Abbey’s Sweeping Success
Ride ADV's Guardian Angel of the Trails
In the world of adventure bike riding, the role of a Sweep Rider is crucial. Positioned at the back of the group, the Sweep Rider ensures that no one is left behind, whether due to a missed turn, mechanical issues, nature breaks, or accidents. This vital role requires a skilled and confident rider, a handy mechanic, and someone knowledgeable in first aid, as they are often the first responder to incidents on the trails.
Despite her age and quiet demeanour, 21-year-old Abbey, known by everyone as "Abbey The Sweep," has established herself as one of the best in the game.
Early Beginnings
Abbey's journey into motorcycle riding was off and running by the time she was just four years old. Riding a Yamaha PW50, she rode hard out on the trails to keep up with her older brother, Sam and her father, Tim. Improving her skills as she grew, it wasn't long before she was holding her own against the boys.
A Fortuitous Start with RideADV
In 2019, a raffle held by the Dirt Bike Burrito podcast set Abby’s life on an exciting new course. The first prize was an entry into one of Greg Yager’s RideADV Women’s Only rides. Abbey’s father entered her into the raffle, and she won. At just 17 years old and still in Year 12, Abbey embarked on her first RideADV Women’s Only ride.
During this ride, Greg Yager, the owner of RideADV, noticed Abbey’s talent and personable nature. He was looking for a female Sweep Rider for his Women’s Only events and saw potential in Abbey. “As soon as I met Abbey and watched her ride, I knew she would be perfect for the RideADV team,” Greg Yager said. “I met with her parents first and explained that I wanted to offer Abbey a position as a Sweep Rider on my Women’s Only rides. Abbey was just as keen to come on board as we were to have her, and she started the training process with us straight away.”
Embracing the Role of a Sweep Rider
Abbey’s first event as a Sweep Rider was a mix of nerves and excitement. “At that point, I had almost exclusively been an enduro rider,” Abbey explained. “The pace of an adventure bike ride is a bit faster, and there are road sections, so that was different. But the riding is not as technical as enduro riding, so that made it a little easier.”
Thanks to the expert guidance and training offered by Greg Yager and the RideADV crew, Abbey adapted quickly. “Their coaching is so good,” Abbey said. “I’ve learned so much since that first ride, and I really love the social side of the riding as well. The female-only rides are always really enjoyable. Working with the RideADV team is an awesome experience, and I get along well with everyone. Even when not riding with them, I’ll head over to the RideADV headquarters and just hang out, tinkering in the shed.”
Balancing Life and Passion
Five years after her first ride as Sweep, Abbey is now a third-year electrical apprentice, balancing her work and TAFE studies with RideADV events. “I work as a Sweep Rider on every RideADV Two-Day ride and every Introduction to Adventure Riding Course, and anything else I can align my TAFE holidays with,” Abbey explained. “Once my TAFE studies are over, I will be doing a lot more with RideADV, that’s for sure.”
Encouraging Female Participation
Helping to grow the number of females taking up adventure bike riding is a priority for Abbey. “Every ride we do, we see new faces, and we have people coming out of the shadows all the time, new riders and returning riders,” she explained. “The Women’s Only rides really help the ladies feel more confident, and they have a really good time doing it. I don’t see any reason why women riders can’t be equal to the guys when it comes to adventure riding. We are seeing a lot of girls who started their adventure riding journey with RideADV as a member of the Women’s Only rides, and now they are taking part in the open events, and they are riding with a lot of skill.”
Having ridden with both men and women, Abbey has observed that ladies often have a chirpier approach to riding. “The girls have a really unique camaraderie that makes riding with them a lot of fun. I really love watching the community grow each time we have an event.”
Looking Ahead
“I can’t see myself stopping anytime soon,” explains Abbey. “I want to do more. I love getting to ride with different riders, with different techniques and different bikes on different terrains. It’s always new and different. Interacting with different people and learning from their experience makes it a rewarding job.”