Posts in: vanessa-ruck

The Girl on a Bike in the Media

This is Oxfordshire: Motorcyclist Vanessa Ruck Inspires Future Generation

As seen in This is Oxfordshire: A motorcycle adventurer has visited a primary school near Kidlington in the hope of inspiring future generations with her story.

A motorcycle adventurer has visited a primary school near Kidlington in the hope of inspiring future generations with her story.

Vanessa Ruck, known as ‘The Girl on a Bike’, discovered her passion for motorcycling after surviving a car accident that required years of recuperation and a reconstructed hip and shoulder.

She became the first British woman to finish the Africa Eco Race in January after covering 6,000 kilometres in 13 days.

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She paid a visit to William Fletcher Primary School to inspire the youngsters.

She drove her Defender 90 into the playground, explaining to the pupils the modifications made to make it ready for her African adventure.

She said: “The squeals and excitement from the kids fills me with so much happiness and motivates me to keep going.

“My accident is the worst thing that has ever happened to me, but somehow it’s also quite possibly the best thing to happen to me for what it’s taught me and the new path in life it threw me into.

“I hope my story can bring energy to others.”

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She shares her adventures across her social media channels and in free school visits.

She has spoken to more than 20,000 school children through her schools programme running under the hashtag ‘BecauseICan’.

She challenges students to come up with their own #BecauseICan goals.

She has collaborated with Oxfordshire business FCLG, whereby used business laptops were donated for educational use at the school.

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Ms Ruck added: “Today’s youth face some of the most challenging times, especially post covid and for me the day I read the newspaper headline ‘Covid generations lives are ruined’ I knew I had to do something about it.

“Belief is everything and I hope my energy can give the minds of our future a little more energy and drive for life.

“I might not be changing the world, but I hope one session at a time, I can help inspire some of our future generations to set their sights on the stars. Anything is possible.”

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Headteacher Claire Martin said: “Vanessa’s visit was inspiring.

“The assembly was brilliantly motivating and linked to our own school values.

“Sharing your inspirational story and journey had a huge impact on the children, and made it very relatable to how students can use mindset to achieve goals.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the time and energy that you gave to the students.

“Vanessa’s obvious enthusiasm for life and powerful messages connected with students and helped them to think about their own life goals and barriers to success.”

For the rest of The This is Oxfordshire article see here.

For the rest of The Oxford Mail 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  InstagramFacebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

Motorsports Media The Girl on a Bike in the Media

I Got Back Up: Triumph Over Adversity with Talia Lazarus

As seen in I Got Back Up: Discover Vanessa Ruck’s incredible journey from adversity to triumph on the open road. Follow her story of resilience and reinvention with Talia Lazarus.

From a life-changing accident and seven surgeries to trials, adventure, hard endurance and competitions, Vanessa began to embrace the thrill of the open road and the freedom to disappear into the unknown. When is Vanessa coming back? People would ask her. Reinventing herself, join Talia Lazarus through the life of Vanessa Ruck.

For the rest of the I Got Back Up 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  InstagramFacebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

Motorsports Media The Girl on a Bike in the Media

Morocco Desert Challenge: From Adversity to Adventure on Two Wheels

As seen in The Morocco Desert Challenge: Experience the 2023 Morocco Desert Challenge in ‘Pushing the Limit’ – a gripping documentary showcasing the passion, adventure, and challenges of rally-raid. Join participants, crew, and Gert JF Duson in this behind-the-scenes journey through Morocco’s stunning landscapes.

“Pushing the Limit” is the second documentary about the Morocco Desert Challenge. In this half hour movie, you get a unique behind- the-scenes view of this epic 2023 edition of the Morocco Desert Challenge.


Feel the passion, the adventure, the blood, sweat and tears in this tough rally-raid event through the interviews with participants, crew members and organiser Gert JF Duson. Mixed with spectacular shots of the rally and the beautiful Moroccon landscapes you get a feeling what rally-raid is all about!


Pump up your speakers and share it with the rest of the rally-world!

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  InstagramFacebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

Motorsports Media The Girl on a Bike in the Media

Pocketmags: Vanessa Ruck’s North Wales Motorcycle Adventure

As seen in The Pocketmags: Discover Vanessa Ruck, the 36-year-old motorcycle adventurer, racer, and influencer. Learn about her historic 2022 Dunas Rally triumph. Pocketmags BY MISTI HURST.

I love people with strength, positive drive, goals and energy. I recently met one such person, Vanessa Ruck. Otherwise known as The Girl On A Bike, she’s a 36-year-old motorcycle rider, racer, adventurer, presenter, social media influencer and motivational speaker. In 2022, she also made history on her stock Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro as the first woman on an adventure motorcycle to finish the 1000 Dunas Rally, held in Spain and Morocco.

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the girl on a bike triumph tiger 900 rally pro touring 19

For the rest of The Pocketmags by MISTI HURST 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  InstagramFacebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

Motorsports Media The Girl on a Bike in the Media

Tough Girl Challenges: From Adversity to Adventure on Two Wheels

As seen in The Tough Girl Challenges: Follow Vanessa Ruck, The Girl on a Bike, from adversity to adventure on two wheels. Explore her courageous recovery and global motorcycle expeditions.

Born and raised in England. Vanessa grew up in the great outdoors, getting muddy with escapism always being through sports. Whether that’s kite surfing, snowboarding or mountain biking, it’s always been about getting physical.

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However, life took a turn in 2014 when Vanessa was hit by a red-light-jumping car while cycling. Since that day she’s made it her goal to make the most out of life.

With a 6.5 year recovery seeing 7 surgeries and two reconstructed body parts, it’s been a roller coaster for Vanessa, but through this she discovered motorcycles. Starting with cruising but rapidly ramping up to trials, adv and now even full hard enduro as her body healed. Bikes have swiftly become Vanessa favourite form of adventure; the open road, the power, the ability to simply disappear into the unknown and travel the world.

Vanessa is known for sharing her journey with the world, but not just the happy days you expect on social media. She’s real and honest, showing the rough and the tough days too. Vanessa’s love for two wheels has seen her riding all over the world in recent years, including Bolivia, Ukraine, Sardinia, Iceland and many more.

For the rest of the Tough Girl Challenges 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  InstagramFacebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

The Girl on a Bike in the Media

The Checkered Flag: Masahito Watanabe, Masahiro Ozeki bring Ural Gear Up to AXCR

As seen in The Checkered Flag: Follow The Checkered Flag as Watanabe and Ozeki tackle AXCR with Ural Gear Up, facing challenges in this unique sidecar adventure.

Cross-country rallies are long and arduous adventures, so one has to hope their steed can complete the trip. While your average rally raider races on four wheels in a car and quad or two wheels via bike, Masahito Watanabe and Masahiro Ozeki decided to buck the trend for this week’s Asia Cross Country Rally by showing up with three wheels.

Watanabe and Ozeki are racing together on an Ural Gear Up, a sidecar motorcycle manufacturered by IMZ-Ural. The effort comes under the Rising Sun Racing banner with support from the Japan Racing Sidecar Association, which sanctions sidecar pavement racing but has also backed AXCR entries since 2017.

Their Ural Gear Up has a 750cc air-cooled flat engine with two cylinders. It is a two-wheel-drive bike with the drive coming from the attached sidecar.

In 2022, the Watanabe/Ozeki duo received a thirteen-hour penalty in the first stage that prevented them from gaining any ground for the rest of the race. Tetsuo Iwamoto and Takeshi Sakamoto won the sidecar class in another Ural. Although not racing for 2023, Iwamoto is working with Watanabe and Ozeki as a mechanic.

While they are grouped together in the overall classification with the twenty-one bikes, Watanabe and Ozeki are considered part of a separate Sidecar category.

After two days, the team has already experienced a spate of misfortunes. They rolled their sidecar on the first leg afer hitting a piece of concrete hidden in bushes, causing Watanabe to hit his head on the ground while Ozeki hurt his knee. While both were not seriously injured and continued, Stage #2 brought more trouble when they got stuck in the sand after spinning the rear wheels, damaging the clutch plate and necessitating more repairs.

Despite their difficulties, the team remains in the race. After two stages, they sit fifteenth overall.

Even if overshadowed by their two-wheeled counterparts, sidecars have somewhat of a history in rally raid especially at the legendary Dakar Rally during its infancy. However, only two sidecar teams officially completed the Paris–Dakar: Ronny Renders and Herman Verboven finished twenty-fifth on an EML/Suzuki 1000cc in 1983, while Daniel Mocquart and Marc Fèvre on their Suzuki GSX 1100 ran out of time the following year but was classified anyway in fifty-third. In 2022, Vanessa and Alex Ruck raced the O Nosso Dakar adventure rally in Portugal on an Ural Gear Up, completing the event’s full course despite sidecars being allowed to take detours.

For the rest of The Checkered Flag 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  InstagramFacebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

The Girl on a Bike in the Media

Monmouthshire Beacon: Vanessa Ruck’s North Wales Motorcycle Adventure

As seen in The Monmouthshire Beacon: Vanessa Ruck, aka @TheGirlOnABike, explores North Wales on a 4-day motorbike tour. Discover her Snowdonia adventure in Corwen Bay.

Vanessa Ruck, Monmouth’s renowned motorcycle competitor, also popularly known as @TheGirlOnABike, recently delved into the picturesque landscapes of North Wales. In a bid to emphasise that one doesn’t need to hop on an aeroplane to experience adventure and relaxation, Vanessa chronicled her refreshing four-day mini break in the Snowdonia area, specifically in Corwen Bay.

With the clear intent of “unwinding”, Vanessa and her husband were treated to a cornucopia of experiences. From feeling the crisp sea air on their faces on beautiful beaches, climbing ancient castle turrets in Conway Castle, a structure built in 1060, to tasting distinctive dishes from local eateries, the trip was nothing short of mesmerising. The couple’s venture through Snowdonia included breathtaking sights like the Penny Pass and captivating outdoor activities such as stand-up paddleboarding on Colwyn Bay.

Food, always a highlight for Vanessa, became an even more elevated experience as she utilised the Michelin Guide. Emphasising its value, she explained how it steered them to independent, high-quality restaurants instead of the more commercial chains. One particular hidden gem was a restaurant found up a dimly lit staircase, which offered a sumptuous seven to eight-course tasting menu. Another intriguing aspect was a menu that priced beverages based on their distance from the restaurant, an innovation Vanessa found fascinating.

Their exploration also led them to serene waterfalls and various adventure sports spots along the North Welsh coast. Using the Michelin Green Guide, they even chanced upon a splendid castle which allowed visitors to freely explore its historical architecture, offering panoramic views that stretched across the vast sea and surrounding landscape.

To add a twist of modern luxury to the rustic charm of North Wales, Vanessa chose the Michelin Porsche Taycan 4S, an electric car, as her mode of transportation. This choice led to many an admiring glance, not just for the car’s impressive aesthetics, but for its astounding acceleration – 0 to 60 in a mere 4.1 seconds.

For the rest of the Monmouthshire Beacon 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  InstagramFacebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

Adventures Events

Qatar International Baja

Taking on the Qatar International Baja for the second time

1.5 years ago I a did my first ever rally, first time in sand, first time in dunes and first time doing road book navigation…and it happened to be this exact race – the Qatar International Baja. What better way to measure my progression that to come back to see how my training has stacked up – link below to see the nervous mess I was last time I was in Qatar for my first! This is the first part video of me taking on Qatar but to add some more fun I’ve come with my bestie Andrew Seats and this time the it’s his first time in the desert! Will two Brits survive the extremes of the middle easy on enduro rally bikes? I hope you enjoy the race with us!

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Bike preparations pre the Qatar International Baja


What’s it like taking on your first road book rally and first desert race with me? Poor Seats….here’s our experience doing the Qatar International Desert Baja with QMMF.

Watch Qatar International Baja Part 1 [of 2]

Watch Qatar International Baja Part 2 [of 2]

I had a total melt down on the start line… my first ever rally in Qatar

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.

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

Latest content Motorsports

My first public 4×4 rally with Bowler Defender

Rally Nuts Bowler rally in Wales

Taking on my next UK rally round in the Bowler Defender took me to mid-Wales for the Rally Nuts event. This was my first public rally and my nerves were high. However, upon arriving it was a great experience.

As a girl I’m often judged on arriving to a race, stereotyped in my blonde hair and long eyelashes. It was amazing that at my Bowler rally experience the Rally Nuts event in mid-Wales I was welcome with no sexism or judgment. You can watch the full race behind the scenes of me doing my second big 4×4 rally [first public event] in the Land Rover Bowler Defender. I hope you enjoy it.

Big learning for me…

The girl on a bike Swapping my bike for Bowler Defender Rally Series
The girl on a bike Swapping my bike for Bowler Defender Rally Series


It turns out trust is up there one of the most vital elements of four-wheel racing. As a driver the braking, correct lines, and acceleration are key but the biggest speed game is trusting your navigator. You’re in a 2.3 tonne Bowler Defender weapon powering into a corner and your natural instincts say come off the throttle but I can hear Chris Cuming shouting a fast right at me… foot stays flat trusting the input aligns to the corner and sure enough, the speed stays on, the corner opens and the pace is kept. My goodness, it gets the heart racing. I’ll be honest in that I definitely braked a few times when I shouldn’t have but that team trust is a huge new thing for me.

The girl on a bike
The girl on a bike Swapping my bike for Bowler Defender Rally Series

Chuffed to have climbed to a 2nd place finish in the category too for the Rally Nuts event… and only 1m8 seconds behind 1st!! Bring on the next race in Scotland.

Watch the full Bowler Defender rally car behind the scenes:

See my first Bowler Defender rally car race here:

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.

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

Bikes Features Latest content Reviews

Husqvarna 2024 enduro range test ride review

Nearly 100% redesign with the Husqvarna 2024 enduro range

Here’s my experience on the Husqvarna 2024 enduro: Your eyes are sharp on the terrain ahead, the rocks, roots, loose stones and sand all grappling to throw you and the bike off path. But I was feeling confident armed with the best weapon for the job. Below me was the nearly 100% newly redesigned Husqvarna TE 300i. Certainly one of the most high-performance dirt bikes on the market. As a personal owner of the 2020 TE that I finished Red Bull Romaniacs on and having seen countless pro rider podium wins from the likes of Billy Bolt and Graham Jarvis, I was keen to feel if the 2024 range was as good as all the hype…let’s just say I had high expectations.

The girl on a bike Husqvarna 2024

With a full redesign it really is a new breed of dirt bike. New bikes are often a small splash, sometimes even a disappointment with a couple of tweaks, but having spent the day in Norway riding 2024 enduro range I can hand on heart tell you that this next generation fleet is worth a look at! The 2 and 4 stroke models are nearly a total head-to-toe redesign. The say change is what drives progression and these bikes are monsters in all the right way and will certainly be ruffling the feathers of rival brands.

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With the new throttle body injected engine, closed cartridge front and fully adjustable toolless suspension, redesigned ergonomics for a solid rider triangle and increased grip seat, the bikes fill you with confidence. The throttle response felt lively, instant, and despite previous Husky models bringing impressive performance, they have seriously upped their game.

Pausing for a moment to absorb the wilderness around me, I was in a Norwegian forest, not a sole nearby, a mirror calm lake glistening in the distance, and me on a Husqvarna dirt bike, it was the ideal testing environment. We had a 6.5km dedicated enduro loop this was a match made in heaven for the new enduro range. Gravitating to the TE 300i I went round and round, building pace and really getting a feel for the new set up.

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The throttle body fuel injection for better response with two injectors, combined with electronically monitored exhausted values meant for a fiery ride. The engine is programmed to adjust and adapt to the riding conditions, always bringing you the optimum performance. As I climbed the peaks the engine was seamlessly and effortlessly adjusting as the air, conditions and my riding changed.

The electronics have been overhauled with a new centralised smart control unit for easy troubleshooting, torque values etched on for simplified serviceability and an increased durability in the subframe design to reduce the risk of breaks. Even small touches like narrower foot pegs to reduce the risk of catching them in ruts have been taken a step further with a peg redesign. The new pegs give 27% more surface area for the foot, reducing riding fatigue.

The girl on a bike Husqvarna 2024 8

The 30% brighter headlight will remove night-time riding worries with 900 lumens to illuminate the track. And as a rider holding on, the flatter and straighter, bars, improved seat grip and symmetrical tank fairing all aid rider ergonomics. For four stroke models have been given a new quick shift sensor to momentarily cut the ignition as the gear lever is engaged allowing you to smash up through the gears at full throttle without the use of the clutch.

Making a list of what has not changed on the Husqvarna 2024 enduro range would be a far shorter process. That list would contain the premium Michelin Medium rubber and the D.I.D DirtStar rims.

Having swung my leg over all 5 models [TE 150, 250, 300 and FE 250, 350, 450 and 501] it’s safe to say that these bikes are going to bring high performance to the pros on the racetrack but also a whole heap of fun to the everyday riders wanting to play in the dirt.

Key changes on the Husqvarna 2024 enduro include:

  • Throttle body fuel injection for better response with two injectors
  • Electronically monitored exhausted values for a two stroke feel
  • Subframe with increased durability and integrated grab handle
  • Fully adjustable suspension without need for tools
  • Improved grip seat and symmetrical tank fairing for knee grip
  • 27% larger peg surface with lower narrow stance for more stable position and reduced risk of catching in ruts
  • LED headlight giving 900 lumens
  • Smart Control unit for centralised electronic troubleshooting
  • Premium Michelin Medium rubber for ultimate traction
  • Smaller 22mm rear swing arm for more flex over rocks
  • Flush faced chain guard to prevent damage
  • Torque values etched in for serviceability
  • Improved feel and difference in two engine maps
  • Quick shifter for smoother great shifts [four stoke FE models]

Check out The Girl On A Bike’s YouTube channel for a full review of the 2024 Husqvarna enduro bikes.

YouTube – Husqvarna 2024 enduro bikes tested and reviewed – TE and FE models

Husqvarna 2024 two stroke enduro bikes ridden, reviewed and tested – TE 150 250 300

Who is the Girl on a Bike?

Vanessa Ruck is a dirt bike maniac, extreme desert rally racer, traveller, and social media goddess on a mission to inspire other riders following a life changing road accident that’s left her with chronic pain. She’s determined to prove that nothing is impossible.

The girl on a bike Husqvarna 2024 3 1

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.

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