Vanessa Ruck (@thegirlonabike), 2021 RedBull Romaniacs survivor, 2024 Africa Eco Race (Dakar) finisher, adventure mum. Motorcyclist and cyclist. UK. (Moto II, Velo 2).
“It’s not an adventure if you know what’s going to happen”
Hundreds of thousands of people know her as “The Girl on a Bike”; a hugely accomplished motorcyclist who has ridden across deserts and can expertly weave even the biggest of bikes through the most challenging terrain. Vanessa Ruck has achieved it all on a motorcycle and, for the 2026 season, has navigated with her Moto II.
In November 2026, though, she is swapping her leathers for lycra and taking on a different kind of challenge. Before a terrible road traffic accident in 2014 left Vanessa facing years of recovery - and ongoing pain - she was a keen cyclist; mountain biking and riding to and from work. After a several year pivot into petrol-fuelled wheeling, Vanessa is returning to pedal power and, this time, taking her nearly two-year old daughter Skyla along for the ride.
Alongside Skyla, Vanessa’s friend Tori and Tori’s toddler son Leo, Vanessa is riding 1,000 kilometres and tackling elevation gains that will cumulatively equal two and a half trips up Mount Everest. The foursome is cycling through Turkey’s beautiful landscapes, riding on the road and on gravel, adapting to what each day throws at them and proving that adventure doesn’t need to stop when you become a parent. With a carefully planned Beeline route - already pre-saved in the app - and Velo 2s on their handlebars, Vanessa and Tori know exactly where they’re going. But what will happen along the way? That’s what makes it an exciting endeavour.
Vanessa has clocked up 905 miles with Beeline and her favourite feature is Climb View and, especially, the confetti that appears when you reach the top! You can find her on Instagram @thegirlonabike.
