied tyre brands on offer. Moto Hire Spain have the largest selection of adventure-ready motorcycles in Spain, outfitted with quality gear and maintained by an in-house staff of professional mechanics.
I was super impressed with the quality and presentation of the bikes. They were immaculate and very well maintained.
We hired a GS 1250 and F850 GS to do a comparison.
You can see my GS 1250 / 850 comparison review here:
Tours
Moto Hire Spain will organise as much or as little as you like and even offer fully guided tours. We went for a hybrid option, renting bikes and getting a pre-planned route with hotels prebooked. Given we rode in the heat of July we asked for medium length riding days, ranging from 3-4.5 hours in the saddle. This gave us time to stop at great photo locations, enjoy chilled coffees, have cool down dips in lakes and rivers, and of course enjoy Spanish cuisine for lunch. They can adapt the trips to your needs and know a large array of hotels to provide the best nights possible to explore the Southern cultures of Spain.
Their tours offer the perfect balance of scenery and riding in Southern Spain. Some of the roads we did were just incredible, from mountains, forests to coastal twisties. Their extensive knowledge provided a brilliant riding experience through some of the best scenery you could imagine whilst on a holiday adventure of a lifetime in Spain.
How to get to Moto Hire Spain
Fly into Malaga in southern Spain and the team will collect you from the airport.
Moto Hire Spain are located within a 50 minute drive from Malaga airport and offer an airport pick up/drop off transfer service. They collected us in a nice well kept van and it was super easy. The bikes are stored in a large warehouse with a mechanics area where they maintain the fleet in-house, they offer tea and coffees, and have a changing room to get ready for the ride. We were able to leave our suitcase in the corner of the warehouse for the week too, transferring our kit into the GS panniers.
Moto Hire Spain on site facilities
Fleet of BMW and Triumph motorcycles for rent
Warehouse storage for luggage
Toilet and changing facilities
Car parking (if arriving via car)
Mechanic workshop area with tools
Reviews
They have a lot of customer reviews on their website but here are some that I fully agree with:
”Anyone wanting great friendly service, excellent organisation and the finest experience in Spain and morocco then look no further than Tristam and Norman at Moto Hire Spain, Malaga. Nothing is too much for them to make your trip the ultimate adventure, a chance in a lifetime with a professional organisation, will use again”
– Geoff Cole
“Excellent service, they were very nice and helped us every step of the way! When we rent bikes in Europe again, we will definitely do it with them!”
– Daniel Ramos Lazcano
“Would highly recommend this company, very easy to deal with”
– Keith Sheridan
Summary
If you’re after bike rental, a part organised, fully organised or a guided trip on adventure bikes in beautiful Southern Spain then I definitely recommend Moto Hire Spain.
Here are some of my favourite photos from our trip with Moto Hire Spain:
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.
It all went wrong in the third round of the Bowler Defender Series, and I crashed a 300hp rally monster.
The third round of the Bowler Defender series took us to Scotland for the Scottish Summer Hill rally, where it all went wrong and I crashed the 300hp beast.
This is a totally new style of racing for me so it meant a huge learning curve. In this video not only will you see the crash footage but I also take you on a full walk around of the Bowler rally car so you can see what a Defender is and how it differs from the base model, the Land Rover Defender.
That didn’t go to plan
This was a rally that went crazy! Not only did I crash the Bowler a 300 hp rally monster but by mid day on day two I was ranking 1st in class and 10th overall. This was my 7th day in a racing car of any form EVER!
Find out more about the Bowler Defender Rally 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.
Vanessa Ruck – TEDx and award winning female keynote speaker UK – ideal for diversity and inclusion, and Mental health
Vanessa is a motorcycle rider, racer and adventure, but her story is far more than just one of motorcycles. As an award winning and TEDx keynote speaker in the UK she has crafted highly relatable lessons from her journey. She speaks passionately and authentically about the challenges of recovery from a life changing accident and making the most of every day. After being hit by a car while cycling in 2014, Vanessa’s world was turned upside down, resulting in 7 surgeries and a roller-coaster of mental and physical recovery spanning 7 years. Through her recovery she discovered motorcycles, becoming known as “The Girl On A Bike”.
Vanessa Ruck TEDX speakervanessa ruck award winning motivational speaker female uk tedx
“At a time when the world is full of doom and gloom, I want to deliver a real drive and inspiration. Bringing real life challenges, battles and big goals in the hope that it will encourage others to get up and take life by the hands and focus on what they can do.”
Vanessa Ruck keynote speaker UK
Helping Inspire Others to Make the Most of Each Day
Combining her ten-year career in marketing and her resilience for life, Vanessa has built a following of over 450,000. She now inspires others to get up and tackle the battles life throws at us with gratitude and happiness. Instead of adding to the sometimes-toxic social media landscape filled with ‘all so perfect’ lives, she’s real and honest, sharing the highs and the lows. Showing the strength needed to come out stronger against life’s curve-balls.
Vanessa is on a mission to show that nothing is impossible if you work hard enough, even as a slightly reconstructed person following the accident. Vanessa has successfully leveraged the power of social media, passionate storytelling and marketing to share her story and inspire others. She empowers others with the lessons she has learned through her emotional, thought provoking and highly engaging story.
If we can pull her away from her bikes, she will bring an incredible energy to your speaking events – female keynote speaker in the UK – motivational speaker for pure resilience, determination and inspiration. She’s ideal for diversity and inclusion, and Mental health. And is a powerful example of female strength doing races that many men would shy away from.
Brands worked with include:
What the audience can expect
An exciting story of sports and challenges from the point of view of Vanessa, who as a fit and active individual with many passions was struck down by an unavoidable accident and went on to find new ways of slaking her thirst for adventure by becoming “The Girl on a Bike”.
The sessions deliver practical advice and focus on:
Learning to accept your situation and love yourself
Importance of talking about mental health
Reality that life does have challenges and battles – it’s normal
Working on outcomes, not the process, with goal setting to keep you focused and motivated
The importance of understanding the facts in the situation and pushing aside the ‘noise’ when anxiety hits
Remembering that wanting to quit is normal – but what makes you extraordinary is not quitting
That FEAR is just False-Expectations-Appearing-Real
Dealing with pressure
Importance and benefit of gratitude
Being part of the solution and a overcome mindset
Presentation Approach
Vanessa speaks from the heart, and as such will take your audience on a journey of emotions. They will feel they are with her through the adversity and adventure alike and will come away from the presentation with a renewed vigour and outlook.
Recommendations for Vanessa as female inspriational speaker
‘As the owner of Dorothy’s Speed Shop down in North Devon I booked Vanessa to come and give a talk and go riding the next day. As a result, I would wholeheartedly recommend her as a guest speaker. She’s passionate about the subject, has a great story to tell but more importantly you get the sense that she really wants to connect and engage with the audience, and the feedback I had from my customers as a result was phenomenal. Great speaker and great person to have around. Would highly recommend.’
Nathan Millard, Dororthy’s Speed Shop
Mental health is something we should be talking about!Vanessa speaks from the heart
“I found her talk fascinating and inspirational, I was captivated by Vanessa’s energy, confidence, passion, enthusiasm, resilience and the story of her Journey. I had fallen into a bit of a rut recently due to some issues with back pain and the talk has and will help to pull me back out of that rut.” Anonymous
“The initial feedback is in & our employees rated today’s session 4.98 stars ⭐️ out of 5! High praise indeed!” Emma Helliwell MCIPD
If you’re after a female keynote speaker in UK please do get in touch.
What is on offer?
The speaking sessions that can take a very flexible form:
large assembly presentations with audience engagement
Smaller more intimate round table sessions
Group coaching sessions
Evening / day time / lunch time / weekend sessions
I can travel to you
Or join remotely online.
Really the options are open so please do get in touch and we can discuss the best plan for your event / business / club. If you’re a school please see my free school workshops page.
