Let’s talk about something that’s better than finding the perfect dual sport bike (yes, it exists…maybe): finding your motorcycle tribe.

You know, those wonderful weirdos who understand why you’re watching YouTube videos about dirt bike trips in Argentina or South Africa at midnight while eating cold pizza in your sweatpants, who have been exactly where you are right now, and who think that googling how to rent a bike in Mexico is a perfectly valid life choice.

Here’s the thing about women adventure riders: We’re not just creating tracks in the dirt – we’re blazing trails for an entire generation of riders who dare to say “Watch this!” instead of “What if?”

Why Finding Your Tribe Matters (And Why Solo Netflix Binges Just Don’t Cut It)

Remember that time you tried explaining to your non-riding friends why you’re so excited about your new crash bars? Yeah, we’ve all seen those polite nods and confused smiles. But your sisterhood of women riders? They’ll not only understand – they’ll show up with stickers to customize those bars.

The magic of women’s motorcycle tour groups isn’t just about the riding (though let’s be honest, that part is pretty epic). It’s about finding people who:

• Don’t judge you for having more photos of your bike than your family
• Understand why “just a quick ride” means packing enough snacks for a small army
• Actually want to hear your 20-minute story about that one time you felt scared shitless, but conquered a gravel path anyway (and lived to tell the tale!)

Where to Find Your Two-Wheeled Soul Sisters

We’re out there, we promise! As if being a moto maniac isn’t lonely enough if you live someplace where people just don’t ride much, finding female motorcycle tour groups can be a tough mission. But it is possible – from events like adventure motorcycle training for women to shared motorcycle travel experiences around the globe, female riders are everywhere, and we’re just getting started.

1. Women’s Dirt Bike Community Events

Think of these as speed dating, but instead of awkward dinner conversation, you’re bonding over proper tire pressure and the best ways to pack chocolate without it melting. Women’s motorcycle travel experiences aren’t just trips – they’re life-changing adventures where lifelong friendships are forged in dirt and sealed with huge grins and high-fives.

2. All-Female Dirt Bike Adventures

There’s something magical about women-only motorcycle tours. Maybe it’s the freedom to ask “stupid” questions (spoiler: there aren’t any), the shared laughter when someone accidentally dumps their bike in the softest, most photogenic mud puddle ever, or the pure, unadulterated joy of riding with women who get it – and who’ll cheer your victories louder than their own.

3. Beginner-Friendly Women’s Motorcycle Tours

Starting out? Perfect! The best thing about female motorcycle adventures is that everyone remembers their first time dropping their bike (usually in front of their crush, because timing is everything). These tours are judgment-free zones where “I have no idea what I’m doing” is met with “Cool, let’s figure it out together!”

4. Facebook Groups (Or Start Your Own Revolution!)

Can’t find your local tribe online? Channel your inner rebel and start one! Here’s a secret: half the women’s riding groups out there started because someone just like you thought, “Well, if it doesn’t exist…”

Pro tip: Name it something fun like “Throttle Therapy Sisters” or “Dirt & Dignity Optional.” Remember, every mighty oak started as a tiny acorn that just refused to stay in its comfort zone.

5. Instagram (Yes, Really!)

Beyond the perfect bike pics and suspiciously clean gear shots, there’s a whole community of real women sharing their actual adventures. Follow hashtags like #WomenWhoRide and #WomenADVRiders to find your people. Bonus points if you slide into DMs with “Nice crash! How’s the bike?” – trust us, it’s the start of beautiful friendships.

6. Online Forums (Where the Real Tea is Spilled)

Forums might seem so 2005, but they’re where the good stuff happens. ADV Rider, Women Riders Now, and other platforms are gold mines of information and connection. Plus, where else can you find detailed discussions about the best SheWee options for emergency roadside bathroom breaks? (You know it’s important!)

7. Local Dealership Events

Your local motorcycle shop isn’t just for impulse-buying new gear (though we support that too). Many dealerships host women’s nights or maintenance workshops. Pro tip: Show up with coffee and donuts – you’ll be everyone’s favorite person before you even introduce yourself.

8. Track Days and Training Events

Nothing bonds people quite like shared terror followed by shared triumph. Women’s-specific training events are perfect for finding riding buddies who match your skill level and anxiety about gravel (it’s totally normal to be suspicious of it).

9. Social Media Groups with Purpose

Beyond the usual suspects like Facebook, platforms like Meetup and even LinkedIn (yes, really!) have groups dedicated to women riders. Search for “women’s motorcycle groups” or “female adventure riders” in your area. Can’t find one? Remember what we said about starting revolutions…

10. The Wild Card: Coffee Shop Stakeouts

Park your bike in front of popular coffee shops and wait. Trust us, other riders will find you. It’s like a moth to a flame, except the moth is wearing protective gear and probably wants to talk about your bike mods. Remember: Building your tribe isn’t just about finding other riders – it’s about finding the right riders.

The ones who:

• Don’t judge when you name your bike Queen Leonora The Great, First of Her Name
• Understand why you’re watching YouTube tutorials at 2 AM
• Will drop everything to help you fix a flat (and bring snacks)
• Share your belief that mud is just nature’s makeup

The beauty of the women’s riding community is that it’s constantly growing and evolving. Every new rider who joins makes it stronger, more diverse, and more awesome. So whether you’re a seasoned trail blazer or still figuring out which end of the bike goes forward, there’s a place for you in this community. And hey, if you’re still reading this and thinking “but what if…” – stop right there. The only “what if” you need is “what if this is the beginning of something amazing?”

Building Your Adventure Toolkit (Because Amazon Doesn’t Sell Confidence… Yet)

Adventure motorcycle training for women isn’t just about learning to ride (though that’s pretty important, unless you’re planning to just push your bike around looking fabulous – which, honestly, we’ve all done at some point).

Let’s break down the essential tools every adventure woman needs in her invisible Moto Mary Poppins bag of badassery:

1. Technical Skills (The Real Deal)

Because YouTube tutorials can only teach you so much, and “figure it out as you go” isn’t always the best strategy when you’re 50 miles from the nearest cappuccino.

You’ll need:

• The art of graceful dirt landings (and ungraceful ones – they build character)
• GPS whispering (because sometimes technology needs a gentle threat)
• Basic bike maintenance (or how to fix things with zip ties and optimism)
• The sacred knowledge of when to say “I’m not sure” vs. “Hold my beer”

2. Confidence Boosters (Better Than Energy Drinks)

Riding with other women inevitably leads to a huge confidence boost.

Side effects may include:

• Chronic case of “I can do anything”
• Severe allergic reaction to limitations
• Unstoppable urges to inspire other women
• Permanent addiction to adventure
• Uncontrollable outbursts of self-belief (Consult your inner critic if these symptoms persist – actually, don’t. You’re doing great!)

3. Community Connections (Your Future Adventure Buddies)

Because sometimes you need:

• Someone to hold your GoPro
• A friend who understands why you named your bike
• That person who brings extra snacks without judgment
• A witness to your awesome (and not-so-awesome) moments
• Someone to help push your bike out of that mud puddle you “accidentally” found

4. Adventure-Ready Responses

For when people ask: “Are you sure about this?” – “Nope, that’s what makes it fun!”

“What if you fall?” – “Then I’ll have a cool story to tell!”

“Is that safe?” – “Safer than staying in my comfort zone!”

“Why?” – “Why not?” *revs engine dramatically*

Taking the Leap// Women’s Motorcycle Adventure Tours: Europe And Beyond

Let’s talk about leveling up from local trails to international adventures, shall we? Here’s a little secret: while planning your own international motorcycle adventure sounds romantic (you know, in that “I’ll learn Portuguese at 3 AM while comparing rental bikes in 47 open browser tabs” kind of way), there’s a plot twist coming.

Why battle with rental agreements in three different languages when you could just show up and have everything handled? (Including that “is this bike supposed to make that noise?” moment – spoiler alert: sometimes yes, sometimes no, we’ll tell you which is which).

Going Global: Because Adventure Has No Borders

Picture this: You’re winding through Portuguese coastal trails, and instead of wondering if you’ve accidentally wandered onto private property (been there, done that), you’re confidently following our local guides who know exactly where to find those secret beaches Google Maps hasn’t discovered yet. The only research you need to do is deciding which flavor of pastéis de nata is your favorite (field testing is mandatory).

In Croatia, while other tourists are stuck in traffic, you’re zigzagging through mountain passes that make your local hills look like speed bumps. Between the morning rides fueled by rocket-strength Croatian coffee and evening debriefs over local wine (for cultural research, obviously), you’ll discover why riding with other women transforms “I can’t” into “watch this!” faster than you can say “another espresso, please” in six languages.

And speaking of transformation – there’s something magical about riding with an all-women crew. Maybe it’s the way no one bats an eye when you request a cappuccino pitstop, or how “I’m not sure about this” turns into “that was AWESOME” with just a little encouragement from your new dirt-sisterhood. Plus, let’s be honest – no one judges when you overpack, need to slow down,  or require a quick beach nap along the way.

Safety? We’ve got that covered, too. Because while “flying by the seat of your pants” sounds adventurous, having experienced guides who know the terrain, speak the language, and can fix that weird clicking sound your bike’s making (without having to Google translate “help” in Portuguese) is even better.

And if Europe isn’t exotic enough for you, let’s talk about Mexico. Our Day of the Dead tour isn’t just about riding (though the riding is epic) – it’s about immersing yourself in a culture where celebration and adventure dance together like sugar skulls and marigolds. Plus, you haven’t really lived until you’ve learned why tacos taste better after conquering a trail with your ride sisters!

Ready to Go Global?

Here’s What’s Hot:

Portugal Coastal Magic: 3 spots left for April 25-30, 2025

Croatian Mountain Mayhem: 4 spots remaining for May 17-23, 2025

Mexico’s Day of the Dead Adventure: Almost sold out for October 31 – November 8, 2025

Fair warning: Side effects may include developing an addiction to passport stamps, a suspicious browser history full of international bike shipping rates, and the inability to drink regular coffee ever again. But trust us – these are the kind of side effects you want, so let’s turn those “someday” adventures into “holy cow, I’m actually doing this!” stories. Because the only thing better than planning an adventure is actually living one – with a crew of wild women who’ve got your back (and probably some extra snacks in their tank bag). Remember: Adventure has no language barrier, and neither does the universal sign for “This is the best decision I’ve ever made!”

The Big Little Rides Difference

What makes women’s off-road motorcycle experiences with Big Little Rides different? We’re not just a tour company – we’re your slightly chaotic fairy godmothers who:

• Believe in the power of “why not?”
• Know that the best stories start with “Watch this!”
• Understand that sometimes the best line isn’t the perfect line
• Always pack extra protein bars (because hangry riders are scary riders)

Ready to Find Your Tribe?

Here’s the thing about adventure – it’s better shared. Whether you’re:

• A complete beginner dreaming of dirt trails
• An experienced rider looking for your people
• Someone who thinks motorcycles are just therapy with engines…

… There’s a place for you in this community of wonderful weirdos. We want to hear your story!

Take our quick survey (link below) and tell us what you’re looking for in your perfect adventure. Whether it’s mastering technical skills, finding riding buddies, or just learning how to pack a week’s worth of gear into suspiciously small panniers – we’ve got you covered.

 Take the Big Little Rides Survey – Help Us Create Your Perfect Adventure!

Remember: Every great adventure starts with a single “yes” (and usually ends with a really good story).

The post Women Adventure Riders: Finding Your Tribe appeared first on Big Little Rides.

In this post, we’ll cover packing essentials for an adventure motorcycle tour, a dirt bike tour, and a training boot camp – and share some of our favorite must-haves when traveling by motorcycle.

Essential Packing List for a Motorcycle Tour

Whether you’re going for a short motorcycle holiday or a long trip, your packing list will likely be the same. As a rule of thumb, what you need for a week is typically what you’ll need for three weeks or a month, too.

If you’ve booked a long-ish adventure motorcycle tour, here’s what to pack and bring with you:

• Your riding gear. Unless you can rent gear locally, don’t forget to pack your helmet, boots, body armor or armored pants and jacket, rain cover, and your gloves.

• Your documents. Sounds silly, but people do forget passports, insurance docs, and driver’s licenses on a constant basis!
• Your phone, your camera if you have one, a charger for each of your devices, a powerbank, and a socket adapter if you’re going somewhere where electric sockets are different (you can look them up here).
• Your toiletries, a small travel first aid kit (think painkillers, stomach pills, cold medicine), any medications or supplements you may be taking, and sunscreen and bug spray if you’re headed somewhere tropical.
• Your undies, socks (2-3 pairs are enough), and base layers (best to use thin, moisture-wicking layers for riding).
• A change of clothes: for a 12-day motorcycle tour, you’ll probably need a couple of T-Shirts, a pair of pants, a warm layer (hoodie, fleece jumper, or something similar), and a pair of sneakers. If you’re traveling somewhere hot and sunny, pack a swimsuit, a lightweight sundress or shorts and top combo, and flip-flops.
• If motorcycle luggage isn’t provided on the tour, pack a waterproof duffel bag and some rok straps or bungee cords.

• Don’t forget your personal favorites (make your own list of what you usually can’t live without): Chapstick, sunglasses, a water bottle, a Kindle, earbuds… This one’s up to you!

That’s about it – and remember, the lighter you pack, the easier it is to travel. Even if you’re headed to an exotic destination like Belize or Colombia, remember you can always buy things locally if you forget them (phone chargers, a toothbrush, or flip-flops are easy to find anywhere).

Packing for Motorcycle Tours in Cold vs Hot Climates

Depending on your destination, you may need to pack a few additional items for a comfortable touring experience. Mostly, it depends on the weather conditions: if you’re going somewhere colder, with a higher likelihood of rain, or high altitude (even in hot countries, the weather is typically cooler at altitudes over 8,000 feet above sea level), you’ll probably need:

• Rain gear
• Several base and warm layers
• A neck buff/balaclava
• Warmer gloves
• Warm/waterproof socks

On the other hand, if your motorcycle tour is somewhere hot, humid, and tropical, you won’t need all the warm gear. Instead, pack things like:

• Lightweight jerseys and pants that go over body armor and protectives (we highly recommend Leatt Protectives – the safest option)

• Thin, moisture-wicking base layers (we love Under Armor base layers, but you can pick any brand you like)
• Summer gloves
• A camelback with a water bladder so you stay hydrated while riding (Kriega has a great selection of camelbacks)

What to Pack for an Adventure Motorcycle Tour

Now, are you going for an adventure or a dirt bike tour? If it’s an adventure motorcycle trip, use the essential packing list. However, you may want to bring your adventure or touring gear rather than pure motocross or dirt gear. On an adventure motorcycle tour, you’ll be riding both dirt and tarmac, doing longer distances and, likely, riding at different altitudes and different weather conditions. Because of this, four-season adventure or touring gear is your best bet to stay safe and comfortable.

The same goes for your helmet: adventure or touring helmets are great for adventure motorcycle tours as they offer several functions (a peak to shield your eyes from the sun, an additional sun visor, and an anti-fog insert). You can use a dirt bike helmet with goggles if that’s what you prefer, but adventure helmets tend to be more comfortable, especially if you hit fog or rain.

What to Pack for a Dirt Bike Tour

If you’re going on a dirt bike tour or an enduro training event, aim for a different gear setup. We usually pack body armor, knee pads, a neck brace, lightweight motocross-type jerseys and pants over the protectives, and motocross-style boots. Why? This setup offers more protection in case you crash, you have more freedom of movement on the bike, and you won’t get as hot in lightweight gear as you would in your adventure riding suit.

When it comes to helmets, a standard dirt bike helmet and goggles work best, but an adventure helmet will do, too.

Packing Hacks and Tips

Fun fact: most riders, male or female, tend to overpack when going on motorcycle tours. That’s OK – in most cases, you can leave some of your stuff at the basecamp or hotel – but do try to pack as light as you can. You’ll save energy, luggage weight, and checked baggage costs!

On the other hand, there’s always a way to pack smarter. Here’s how you can pack better, save space, and avoid ridiculous airport luggage fees:

• Use vacuum bags, compression bags, or packing cubes to keep your stuff organized and save space.

• Label each bag or pack with a small checklist: that way, you can always double-check if you’ve packed everything while packing. For example, add the label “toothbrush, deodorant, moisturizer, hygiene products, chapstick” to your toiletries bag, “phone, charger, phone mount, Kindle” to your electronics bag, and so on.
• Pack lighter clothing: think jeggings vs denim, fleece jumpers vs chunky hoodies, running shoes vs hiking boots, flipflops vs sandals, etc
• Bringing your adventure gear, but don’t want to check it in? Wear it on the plane and carry your helmet with you. It’s not the most comfortable way to fly, but if the flight is short, it’ll save you on checked baggage.

Finally, don’t forget to pack your must-haves. This will be different for everyone: for Egle, it’s a French filter coffee mug and a camera; for Jurga, it’s a power bank and a lightweight jumpsuit. The “must-have” list is all about comfort items or items that you just can’t do without, but don’t go overboard, either – pack just one or two items and leave the rest.

How to Pack for a Motorcycle Tour

Now that you know what to pack for a motorcycle tour, plan your packing and luggage. First, make a list of everything you’ll need using the tips above and your own personal preferences. If you’re not sure, reach out to the tour organizer and ask them if there’s anything specific you should bring.

Next, go over your list and see which items aren’t 100% necessary, and which ones could be replaced by lighter or smaller alternatives.

Then, see how you’re packing. We usually travel with a small carry-on backpack and a 10kg checked-in waterproof duffel bag: the carry-on backpack serves as a hydration pack during the tour, and the duffel works as a motorcycle pack. See if you can use a similar system or come up with your own, but the idea is to have two pieces of luggage that you can use both for flying and riding the bike.

Now, lay out all your stuff from the list and see how well it packs. Use vacuum or compression bags for clothing, and put your toiletries in sturdy Ziploc bags – there’s nothing more annoying than a body lotion bottle spilling its contents all over your clothes!

Finally, see if it all fits into your luggage. If it doesn’t, unpack (ugh, we know), see what you can leave behind, and if you can’t, just get a bigger duffel bag – we won’t judge.

If it does, hurray – you’re ready for your motorcycle tour!

More: Women’s Motorcycle Tours

The post What to Pack for a Motorcycle Tour appeared first on Big Little Rides.

Riding dirt is a very hands-on experience, so it’s best to find rider training classes near you – or join one of our dirt bike training tours in Andalusia or Romania. Alternatively, you can find rider groups in your area and see if anyone feels like helping you out with the basics. Dirt riders are a friendly bunch, and you’re guaranteed to find someone to teach you.

Then again, learning from friends and loved ones doesn’t always work out, and we know going on training tours isn’t always possible in terms of your schedule, budget, or both.

So in this post, we’ll go over some of the key basics on how to start riding dirt and help you get the hang of it – at least in theory, but you can practice some of this stuff on your own.

Riding Dirt vs Tarmac: What’s the Difference?

Okay, so what’s the main difference between riding your bike off-road versus on-road?

It’s grip and traction.

On pavement, your bike’s tires have excellent grip on the surface, and it’s easy to stay upright and maneuver. In corners on a paved road, even though your bike is leaning into the curve, you’re not falling over because your tires grip the surface well and you’ve got enough traction.

On dirt, the surface isn’t as grippy. The looser the surface (think fine gravel, pebbles, sand, or mud), the less grip and traction you have. If it’s hard-packed dirt, like forest service roads, riding is easy and similar to on-road riding, but when you’re on deep sand or loose gravel, there is little grip to help you.

So how do you compensate for the loss of grip and traction?

To stay upright when riding dirt, balance, body position, and momentum are your best friends. When you have a good balance and are riding smoothly, your bike will roll over any surface – forest trail, rocky climb, sand, or a muddy section. If you’re unbalanced and ride in jerky movements, you’re more likely to tip over.

How to Ride Dirt: Standing Position

If you’re riding easy dirt trails, standing up isn’t crucially important since you’ll likely have enough grip (it’s best to still stand up, though, just to get used to it!).

But when you’re on more technical terrain – again, think sand, deep or fine gravel, or mud – you need to help yourself out by standing up on the footpegs.

Here’s what happens when you stand up:

• Your overall center of weight is lowered – instead of being on your seat, the weight of your body is now on the foot pegs. The lower the center of weight, the more stability and control of the bike you have.
• You have more points of control. When you’re sitting down, your points of control are your handlebars and your brakes (you can’t steer with your butt, no matter how hard you try). Standing up, you can steer the bike with your weight, knees, and body position in addition to handlebars and brakes.
• You are more balanced – which means you have more stability on the bike.
• Using your legs as shock absorbers, it’s easier to ride over bumps, potholes, or small logs
• Your body position helps you control your bike when going uphill and downhill

In other words, when you ride standing up on the foot pegs, you have more balance, more stability, and more control of the bike.

How to Stand on the Bike

What’s the right way to stand up on the bike when you ride dirt?

You should be standing on the foot pegs on the balls of your feet, knees slightly bent, your back straight, your elbows out, and your hands light on the bars.

The most important thing is not to tense up: find a position that feels natural and comfortable, otherwise, you’ll soon get tired. It should feel almost like you’re standing on the ground in a natural position: if it feels like you’re bending too much and your lower back starts hurting, you might need handlebar risers. If your knees are bent like you’re squatting, you’ll soon start feeling your quads and hamstrings and get tired.

Try to ride slowly in the standing position and get a feel for what feels right. The bike will slightly move underneath you, and at first, it feels scary. However, that slight movement is totally OK: as long as you’re balanced and rolling, you won’t fall off. Get used to that feeling and move with your bike, not against it – there’s no amount of muscle that can take on gravity.

Riding dirt is all about balance and finesse rather than pure strength. When you are standing up, it’s much harder to fall because you are free to move and adjust your body position as you need to, and you are balanced and supple on the bike. Even if you hit a section of deeper sand or a muddy stretch, as long as you’re standing up and balanced, you won’t crash.

Stay Jelly

The key to riding dirt in a standing position is being relaxed. At first, that’s hard: when you’re not used to this position, every movement on your bike that feels unfamiliar will cause you to tense up. That’s completely normal, but do try and relax.

Here is why: imagine a piece of Jell-O on a plate. You can shake the plate, but the blob of jelly won’t fall off – it just sort of wobble and move when shaken, but it’ll stay on the plate.

Be the Jell-O. When you’re supple, flexible, and balanced, it’s almost impossible to shake you off the bike.

We know, it’s easier said than done when you’re just starting out, but make it your mantra: when you’re riding dirt, just keep telling yourself – jelly, jelly, jelly (or scream PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME in your helmet, if that works better). If you feel your arms tensing up, focus on your arms and relax them. If it’s your legs, you’re probably bending your knees too much or you’re standing on your toes rather than the balls of your feet; find a more comfortable position and relax.

Tension almost always leads to a tip-over. When you’re holding on to your handlebars for dear life, white-knuckled, guess what: you’re rigid and inflexible, which means you won’t be able to react and correct in time if you hit an obstacle or a sharper turn. You cannot hold the bike upright by sheer muscle power – no one can. When you’re relaxed and balanced, riding dirt feels effortless.

Breathe, Woman

Another good tip to remember when riding dirt is…breathing. Yes, breathing. Whenever you find yourself tensing up, stressing, or feeling unsure, take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.

The trick?

By the time you’re breathing out, you’re probably already over the obstacle that was scaring you in the first place.

By focusing on your breath, you’re taking the attention away from The Very Scary Thing in front of you and letting your body and your muscle memory do the job for you. Remember, riding dirt is very much a mental game: often, we shy away from more technical terrain or faster speeds not because we’re unskilled or useless, but because of fear. We’ve seen countless excellent riders freeze up and drop their bikes in the easiest places – all because they started doubting themselves or felt they couldn’t do it.

Don’t worry, confidence will come with practice, but for now, just remember that breathing thing. It’ll help.

Using Brakes on Dirt

By now, you feel better and more balanced on the bike, and you know to stay standing up, jelly, and breathe. Cool – now, let’s talk about brakes!

Just like on a road bike, grabbing the front brake on a dirt bike is never a good idea. It’ll lock up your front wheel, most likely causing it to turn – which will send you crashing.

Stomping on the rear brake, on the other hand, isn’t anywhere near as dramatic. Your rear wheel may lock up, too, but it’ll just cause your bike to fishtail a little – and you’ll stay upright.

The best policy, however, is to feather your brakes and to use them both in more or less equal parts. There’s a lot of fun stuff you can do with your rear brake when you’ve built up your skills, but for now, just be gentle and use both brakes together.

In addition, learn to use your engine brake (that is, gear down). This is especially useful on downhill descents and before corners: front and rear brakes slow you down, but the engine brake both slows the bike down and stabilizes it. If you’re coming into a corner too hot, just gear down – the engine brake will slow and steady your bike.

More importantly, plan your braking and stopping in advance. For example, when you see a corner coming up, reduce your speed before the corner instead of grabbing the brakes in the corner. That way, you will enter the corner at a speed of your liking – and in control.

A good way to practice braking is riding in second gear standing up in a straight line on hard-packed dirt, then stopping using both brakes. Get a feel for it; see how fast you can come to a standstill. Next, try a rear wheel brake: ride in second gear, pull your clutch in, and stomp on your rear brake hard. Hold it for a few seconds, allowing the wheel to lock up. Once you’re almost at a standstill, let go. This is a good exercise to get rid of fear of your rear wheel fishtailing or locking up: try it a few times and you’ll see it’s no big deal.

Finally, practice engine braking until it becomes second nature. The more points of control you have in your arsenal, the more confident you’ll feel on the bike.

Plan Your Line

Much like planning your brakes, learn to plan your lines.

What does that mean?

When you’re learning to dirt, always look for ways to make your life easier. Let’s say you’re facing a trail that’s slightly rutted. Before you tackle it head-on, see which line is the easiest to avoid the ruts, then ride the trail following that imaginary line. Or maybe there’s a huge puddle in the middle of the trail; plan your line to avoid it. When you’re feeling more confident, by all means, frolic in mud puddles and battle ruts, but when you’re just starting out, just look for ways to make it easier for yourself.

Speaking of lines: you know the golden rule that you’ll go where you look? Target fixation is real, and it means that if you stare at the scary rock that’s coming at you, you’ll most likely hit said scary rock. Instead, look away from the rock and toward the line you want to follow, and you’ll avoid the damned thing effortlessly. Always, always, always look where you want to go – not where you don’t want to go.

This doesn’t just go for obstacles: when you’re facing a hill climb, for example, don’t look at your front tire or the first few yards in front of you. Look at the crest of the hill instead; this way, you’ll ride up like a pro. If you fixate on your front tire instead, well… You guessed it – it’s tip over time.

Dealing with Oh Shit! Moments

Learning to ride dirt is a never-ending process: there’s always some new skill to master or a technique to learn. And when you’re learning, oh shit moments are bound to happen. That’s OK – as long as you walk away unscathed, dumping your bike is no big deal.

However, there are some tricks to help you get through the oh shit moments. We already talked about breathing – believe it or not, this simple hack helps a lot.

But what about moments when you do panic or feel your bike is out of control?

Let Go of the Throttle

Going too fast, rolling downhill too fast, coming into the corner too fast? Let go of the throttle. Before you do anything else, just let go of the throttle. Rolling off the gas immediately slows the bike down giving you time to decide what to do next – brake, engine brake, or both – and helps to get rid of the panicky feeling.

Let the Clutch Out

If you’re picking your way down a hill and feel like you’re rolling too fast, chances are, you’re holding the clutch in, which means your bike is rolling freely in neutral – and picking up momentum as it goes.

Let the clutch out, and it’ll slow down immediately. It’s the same if you’ve stopped on a hill and feel you’re rolling backward: let go of the clutch, and your wheels will lock up stopping you in your tracks.

Stomp the Rear Brake

If you need to stop quickly, never grab your front brake – instead, pull the clutch in and stomp on your rear brake. This is your best bet to come to a stop quickly and without crashing – the bike may fishtail, but it will be a lot more stable than if you grab the front brake.

ATGATT

All the gear, all the time. No, let us rephrase it: all the good gear, all the time. When you start riding dirt, good protective gear is absolutely crucial for your safety. Don’t buy cheap, crappy gear – you may pay for it later with a sprained ankle or a broken bone. Invest in good quality dirt bike boots, knee braces, hip and coccyx pads (we like Leatt Impact shorts for this purpose), body armor, neck brace, and a good helmet, and never ride without gearing up.

Here at Big Little Rides, we are sworn fanatics of Leatt protectives because their gear is designed in labs along with consulting trauma surgeons to create gear that prevents specific knee, shin, back, and neck injuries; in other words, they’re surgically (pun intended) nerdy about what they do, and we swear by Leatt on all our tours. Of course, you can pick whichever brand you like, just make sure it’s good quality stuff – and that you always wear the gear.

We hope this post on how to start riding dirt has helped you get a rough idea of where to begin, and that we’ll see you braaping out on the trails soon!

Happy dirt riding,

Egle and Jurga

The post How to Start Riding Dirt: Women’s Guide to Off-Roading appeared first on Big Little Rides.

But what are women’s motorcycle tours all about, how are they different from co-ed tours, and should you join one? In this post, we’re sharing our experiences of designing motorcycle tours for female riders, exploring the world on bikes together, and offering some touring tips for women riders.

Whether you prefer riding in groups and going on organized motorcycle tours or love riding solo, we hope you’ll find something useful here – and plan your own two-wheeled adventure.

What Are Women’s Motorcycle Tours About?

Okay, so first things first: how are women’s motorcycle tours different from mixed ones or those that predominantly have male riders? Which, let’s face it, is the case with most tours?

Frankly, not much, except that all riders and guides on our tours are female. Adventure motorcycle tours for women aren’t shorter, easier, or offer fewer daily miles – we know women riders are just as capable as their male counterparts, so we design our tours with plenty of dirt riding, challenges, and healthy mileage.

If it’s an all-female adventure or dual sport motorcycle tour, like our Colombia and Belize editions, we mix up dirt trails with paved twisties, throw in a few technical sections, and make sure the routes are equal parts fun and challenging – just as an adventure tour should be. If it’s a dirt bike training tour like the Andalusia or Romania adventures, we focus on improving the skills, boosting our riders’ dirt riding confidence, and learning good techniques.

In other words, our women’s motorcycle tours are just as exciting, challenging, and jam-packed with adventure as the mixed ones.

So why focus on all-female expeditions in the first place?

Women Riders Together

Ever since our humble beginnings with dirt bike masterclasses for women, we noticed a repeating pattern. Most women learn to ride with their boyfriends or husbands, or sometimes, their male friends. Typically, said boyfriends and husbands are experienced riders who don’t always understand how different it is to learn to ride as an adult (so many guys learn to ride as kids or teenagers, so their fear threshold is way lower). As a result, women often feel like they can’t keep up or they aren’t progressing as fast as they should, and that equals frustration.

During those first dirt bike training weekends, we saw just how much fun women have when they’re riding and training together – and how much more relaxed and confident they feel in an all-female environment.

The same goes for women’s motorcycle tours. It’s not that we want to shut male riders out – we ride with them, we learn with them, and we love them. But riding in an all-female crew offers something that riding with dudes can’t: a sense of sisterhood and camaraderie, a supportive learning environment, and a sort of freedom to just be yourself no matter how you ride or how fast you are.

Why Choose a Women’s Motorcycle Tour

Now, we’re not trying to lump all women riders together. Some chicas are so badass they leave male riders in the dust on a constant basis; some are happy to ride and train with guys and give them a run for their money; plenty of women ride on their own and enjoy being solo riders.

Everyone’s different, and we’re not saying women need all-female motorcycle tours or training events. After all, there are plenty of excellent male dirt bike coaches and adventure tour organizers, and if you feel there’s no difference between riding and training with guys vs women, you go, girl!

But for some women, riding and training with other moto gals offers a safe, supportive space where they don’t need to worry about keeping up or becoming a motorcycling pro in a day. During women’s motorcycle tours, there’s no competing, showing off, or trying to up one another. There’s no impatience, either: if you’re riding a little slower or struggle with a more technical section, no one’s going to get snappy about it – instead, other women will help you out and support you through it.

And that, in our experience, leads to a whole bunch of awesome things: more confidence riding, more believing in yourself, and…more fun as a result. We want our riders to truly enjoy the tours and training sessions, not just barely survive them. We want our riders to progress at their own pace and safely rather than grip it and rip it white-knuckled, missing out on thoroughly understanding the techniques and staying in control.

Women’s motorcycle tours are all about the adventure, but also about the sisterhood. They’re all about pushing your own edge and facing challenges – but remaining in control and riding safely. And last but not least, they’re about riding someplace cool and exotic, scenic, and spectacular – and include a bunch of off-bike activities to rest up and recharge between the rides.

Women’s Adventure and Dirt Motorcycle Tours

If you think you’d like to try riding with other women, should you opt for an adventure motorcycle tour, a dirt bike tour, or a training tour?

It all depends on what you love most. Women’s adventure motorcycle tours usually include both on-road and off-road riding, rest days with some off-bike fun planned in, and a bucket list destination. Adventure bikes are typically mid-sized, comfortable motorcycles capable of both road and dirt riding. Finally, adventure motorcycle tours tend to be longer and offer cultural experiences and interesting activities alongside the riding.

Dirt bike tours are geared for off-road riders looking to stay off the tarmac and ride lightweight dirt bikes. Women’s dirt bike tours offer are less sightseeing and cultural immersions and more braaping than adventure tours. In other words, it’s more about the riding and the dirt rather than exploring a country.

Finally, dirt bike training tours for women are designed to help you improve your riding skills (or, if you’re a beginner, learn to ride off-road), boost your confidence, and enjoy views only dirt trails can offer – think high mountain passes, canyons, and forests. Training tours combine dirt, learning, and challenging terrain all while riding somewhere with pristine nature, limitless off-road trails, and a company of like-minded women riders.

Women’s Motorcycle Tours in South America

South America is a bucket list destination for just about every rider. Here at Big Little Rides, we love exploring South America on bikes so much that we come back almost every year, and our favorite places to ride include Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.

Women’s Adventure Motorcycle Tour in Colombia

Our adventure motorcycle tour in Colombia is the newest addition to our travel menu, and this one’s geared toward women who love riding, exploring, and seeing places barely touched by tourism. Colombia, to us, is like a concentrated version of the entire South American continent: here, we ride the Andes Mountains, the hot and muggy rainforest lowlands, and the Tatacoa Desert all in one go. Since Colombia is smaller than, say, Peru or Argentina, you get to see and experience a lot more in shorter distances.

In addition, there are plenty of cool local experiences we love sharing: staying in traditional Colombian haciendas, connecting with the locals, visiting organic coffee farms and horseback riding on rest days are all part of the tour.

Finally, Colombia offers stunning tarmac routes in the Andes as well as plenty of good off-road riding. Since we know the country well and speak the local language, we’re always flexible and can improvise as we go along – depending on how experienced our riders are, we can change routes on the go, add more (or less!) dirt, and adjust daily mileage to suit everyone’s ability.

Our women’s adventure motorcycle tour in Colombia is for you if:

• You love adventure motorcycling and ride both road and off-road
• You love action-packed travel with cultural experiences
• You’re into adventure bikes – we ride Honda XRE300’s in Colombia
• You love meeting other women riders or riding with your gal pals
• South America is on your bucket list of places to ride

Curious? Check out the itinerary of our adventure motorcycle tour in Colombia and book your spot now!

Women’s Dual-Sport Motorcycle Tour in Belize

Okay, so Belize is technically Central America, but it’s such a unique place we just couldn’t resist ourselves. After doing our first Big Little Rides tour in Belize this spring, we fell in love with this tiny but incredibly diverse and wild country, and we put together a dual-sport trip so colorful you’ll be struggling to keep your phone camera’s storage from overfilling.

In Belize, we’ll be riding small 250 cc dirt bikes and exploring the entire country. We’ll combine dirt trails with the scenic Hummingbird Highway, ride jungle trails, savannah, and beach, and get to see Mayan ruins, spectacular caves, and quirky beach towns along the way.

In between riding, we’ll kick back in breezy Caribbean resorts, go on rainforest river cruise on a pontoon boat, swim under water falls, snorkel over the second biggest coral reef in the world, and go on a paradise island-hopping tour. The Belize expedition is both about the riding, the culture, and a full-on holiday mode as we’ll enjoy the Caribbean vibes as much as the braaping.

Our women’s dual-sport motorcycle tour in Belize is for you if:

–           You prefer shorter distances and riding dirt

–           You love the idea of combining a bike trip with a tropical holiday in a Caribbean paradise

–          You love connecting with local indigenous women

–           You’re into smaller dirt bikes – we’ll be riding Lifan 250’s in Belize

–           You love meeting other women riders or riding with your gal pals

–           Central America is on your bucket list of places to ride

Curious? Check out the itinerary of our women’s dual-sport motorcycle tour in Belize and book your spot now!

Women’s Motorcycle Tours in Europe

The origins of Big Little Rides lie in Europe, and we love riding Spain, Portugal, and Romania. These are our favorite motorcycling destinations on the continent because, while being easy to access (think cheap direct flights) and fun to travel, they still offer something that’s already gone in most of Western Europe: a touch of wilderness. Andalusia’s canyons and dry riverbeds, Portuguese vineyard trails and beautiful valleys, and Romania’s mountains and pristine forests make for an ideal dirt biking playground, and we come back to these three destinations each year.

All of our women’s motorcycle tours in Europe are dirt bike training tours. We have fantastic local partners who provide Husqvarna, KTM, and Yamaha dirt bikes in great condition along with stunning trails, lush accommodation, and all-inclusive packages, and our favorite Big Little Rides tours in Europe are the Andalusia edition and the Transylvania enduro trip.

Women’s Dirt Bike Training Tours: Andalusia

Located just half an hour’s drive from Malaga, our Andalusia dirt bike training camp is like our own private paradise. We have a huge Spanish villa complete with a swimming pool at our disposal, and for three days, we ride Husqvarna 250’s across the jaw-dropping Andalusian countryside. In addition to Egle and Jurga supporting you every step of the way, we have Lyndon Foster as our main dirt bike coach; we’ve known Lyndon for years now, and we love his exceptional talent to teach and his empathy toward new or less experienced riders. With us and Lyndon, you go from zero to hero in a matter of three days.

The women’s dirt bike training tour in Andalusia is for you if:

• You love training and improving your dirt bike skills
• You enjoy combining off-road training with amazing scenery and great cuisine
• You like the idea of riding and training with other women riders
• You prefer shorter trips
• You need a confidence boost riding dirt

Ready to braap? Book our women’s dirt bike training tour in Andalusia now!

Women’s Dirt Bike Training Tour in Romania

What comes to mind when you think of Romania? Transylvania? The Dracula stories? You’re not wrong – our Big Little Rides Romania edition takes place near the famed Bran Castle – the one where Dracula (the historic character, not the vampire) actually resided.

Halloween stories aside, Transylvania is one of the most scenic mountain regions in Europe, and riding off-road here is pure enduro heaven. Romania is a great choice if you’re aiming for a longer training tour: out here, we combine 4 days of braaping and training with staying in a rustic mountain lodge and enjoying fresh, farm-to-table food. Our weapons of choice in Romania are Yamaha WR250/KTM350 bikes, and we welcome both beginners and experienced riders on this tour.

Want to discover Transylvania while boosting your dirt bike skills? Check out the Big Little Rides Transylvania dirt bike training tour and book your spot now!

Women Riders Groups and Hangouts

So there you have it – women’s motorcycle tours are all about adventure, challenge, confidence, and discovery just as much as the mixed tours. But when women ride together, we connect, we learn from each other, we support each other…and we have a silly amount of fun in the process.

If you’re not sure whether a women’s motorcycle tour is for you, come hang out with us and our riders in our Facebook group! Here, you can meet other female riders, talk about bikes and travels, and just chat:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/biglittlerides

Want to stay updated about new Big Little Rides expeditions and receive our newsletter where we share adventure stories and riding tips? Enter your email and hit the subscribe button: we promise 0 spam and 100% motorcycling goodness delivered straight to your inbox:

https://biglittlerides.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=007d7e5964dc9e09184b09d34&id=6e49e697ad

Questions, suggestions, gossip, ideas? Shoot us a message – we’re stoked to chat with new women riders and connect!

Happy adventuring,

Jurga & Egle

The post Women’s Motorcycle Tours: Braap with Your Gal Pals appeared first on Big Little Rides.