As seen in Orchard School Bristol: Exciting opportunity on 04 May 2023! Join Girl on a Bike, Vanessa Ruck, for a special talk. Year 7 & 11 students, don’t miss out

I am pleased to be able to share that we have a great opportunity for your child to listen to a year-group talk from guest speaker Vanessa Ruck on Friday 5th May. Year 7 students will be off timetable during lesson 5 and Year 11 will have this presented during their normal assembly slot.

Vanessa Ruck is an English-born motorbike-riding extraordinaire. In 2014 Vanessa’s life took an abrupt turn when she was hit by a car while crossing the road. Vanessa’s talk will show all the ups and downs that she has faced during her recovery, and she strives to be honest and real, not shying away from the tough days. Vanessa will be bringing in her favourite bike into school and students will hear her inspiring journey from being bed bound to racing across the desert.

The event is framed around the theme of Never Giving Up and is designed to empower students with the knowledge that you can always overcome setbacks in life, no matter how big. Vanessa has visited the school before and spoken to other year groups – and they left inspired.

We hope your child will enjoy the talk, and please do ask them about it!

For the rest of the Orchard School Bristol article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in Road Dirt: Join Vanessa Ruck, ‘The Girl On A Bike,’ as she fearlessly embraces life, overcomes challenges, and inspires others to live courageously. Nothing is impossible when you want it bad enough!

Vanessa Ruck is on a mission- To courageously squeeze every drop out of life, and to help others overcome their adversities and step into courageous living as well. To quote her directly, “I’m on a mission to prove nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough.” Gauging from the many adventures in her young life, and the inspiration she is to so many who know her and follow her travels, Vanessa is realizing her dream. She is the one and only, “The Girl On A Bike.”

There are endless scores of youthful “influencers” across social media and the wider web today, probably too many. Most are silly, self-absorbed superstar wannabes, posting selfies and videos to promote only themselves. Vanessa doesn’t like to counted among that ilk. Her vision is much larger than herself, or any social media notoriety. She’s an “influencer” no doubt, although she dislikes the term. But she influences in the right way, by encouraging others to look deeply into their own lives and find the courage to get outside and really live beyond their confining circumstances.

Born and raised in merry old England, Vanessa attributes her love for the great outdoors to her parents and upbringing. She states, “I was very lucky to have an incredibly outdoorsy childhood, with my parents always telling me, ‘Boredom is a lack of imagination. To entertain yourself, go outside and climb some trees or play with some sticks.’ I was incredibly active growing up, doing all kinds of sports my parents could get me into, from rock climbing to boogie boarding and horse riding.”

Everything suddenly and shockingly changed on March 25th, 2014, when she was struck by an automobile while bicycling her way home from work. Pedaling through a green light, a driver jumped out in front of her from her right, running their red light and impacting Vanessa on her right side, bicycle and rider flying. She never lost consciousness, she remembered- “It seemed to happen almost in slow motion. I hit the ground on my right side, could feel my heartbeat, my pulse thumping through my veins, my surroundings almost a blur.” Still tangled up with her bike, passersby immediately came to Vanessa’s aid, and an ambulance arrived in short order to transport her to a local hospital.

“While my initial injuries were not life-threatening, they were definitely life-changing.”

Inexplicably, she was sent home with orders to rest and let all the inflammation go down in her right shoulder, knee and hip. Turns out, she had major injuries deep in each, that would soon require multiple surgeries. As Vanessa states, “While my initial injuries were not life-threatening, they were definitely life-changing, and it was going to be a long road back to full fitness.” In the years since, Vanessa has undergone seven operations to her shoulder and hip, with full reconstructions of each, and the possibility of more in her future. She has worked hard to rehab, following doctors and PT directives in her recovery, and despite living with and managing chronic pain, Vanessa has gradually returned to an active life, albeit with some care and modifications.

The mental recovery from her trauma was more difficult. Diagnosed with several mental health disorders such as overwhelming fear and anxiety and bouts of depression, exacerbated by the chronic pain she manages, meant Vanessa had to find a way to not only cope, but press through, to get her life back. She married, and for their honeymoon, her husband booked something truly epic- a motorcycle road trip through the heart of America on a pair of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

“When people say ‘recovery’, you typically think of returning to how you were before the accident,” says Vanessa. “But there is no going back. You do not merely recover, you reinvent yourself. You learn so much as you fight through; it’s an irreversible journey. While my journey over the past several years has been brutal, I feel somehow lucky. I have friends now I would never have met, I have a Harley-Davidson I would never have bought, I have realized the importance of a work-life balance, I’ve become even closer to my husband and soulmate, and I have a fire in my soul only this type of recovery could light.” Well-said, Vanessa.

For the rest of the Road Dirt article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Dirt Hub: Vanessa Ruck, The Girl on a Bike, conquers Morocco Desert Challenge, a grueling rally-raid, battling sand dunes and scorching heat.

Vanessa Ruck, also known as The Girl on a Bike, has successfully battled for her life to complete the gruelling Morocco Desert Challenge, an extreme rally-raid over sand dunes in blistering temperatures. As one of the world’s toughest endurance events, the 36-year-old UK based completed the 8-day event, covering up to 420km each day and became one of the few who finished. With an attrition rate so high that only 40% of the motorcycle category riders successfully completed, it’s a serious achievement for the British athlete. But it wasn’t all sunshine!

She endured the heat wave hitting North Africa with temperatures peaking at 52°C. She tackled an upset stomach and hydration challenges from the extreme heat, faced two huge crashes that deployed her life-saving air vest, and confronted an allergic reaction that led to her barely able to open her eyes just half an hour before taking to the start line. Many would have quit.

Unforgiving extremes in the desert

But with pure grit and determination Vanessa fought on, “I knew I was racing others, but it felt more like I was fighting for my life. Fighting the terrain, battling the heat, the mental and physical fatigue, I was riding for my life. In the vast dunes, I knew that if I had an issue that was me done. I even started wording a message in my head to record on my phone for my family if the worst happened. It was scary.”

The heat in the dunes is exceptional and unforgiving, and the human body is incredibly vulnerable on bikes when the temperature peaks at 52°C / 125°F in a heat wave. “I recall cresting a huge dune peak higher than a multi-storey house and scanning the horizon…there was nothing but sand and dunes in every direction and not a soul. It was me and my bike. My body was exhausted, I wanted to rest but the heat meant I had to keep pushing. The only way out, was onwards. I had to dig deep mentally to fight to the finish.”

Lives lost to the desert

Competitors all accept the risk of extreme desert racing but sadly disaster struck twice, with the desert taking two lives during the race. Motorcycle rider Bram van der Wouden succumbed to the heat and exhaustion. Participants found him lying next to his motorbike, where he lay presumably having stopped to rest. The medical intervention team arrived very quickly but there was nothing they could do. The day before, a terrible racing accident took Laurent Lichtleuchter in a vehicle crash.

Competitors are navigating but also tackling the rugged and rocky terrain of Morocco. The tricky navigation means following a series of symbols, compass bearings, and distance on a scrolling piece of paper mounted to the handlebars, called a road book. Road book navigation events, such as the infamous Paris-Dakar, are far more than just riding. Riders have to navigate accurately, retaining mental and physical focus for upwards of 6-8 hours of racing, and do this off-road day after day. Could you stay calm on your own in the middle of nowhere, digging deep into your energy reserves with only the supplies you can carry?

It would be easy to question Vanessa’s sanity and decision to enter such an event but when a cycling accident in 2014 threatened to derail the adventurous life Vanessa loved, she refused to take it lying down.

Instead, she handled things the only way she knows how. Brushing herself off, she put herself back together. And then she upped the ante. With a reconstructed shoulder and hip following a 7-year recovery with 7 surgeries, Vanessa discovered the thrill of motorcycles.

Fast forward 7 years since she mounted her first off-road bike and she’s taking on some of the toughest races going and is amongst very few females braving the brutalities they put you though. Vanessa’s journey has not been smooth with pain now a daily feature in her life, but what she has learned is that it’s vital to never let your past control your future. It’s likely the resilience her recovery forced her to gain, helped her through many of the brutal Morocco Desert Challenge obstacles.

Fight to the finish

By day 8, in these conditions, the finish line is all the competitors can focus on. Vanessa describes her final push;

“I wish I could say the final stage was smooth sailing, but I had the biggest and most painful off of my riding career so far. With my rear tanks full in preparation for hitting the sand and dunes, my bike’s weight was not ideal for the first 30 km of rocky tracks. As I braked into a right-hand corner my rear tyre smashed into a submerged bolder sending my backend up and sideways like a rodeo bull. Feeling the bike unsettle, I smashed on the throttle to straighten out and held it, but the corner was on me…and with no way to pull it around I flew off the rocky track edge jumping and landing into a rock garden. Fighting I held him down, knees gripping and heart pounding, whisky throttling I managed to keep him straight but the rocky step ahead was the last straw. We launched and smashed in. I hit the jagged desert rocks HARD! My airbag magically knew before we hit the ground, deploying to my defence but a bolder impaled my left abdominal straight into my pelvis.

Winded, I screamed. The air sucked from my lungs. I couldn’t tell if I was ok, kicking myself for killing my chances of a finish. I hurt. Was that me out!? No! I refused to let the pain stop me! I’ve fought through worse…’’

For the rest of the Dirt Hub article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

Vanessa Ruck AKA The girl on a bike, comes to biker cafe Woodrow’s MC Swansea for a evening of chat and fun games!

Vanessa started @TheGirlOnABike when bed bound after her 3rd surgery following a life changing accident, when she was hit by a red light jumping car, and decided that she needed something positive to channel her energy into. Since that day she has continued to share her journey with her audience, but not just the happy days you may expect on social media. Shes also tried hard to be real, showing the down days, the days you have to find all your inner strength to even just get out of bed.

Now Vanessa rides all over the world, on and off-road, racing in some of the most difficult races in the world.

Come and join us for an evening of topical conversation, news and games. Submit questions to be answered by Vanessa, and even apply to join her on our panel gameshow.

Each event is hosted by Tom Woodrow, producer of Motorbike & Adventure Bike TV, as well as presenter of Tales from the Trails, at his motorbike clothing store and coffee shop in Swansea.

To see the Woodsrow biker cafe in South Wales https://www.woodrowsmc.com/

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Abergavenny Chronicle: Follow the incredible journey of a girl on a bike in the Morocco Desert Challenge with Abergavenny Chronicle. Will she conquer the sands?

Monmouth-based motorcycle competitor, Vanessa Ruck, also known as The Girl on a Bike, has just landed in Morocco to participate in the second-largest rally raid in the world, the Morocco Desert Challenge. Over the course of the eight-day race, Ruck will tackle 2,658km of the most challenging terrain Morocco has to offer, alongside 560 other racing vehicles.

Riding her KTM 450 Rally Replica, Ruck has made several modifications to her motorcycle to improve performance and durability. With a focus on nutrition, she is well-prepared to tackle the extreme caloric demands of racing in the desert, which could reach up to 8,000 calories per day.

The race days will be long, with anticipated riding times between 8 to 11 hours, followed by nights spent sleeping in a tent. Ruck is also prepared for the gruelling physical demands on her body, managing pain with medication and daily sports therapy sessions.

Day 4 of the Moroccan rally: Vanessa has been overcoming both physical and mental challenges in the sweltering heat. As temperatures reached an unseasonable 46 degrees Celsius, she pushed through the dunes, navigating the treacherous terrain with caution and determination.

Vannessa proceeded to the starting line, taking on the dunes at a steady pace. Two falls and three minor setbacks were no match for her resilience. With assistance from a quad rider, she managed to recover her bike and continue the race. The first 40 km of dunes were followed by a challenging, uneven track, which left Vannessa exhausted by the time she reached the lunch break.

Refuelling both herself and her bike, Vannessa pressed on for the final 90 km, which fortunately offered fast and flowing terrain. Upon reaching the finish line, she reflected on the halfway point of the rally, acknowledging the need to dig deep and find more fight to endure the remaining days.

Though Vannessa anticipates having lost several places due to her cautious approach, she takes pride in avoiding crashes and completing the day. As she awaits her official result, her inspiring determination and ability to push through adversity make her a true local hero.

34th out of 77 after Monday’s stage

After Monday’s stage, she managed to secure an impressive 34th place out of 77 competitors, a feat that has left her elated and determined to push even further.

She said: “Tomorrow’s forecast is 40 degrees in the shade, so easy add 5 to that for riding temp. And it’s an even longer stage, 404km. Yikes.”

Despite the unforgiving heat and gruelling distance, Vanessa remains undeterred and appreciative of the support she’s receiving from friends and family. “All amazing here though. Feeling strong!! Thanks for all the support and messages.”

One hour delay from the start line

The rally has experienced an unexpected one-hour delay due to a helicopter issue. The race organisers have prioritised safety above all else, ensuring that the event does not commence without proper helicopter cover. As a result, the race start times have been pushed back, causing minor inconvenience to both participants and spectators.

For those keeping an eye on the live tracking system, this may have resulted in some confusion as the racers’ dots remained stationary on the map. However, the organisers have been quick to address the issue, keeping the eager audience informed and reassured.

For the rest of the Abergavenny Chronicle article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Forest Review: Join Vanessa Ruck as she takes on the challenge of an 8-day motorcycle race through the rugged terrain of Morocco in The Forest Review.

Vanessa Ruck, better known as The Girl on a Bike, is about to embark on the most thrilling adventure of her riding career. Tomorrow, she leaves for Morocco to compete in the Morocco Desert Challenge, an intense 8-day, 2500km desert race. This gruelling competition is the second largest rally raid in the world after the Dakar, boasting over 375 vehicles, including 77 motorcycles.

Vanessa’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. Just 18 months ago, she completed her first ever rally, road book event, desert ride, and dune experience at the Qatar International Baja. Since then, she has been training relentlessly and has taken part in several other challenging races such as the Rallye du Maroc, 1000 Dunas, Dinaric, Qatar, and the Tunisia Desert Challenge.

Now, she’s ready to up the ante by riding her newly acquired KTM 450 rally replica bike, aptly named “Big Buddy”. This impressive machine is set to accompany her on the most demanding race of her life. As the only female motorcycle rider at the starting line, Ruck is both prepared and anxious for what lies ahead.

Despite facing a recent elbow injury with a suspected impinged nerve, Vanessa is determined to give it her all. She plans to fight with every ounce of mental and physical strength she possesses, sharing her incredible journey with the world as she takes on the Morocco Desert Challenge.

For the rest of the Forest Review article see here and also on the Ross Gazette article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.