The Adventure Zone is new for 2024, and whilst it’s only a small part of the show, we offer some great advice in the stages of touring and booking your next adventure. We have some wonderful intrepid women bikers who will be hanging out here to answer your questions and give a talk/workshop or 2 over the course of the weekend.
Fern Hume
Get Lost and Find Yourself- How to Navigate on Your Bike (Saturday 17th)
“We are all inspired by inspirational speakers who go on once in a lifetime around the world adventures. However these are not possible for many at various points due to commitments such as jobs, mortgages, children and funding. So what can we do in the mean time?
I rode overland to Nepal in 2012, however on returning to the UK and settling back into the routine of a mundane office job, I needed to escape again, and in the space of 2 years I went on several 2 week adventures to Nepal, Morocco, Thailand, Peru, and two UK to Slovenia and Spain trips. It is possible to spice up regular life with adventurous trips!”
Fern is an adventure and trail riding evangelist. Fern experimented with overseas motorbike travel in 2011 with a wild camping trip to Norway, which proved a success, and in 2012, set off to ride from the UK to New Zealand via Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, China, Pakistan and India, and got stuck in Nepal for a year after falling in love with the Himalayas. Here she worked at a biker bar, and as a bike instructor. A further 3 years exploring and working round New Zealand by bike, she moved home to the UK and discovered that it was still possible to fit random remote bike adventures into 2 week work holidays to multiple countries in several continents.
She will be explaining the principles of navigation, what gadgets or phones to use, how to mount your gadgets, benefits of using digital navigation, and planning trips. Fern works with the TRF and the Trans Euro Trail to promote responsible trail riding, lane conservation and helps develop rider networks.
Fern Hume
Women on the Trail, an Introduction to Trail Riding- Trail Riders Fellowship (Sunday 18th)
Have you wanted to get into trail riding and don’t know where to start or would like to know more about it?
“I have a trail bike. Can I just ride anywhere off road?”
Trail riding in England in Wales is an immensely rewarding countryside pursuit, bringing adventure and exploration together with technical riding skills, orienteering and land access knowledge.
It is enjoyed in sunshine, wind, rain and snow throughout the year in some of the countries most striking landscapes, from the wild moorlands of Northumberland, over the rocky mountains of North Wales to the flat farm plains of Lincolnshire and down to the furthest reaches of Devon and Cornwall.
This session will cover topics such as:
-What bike do I need?
-What training is out there?
-How do I plan a route?- Navigation devices, Green Roads Map, Byways, UCRs, GPX Files
-What to wear- gearing up for the ride
-Finding riding groups around the country
Lara and Maja
Packing and Planning Your Trip (Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th)
Lara and Maja are embarking on the arduous off-road challenge of getting from the UK to Slovenia, via the Trans European Trail on a pair of Honda CRF 300 motorbikes. Both new to serious off-roading, Maja and Lara have lots to learn and prepare to tackle the event.
Maja and Lara found each other in 2020 and they’ve maintained a girl power comradeship as they’ve supported each other through life’s challenges. The catch is, they haven’t lived in each others pockets yet and have lots to learn about each other, as well investing heavily in an essential off road skillset to tackle TET challenges. They also both want to share the messy reality of being fierce females, covering menopause, period pants and generally just being a pair of capable, travelling chicks on and off road.
They will be offering advice on packing for your adventure, what’s essential and not, and general tips on planning your next trip!
Laura AKA MotoWaifu
Meet and Greet (Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th)
As well as being a part of our Women in Moto panel on Saturday, and an Inspirational Speaker on Sunday, Laura AKA MotoWaifu will be hanging around in the Adventure Zone over the course of the weekend for a meet and greet!
“Seven years ago, I caught the adventure bug and began riding motorcycles. I’ve always been open-minded about travel, having explored Europe by train and bus before discovering the thrill of motorbikes. Riding opened up a whole new world, almost like stepping into a video game and Europe was only a grasp away..
After numerous journeys through the Alps and the Pyrenees, I felt a longing for something more distant and different from home. So in 2023, I embarked on a thrilling adventure, riding my bright pink MT07 from London to Turkey, traversing 20 countries in just 21 days.
The journey was a mental challenge, as travelling such long distances alone gives you plenty of time for introspection. I met many incredible people, had my share of disagreements with foreign police officers, and even ended up on Turkish CNN! It was a wild ride!
Balancing my full-time job, I’m now considering a round-the-world trip in two-week segments each year, shipping my bike further each time. My next potential journey could take me from Turkey down to Oman.
I look forward to sharing tips from my travels, and answering all your questions at Women in Moto!
Until then, Waifu over and out.
Laura @Motowaifu “