Moto Adventures in Belize: “The Girl on a Bike.” – Vanessa Ruck
As seen on the Moto Adventures in Belize: Belize is best known for its perfect white sand beaches, Caribbean turquoise blue waters, island resorts, sailing, and world-class diving. It’s a tiny country wedged between Mexico and Guatemala and isn’t exactly famous for motorcycle adventures.
Five fearless adventuresses joined our Belize expedition, including Vanessa Ruck, better known as “The Girl on a Bike.” Vanessa’s story is nothing short of inspirational.
She suffered a horrific accident on her bicycle a few years ago when she was struck by a car. Since then, she’s undergone several hip and shoulder reconstructions and years of recovery and physiotherapy to become (miraculously) even stronger than before. She took up motorcycling during her recovery, first riding street motorcycles, then throwing herself right into the deep end with dirt bikes. Last year, she finished the Romaniacs, one of the most brutal enduro races in the world and took part in Rallye de Maroc—a Dakar qualifying rally race that can, and does, make grown men cry.
In addition to her incredible story of recovery and persistence, and her racing record, Vanessa also loves to travel, preferably on dirt bikes. So, when we invited her to join the mayhem in Belize, she said “Yes!” without hesitation. Our other four comrades in the Caribbean and sketchy bike life were Canadians Alana and Golnoosh, Suzanne from the U.S., and Mariska from South Africa. Different skill levels, backgrounds, countries, and one goal—to have as much dirt biking fun as humanly possible and live to tell the tale.
Crocodile-Infested Rivers and Friendly Pythons
Starting our adventure in Hopkins, a small beach town a few hours from Belize City, we headed straight for the rainforest trails crossing the Cockscomb Jaguar Sanctuary, a wild place of jungle greenery and red earth trails that lead deeper into the rainforest.
We didn’t spot any jaguars along the way. Still, Suzanne, a Florida native, managed to pet a friendly python as it crossed the road, earning herself the title of “Snake Whisperer.” We’d been worried whether our riders would do well in the insane heat and humidity. Still, here they were, crossing crocodile-infested creeks like nobody’s business and taming boa constrictors as if they were cute puppies.
Deeper Into the Jungle
We rode north, covering a section of the Hummingbird Highway for the next few days. This is one of Belize’s most scenic roads, meandering across green, rolling hills and crossing Mennonite country. Belize is as diverse culturally as it is spectacular when it comes to landscapes: The Garifuna, Mayan locals, and Spanish influence here mix and merge with ex-pats from North America, Europe, and China, as well
as Mennonite communities and just about everyone in between.
Belizean nature is as pristine as its Caribbean Sea coral reefs—the greenery of the rainforest brimming with wildlife is a sight to behold, and the deeper into the jungle you ride, the more you feel like Indiana Jones looking for some long-lost treasure in Mayan temple ruins being carefully guarded by iguanas and howler monkeys.
The Lifan Life
Speaking of motorcycles, riding Lifans was a first for all of us. We were aware of the reputation Chinese bikes have in the West, but the funny thing was, those 250s took on anything we threw at them—mud, rocks, creek crossings, tip-overs, overly-enthusiastic clutch abuse, and a lot more.
nowhere near as sprightly as Huskies or Yamahas, but they’re wonderfully forgiving for beginners, stable and reliable on any surface, and capable enough on dirt and gravel roads. That said, long highway miles on the Lifans would be painful, but we weren’t riding Belize for the highways. Instead, we were off exploring the most remote trails we could find, and for that purpose, the Lifans held up brilliantly. We bent some gear shifters and shattered a few handguards, but all in all, they were steady, ready, and fun.
As for our intrepid adventuresses? Jurga and I couldn’t have asked for a better crew. There was no shortage of both the classy and the hilarious, the ballsy and the sweet, the adventurous and the kind—but most of all, it was about the connection and the sisterhood (and, yeah, sweaty boob jokes).
For the rest of the Moto Adventures in Belize article Download here.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.