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Born to ride: Emirati mother embarks on epic motorcycle journeys across Middle East

The National

a day ago

Lifestyle
The National

Born to ride: Emirati mother embarks on epic motorcycle journeys across Middle East

In 2022, mother-of-two Fatima Alloghani decided she was going to get a motorbike licence. It was the start of a journey that began with her learning to ride a bike with a Deliveroo driver in Dubai, before she headed off to explore northern Iraq. 'I didn't know how the streets would look while riding a bike,' the 46-year-old Emirati said of her earliest experiences as a motorcyclist, sparked into action by the boredom of the Covid-19 pandemic. Back then, she had no idea that her emerging passion would take her to the Alps, across Scandinavia, the Himalayas and much of the Middle East. She has managed her passion alongside being a mother to two daughters, aged 16 and 13, and has passed on her passion to them both, with her eldest due to turn 17 and attain her licence later this year. Bruised but determined As a learner, she started off with no ego. 'I remember a funny moment where I had to hire a Deliveroo driver with his motorcycle to come on a Saturday and ride with me because I was afraid something was going to happen to the bike or something was going to happen to me,' she told The National. Her first major trip came in the summer of 2023, when she joined a Spanish group going to the Alps. What she didn't realise is the crucial difference between street bikes and those designed for rough terrain and adventure. 'I was given a bike I'd never ridden before and suddenly I was on a trip for eight days, riding 2,500km, climbing different passes and mountains in the Alps.' Despite falling as soon as she got on the bike, Ms Alloghani was determined not to give up. 'I really, really did not want to fail,' she said. 'I was falling all the time in these mountains, sometimes getting hurt, sometimes not, sometimes coming back with bruises, sometimes not, but I kept going and I eventually got through the eight days.' Ms Alloghani said this trip became a crucial confidence-builder and the catalyst for the rest of her adventures. Challenging stereotypes The following year, Ms Alloghani managed to reach the peak of Khardung La, 5,400 metres up in the Himalayas. Getting there by bike was not without its challenges, but the main hurdle she faced was the fact she made the trip alone – something she is now immensely proud of. 'I was a little bit terrified and there was water, rain and fog, so I could not see at times. I was also hyperventilating because of the high altitude,' she said. 'I fell [off my bike] at the summit, so I had bikers coming around me, helping me. They asked what group I was with and I said I was alone and they all laughed.' When Ms Alloghani first started her motorcycle journeys, she feared she would be stigmatised as an Arab woman travelling in groups that were 90 per cent male. 'At the beginning 90 per cent, if not 95 per cent, of the riders were men,' she said. 'The space for a woman to enter that kind of hobby is not huge but I wanted to change that.' Her next step was to join motorcycle groups made up of GCC nationals, which mainly travelled across the Gulf region. 'I feel more safe and more happy being with my own people, which is something I hesitated to do in the first two years because I did not know how these Arab men would accept a woman riding with them,' she said. Staying optimistic Ms Alloghani enjoyed travelling with groups but said she found that the peace and quiet of travelling alone was valuable to her. 'You build a relationship with your motorbike where it's you, your bike, the road and your helmet, and then silence,' she said. 'You do a lot of soul-searching. [Before,] I never had the chance to cut the noise and just start analysing me, learning more about who I am and what I am. There's a certain beauty in doing that while riding a bike.' Her biggest solo trip was from Dubai to northern Iraq, in which she travelled for six days and passed through Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Ms Alloghani said young adventurers should always be optimistic and believe that wherever they are, and whatever happens, they will recover and someone will be there to help. 'I was leaving from Erbil, Iraq, to Zagreb, Croatia, and I had a pretty severe accident where the front visor of the bike broke and my helmet cracked. On the street, the bike fell and there was metres between me and a lorry. I almost thought the trip was over. 'A Kurdish family helped me up. They didn't let me just get up and leave. They took me to the hospital and, when I was done, they had me stay at their house for a couple of days and had my visor and helmet fixed.' Ms Alloghani said this incident reinforced her belief that good people are everywhere and they will stand by you. 'If you want to do something, don't wait, just do it. It will change your life. If you just wait, time will pass and age will catch up,' she said. 'The freedom to live and tradition don't have to be two different things, we can export our traditions by travelling and keep them at heart while doing so.'

Two teens, 16, seriously injured after horror car, motorbike collision in the Hunter Region, NSW

News.com.au

a day ago

Automotive
News.com.au

Two teens, 16, seriously injured after horror car, motorbike collision in the Hunter Region, NSW

Two teenagers have been seriously injured after an allegedly stolen motorbike collided with a car in the Hunter Region. Police are investigating a crash that occurred between a motorcycle and Mazda 3 hatchback at the intersection of Main Rd and Lowry St, in Cardiff, during a routine patrol just after 2am on Sunday. Two 16-year old boys — the rider and pillion passenger on the bike — were given first aid until the NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived. They were transported to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The teenagers were both wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Police inquiries established the motorcycle has been reported stolen from Edgeworth on May 11, but was not involved in a pursuit prior to the crash. The 52-year old driver of the car escaped injury and was also taken to the same hospital for mandatory testing. A crime scene has been established and is being examined by specialist police. Police are urging anyone who may have information about the crash, or with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage, to contact Belmont Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Moment motorbike-riding yobs swarm man on quiet London street in broad daylight… but it's not all as it seems

The Sun

2 days ago

Entertainment
The Sun

Moment motorbike-riding yobs swarm man on quiet London street in broad daylight… but it's not all as it seems

THIS is the moment a gang of motorbike-riding yobs swarmed a man in central London in broad daylight - but all was not as it seemed. The dramatic incident on Adam Street near Waterloo Bridge on Thursday saw the target eventually flee in a Range Rover as passersby stood open-mouthed. 9 However, the 'victim' was actually actor Theo James - and his getaway driver ex-football hardman Vinnie Jones, on set of the second series of The Gentlemen. The footage, shared with The Sun, was filmed from an office building across the street by a big fan of the Guy Ritchie-produced Netflix series. She told us: 'I was visiting my friend in his office - it was about half nine or 10. There were a couple sections of the street barricaded off and suddenly a film crew appeared. 'There were a couple of us watching at the window and I started filming. 'I recognised it was Theo James straight away. I was like 'this is exciting - oh my God!'' In the footage, the director can be heard shouting 'action' before James, 40 - who plays lead character Eddie Halstead - emerges from the Adelphi building with three other actors. Suddenly, half a dozen thugs on motorbikes arrive from both directions as James dashes towards a waiting Range Rover and driver Vinnie Jones, who plays Geoff Seacombe. The ex-Leeds United, Chelsea and Wimbledon midfielder, 60, then attacks one rider with a bat, before the car speeds off around the corner. Further footage shows the crew focusing in on Jones thumping the thug with the bat, causing him to fall backwards off the bike. Brit acting legend admits he wants to play James Bond saying 'the world's gone crazy' if Amazon casts a US star for 007 And more video shot from the ground sees one of the riders doing a wheelie in front of James. The witness, 26 - who did not wish to be named - went on to tell The Sun: 'It was all very quick, but it was cool to watch. 'You could hear some bangs and motorbikes revving - and it grabbed everyone's attention. 'My friend's seen a few things being filmed before around there. He said 'they're definitely filming something', then I saw the mic at the side of the road, then I saw Theo James.' She added: 'I watched the first season and loved it - I love Theo James and Vinnie Jones, they're really funny. 9 9 9 'I read that Maya Jama's gonna be in the new series too, which should be good.' The Gentlemen is a spin-off of the Ritchie-directed 2019 film of the same name, which starred Charlie Hunnam, Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant and Colin Farrell. The TV show, which also features Skins and Pirates of the Caribbean actress Kaya Scodelario, follows James' Eddie after he inherits his family's estate only to discover that it's home to an enormous weed empire, dragging him into the criminal underworld. James - who also appeared in The Inbetweeners Movie - is currently among those leading the race to become the next James Bond. According to Coral, fellow Brit Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, is top of the betting, however, James this month overtook former favourite Henry Cavill, 42, to take second place. 9 9 9

Liverpool: Tribute paid to biker, 38, who died in crash with car

BBC News

3 days ago

General
BBC News

Liverpool: Tribute paid to biker, 38, who died in crash with car

The family of a man who died following a motorbike crash have paid tribute to him, saying "everything we do now is for you".Donovan Travis Dineen-Whitham, 38, from Liverpool, was riding a motorbike that was in collision with a Volkswagen ID3 car in the Vauxhall area of the city on Wednesday, Merseyside Police said.A tribute issued by Mr Dineen-Whitham's family said: "My son, my brother, my uncle, my dad - we love you so much and we'll make you proud, we promise."A 24-year-old man from Liverpool arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving has been released under investigation. Emergency services, including the North West Ambulance Service and the air ambulance, attended the incident, but Mr Dineen-Whitham died at the scene. "We are absolutely heartbroken and can't believe we are writing this," Mr Dineen-Whitham's family incident happened at the junction of Vandries Street and Waterloo Road at about 19:00 BST on Sgt Kurt Timpson said: "Our thoughts and condolences remain with Donovan's family, who are being supported by our specially trained family liaison officers at this incredibly difficult time."Our investigation into the incident is ongoing as we seek to get the answers that Donovan's family deserve."He said the priority of detectives was to establish how the collision occurred and his team was working to establish key facts."Although a man has been arrested in connection with this incident, I would appeal to anyone who witnessed it to please contact us," he urged motorists to check dashcam footage if they were driving in the area at the time. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Crash near Glastonbury leaves two in life-threatening condition