Bike Babes Dirt Experience 2025

For the third year running, Bike Babes in Stockholm hosted the Dirt Experience – a weekend packed with off-road adventures and challenges. Behind the event are a few dedicated souls in the group who not only scouted the routes in advance but also took on the roles of ride leaders and sweepers. Without their commitment, this adventure simply wouldn’t have been possible.

That August weekend saw around thirty women arrive with their bikes – ready for two days of gravel, camaraderie, and fresh challenges. For me and Anna Thoresson, the adventure had already begun on the Friday. With quite a distance to travel from Gothenburg, we set off a day early to arrive in good time and settle in.

The setup is designed so that everyone can join – no matter how much or how little off-road experience they have. Groups were divided by pace and difficulty: from the Green group’s relaxed riding on forest and gravel roads, to the Blue group’s slightly brisker tempo.

For those looking for a bigger challenge, the Red group offered playful riding with technical sections and knobbly tyres required. The Red group proved so popular it had to be split in two.

I had signed up for Red, and for the weekend I was lucky enough to ride a completely new bike for me – the popular Honda CRF 300L. Last year I rode the same event on a larger Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro in the Blue group, so this felt like an exciting switch. Spirits were high from the start, and once everyone had been assigned their group, we rolled out.

Magical roads and unexpected encounters

Saturday gave us perfect conditions: sunshine, pleasant warmth, and trails mixing open gravel stretches with more technical forest sections. During our lunch stop at the ferry point in Bysjön, we met two older gentlemen out cruising on their choppers. They were absolutely amazed to see thirty women on adventure bikes – and asked for a group photo with all of us gathered around their bikes.

After many glorious miles through varied terrain, we reached Forsbacka Wärdshus, where Johan welcomed us with open arms. For the third year in a row, Bike Babes descended on his inn. “It must count as a tradition by now,” he said cheerfully. And truly – no post-ride beer tastes better than the one after a full day in the saddle. Most riders rolled in around the same time, apart from a small group who had stopped to tow a bike that wouldn’t start. The evening carried on with dinner, laughter, and countless stories from the day.

Sunday – saws and sand

Sunday began a little cloudier but with ideal riding temperatures. We headed out on new routes and were lucky to have an experienced rider in the group who had packed a small saw – perfect for clearing the fallen trees we repeatedly encountered. When the path couldn’t be cleared, we picked alternative routes through the forest, helping each other along the way.

Soon we arrived at the infamous sand hill – part of an enduro track with deep sand and steep climbs. It seems to have become a tradition to take it on during this ride. Personally, I was already exhausted after wrestling the Honda through an earlier tricky section, but several in the group attacked the hill with full energy.

We paused in Hedesunda for coffee and cake at Vinnersjö’s general store & café before continuing along Övägen through the stunningly beautiful Sandnäset. After lunch, the clouds thickened, and a brief shower passed over. The group stopped to pull on rain gear – and, of course, the rain stopped the moment we were ready. At least it proved worthwhile carrying waterproofs. We took a slightly shorter route back to Järlåsa, and as we got closer it was oddly comforting to recognise some of the same roads we had ridden at the start.

An ending – and a beginning

Saying goodbye after two such intense days is always tinged with melancholy. In such a short time you share so much – experiences, laughter, and camaraderie that leave lasting marks. For Anna and me, one last little adventure awaited: coaxing life back into the borrowed car we’d travelled in. Its battery had given up, but thanks to a few kind souls we got it started and could return the Honda to Sollentuna the next day before heading home to Gothenburg.

Two tired but happy women finally arrived back, filled with memories of a weekend where gravel roads, riding joy, and community took centre stage. Bike Babe Dirt Experience 2025 once again proved that motorcycling isn’t just about the riding – it’s about the people you share the journey with.