fbpx
WINTER BIKER CHALLENGE
BELLA LITINETSKI
Automotive Designer, Moto-Journalist and Blogger

@thebella.lit + Yamaha YS125 rider

Do you want to know more about riding your motorbike in the Winter? Need some inspiration for facing the bite in the air?

Meet BELLA LITINETSKI.

Bella is the epitome of a woman who has immersed herself in all things motorcycle. She is an accomplished moto-journalist, presenter and blogger, as well as an automotive, product and graphic designer.

An active track day and road rider Bella’s journey through the motorcycle culture is one to watch.

Last year, Bella took on the challenge of encouraging more bikers to ditch the seasonal mentality and ride our motorcycles all year long because we are “literally built for this shit”.

She invites motorcyclists around the world to join her exhilarating #Winterbikerchallenge and share their cold weather riding experience with the community that is growing by the day.

Bella shares the inception and her ideas behind this new challenge with the Motowitch Collective.

We don’t know about you but Bella’s challenge has already given us the kick in the arse to gear up and head out in 3 Celsius (37F) weather after seeing others out in far colder conditions.

Most importantly,  it turned out to be one of the more epic rides we’d had in quite a while.

Will you be braving the elements with us this Winter?

Keep reading to get Bella’s 7 Free Tips for Winter Motorcycle Riding.

Winter Biker Challenge:

becoming the best versions of ourselves through riding

Why I ride my motorcycle throughout the Winter

Winter. More than a season, it is a place. Inhabited by its own spirits and whims. Inhabited by snow, ice, fog, by mystery and danger. Inhabited by discomfort that we have gone out of our way to avoid. It’s easy to see why we, as motorcyclists, wouldn’t want anything to do with its frigid presence, yet here we are.

Bikers, more than a hobby, it’s a way of life. People with a spark of passion in their eyes, people that look fear and danger in the eye and choose to overcome it, relying upon themselves and their loyal friends to venture out into the world, conquering it on their two-wheeled steeds. Yet fold up at the first sign of frost on the grass.

And there I was, with my GSXR turned track-only, resting safely in the garage, and having bought back my trusty yellow SV650, I was determined to collect the final piece in the motorcycling puzzle: ride all the way through winter, and enjoy it, as much as possible.

“I  have decided that this was going to be about overcoming our fears and conquering our weaknesses.
 
As October rolled by, and the cold began tingling in my toes, I started to realize that it wasn’t going to be so easy to convince myself to get out into the cold, to ride, to risk the winter conditions on a motorcycle.

While a noble goal, simply riding through winter wasn’t going to be enough. There had to be a higher purpose, a benefit, a cause. And there was no way in hell I was gonna do this alone.

I have decided that this was going to be about overcoming our fears and conquering our weaknesses. We’re bikers, we’re humans, and humans thrive on this kind thing. Overcoming adversity and emerging better and stronger than before: we’re literally built for this shit on our deep, genetic level.

This is when I knew I was onto something, it all fell into place. Riding the bike over winter was just the way of acting out this deeper, more meaningful cause. A badge of honour for the cause of becoming better, stronger, more resilient and healthier as a result.

Now, I’ve had my own run-in with controlled cold exposure in the past, and last year I was set to try out cold showers. I’ve read all about the incredible benefits: supercharged energy, reduced stress, better looking skin and numerous benefits for mental strength and well being. But most importantly: feeling warmer during the day. That was a big one, since I began to really suffer from the cold and would be reluctant to leave the house.

Needless to say, my 2017 experiment didn’t last even one cold shower. I remember going over it in my head and just thinking how inconceivable it was, how crazy the people who are doing it must be.

But things changed in late 2018, and as the internet basically burst with articles and studies about the benefits of cold exposure, the seed that was planted in some dark crevice of my mind began to sprout. There was an urgency to put my money where my mouth was, as I was advocating winter riding while being wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket on my couch. It was time to winter proof myself.

Armed with a new found determination and fueled by the support of a newly born online community, I dove into (no pun intended) the whole cold shower thing. Since mid-October 2018 I’ve been taking cold showers regularly, and riding the bike non stop, as the outside temperatures in northern Italy dipped below freezing.

Before long, I was starting to notice the changes both in my body as well as my mind. I took deep breaths instead of shivering and the feeling of aversion towards the cold has disappeared clean out.

All was well, and a date had been set: December 23rd was the first official Winter Biker Challenge Day.

How you can ride your motorbike more this Winter

Now that we’re past the official day (which will return in 2019), we continue onto the secondary goal: ride through the entire winter, as long as it’s safe and possible.

I’ve chosen to break down the challenge into two parts for a reason: even I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to hit that first date at the end of December, let alone tackle the abstract task of “riding until spring”.

No, December 23rd has been a small, concrete victory to all those who participated, and by then the groundwork for the rest of the challenge has already been done. From here we can choose to hang our helmets, or continue and see how it goes and what surprises are still in store for us.

Guess which one I chose 😉

Find out more about the Winter Biker Challenge here: https://www.thebellalit.com/the-blog/2018/12/2/winter-biker-challenge

And come hang out with us and join the #winterbikerchallenge on Instagram @winterbikerchallenge

All Photos and text courtesy of Bella Litinetski

If you want MORE Winter Riding tips check out Bella’s Youtube Video below and subscribe to her channel while you’re at it folks!

Want new articles before they get published?
Join the Collective for free by subscribing to our awesome Newsletter.

MORE FROM THE BLOG

how to Motorcycle licene UK Motowitch PART ONE

How to get a motorcycle licence in the UK

British Motorcycle Instructor, Laura Smith of Women Only Motorcycle Training guides you through the steps to getting your motorcycle licence in the UK.

young woman at sunset standing next to custom motorcycle in desert with She Wolf Hat on

Meet Christina Marin of She Wolf Vegan Motorcycle Co

Meet Christina Marin, Founder of She Wolf Moto Co, an inspirational Women’s Vegan Motorcycle Co who donate to a different animal charity each month.

young woman sitting on a red motorcycle wearing Bull-it fury II motorcycle kevlar jeans beside the ocean

Review Bull-it Fury II women’s motorcycle jeans

Here at Motowitch Collective we make a point of recommending only products we know and actually use.
So, we asked Aoife Elsid to review the women’s motorcycle jeans that she loves; Bull-it Fury II.

young biker woman riding a custom motorcycle on forest road wearing black helmet and black leather motorcycle jacket for how to get a motorcycle license in ireland

How to get a motorcycle license in Ireland – Part Two

In Part Two of “How to get a motorcycle license in Ireland” Gillian Dunlop guides you through what happens after IBT, how to choose your first motorcycle and apply for the full test.

woman on motorcycle learning how to get her motorcycle license in IReland

How to get a motorcycle license in Ireland – Part One

Are you finally making plans to get your motorcycle license in Ireland after lockdown? Look no further, we have an expert in to walk you through the steps.

woman riding motorcycle and woman wearing covid19 mask

Motorcycle Women vs Covid19

In this episode of the Motowitch Chronicles Motorcycle Podcast Kojii interviews Motorcycle women who have been helping through the Covid19 crisis.

retro style woman on motorcycle sharing her tips on how to plan a motorcycle trip across the USA

How to plan a solo motorcycle trip across the USA

Planning a motorcycle trip across the USA? Laura Rose Fitzpatrick explored 1000’s of miles across America and shares her tips on how she did it.

woman motorcycle volunteer wearing covid 19 mask holding retro biltwell helmet

Motorcycle Volunteers Fight Covid-19

This is our round-up of some amazing volunteers around the world helping out during this covid 19 quarantine crisis via motorcycle.

2019 Triumph T120 with HJC helmet and gopro 7 mounted plus lomo pannier bags. Parked on cliff on Wild Atlantic Way in Kerry, Ireland. What to pack for motorcycle camping

What to Pack for Motorcycle Camping: The Ultimate Checklist

I asked the ladies of Women Riders World Relay for their top tips on what to pack when motorcycle camping. Get the Ultimate Check List for moto-camping here.

tips for motorcycle camping triumph street scrambler motorbike beside tent on campsite

5 Tips for a Great Motorcycle Camping Experience

Going camping is great. Going motorcycle camping…well, that’s about 1000x better. Read on for 5 tips on how to have the best experience when camping with your motorbike.

woman on a royal enfield classic 500 motorcycle wearing Biltwell Gringo S helmet riding with a group pf motorbikes on Irish country road

Top Motorcycle tips on commuting, group and long motorbike trips.

Are you new to riding motorcycles and want to learn how to join those fun group rides, or commute to work daily on your motorcycle? Maybe you’re planning an epic motorcycle road trip? Ash Thompson shares her Top Motorcycle Tips for commuting, group and challenging rides.

smiling woman with short platinum blond hair standing next to her susuki motorcycle in front of a propeller airplane

Motorcycle Woman on a mission

Ash Thompson is a motorcycle woman on a mission to raise awareness and the safety of motorcyclists on the road.

motowitch, motoculture and petrolettes host women in the motorcycle business to network and collaborate at the Bike Shed London

Clutch it Like it’s Hot!

Motowitch Collective, Motoculture Journal & Petrolettes
 present
Clutch it Like it’s Hot
and join us for a special meet up that’s all about the
Women in the Motorcycle Industry!

We invite women who are passionate creators, educators, aspiring bike builders, and motorcycle enthusiasts to share their work, get inspired and plot for world domination.

Female motorcycle rider, Bella Lit on her Suzuki SV650 for winter motorbike riding tips

Winter Motorbike Challenge

Bella Litinetski invites motorcyclists around the world to join in her #Winterbikerchallenge and share their experiences of riding their motorbikes through Winter with the community that is growing by the day. Read on to learn more about this fun winter riding challenge and how you can join it.

Motowitch Christmas List for Motorcycle Lovers PART TWO Triumph Bonneville T100 outside Irish Castle with Santa Hat

The Best Motorcycle Gifts for Christmas: Part Two

Welcome to Part TWO of the Ultimate List of Gifts for your Motorcycle Lover. We have all sorts of wonderful moto gear to share with you from handmade leather to modern tech, all the way to options that will earn you serious Kharma points. We even left 2 free gifts for YOU to make your gifting experience even easier.

Motowitch Christmas List for Motorcycle Lovers PART one Triumph Bonneville T100 outside Irish Castle with Santa Hat

The Best Christmas Gifts for Motorcycle Lovers

Motowitch is here with festive tidings of Motorbike gifts for men, women, and kids. Our list of the best Christmas gifts for motorbike lovers has stylish motorbike apparel, leather panniers, handy tech accessories and rad helmets, gloves, and more. This list is so incredible we had to split it into TWO parts! Welcome to Part ONE

gypsy heart travels on her yamaha YS125 motorcycle.

A Road To Conquering Fear & Anxiety

Rhiannon Robertson is a freelance writer and a travel blogger who has recently started her journey into the world of motorcycles and adventure while conquering one fear at a time.

This is Rhiannon’s Bike Journey: A Road To Conquering Fear & Anxiety

female motorcycle adventure rider

MIDE EMANS Motorcycle Adventurer on the Road of Bones

Míde Emans is an Irish mother, grandmother and motorcycle adventurer. She holds the world record for ‘Highest altitude reached by a woman on motorcycle’ and shares her journey to the notorious “Road of Bones” in Russia…

Motorbike Woman Danell Lynn, world record holder. long distance motorcycle rider on Triumph Bonneville. Photo by Triumph America

DANELL LYNN, 1 Woman, 1 Motorbike, 1 Year, 1 World Record

Danell Lynn is the first solo-woman ever to break the world record for longest journey by motorbike in a single country (48,600 miles).

MELLY KAGE Camp Last Resort

Writer and rider Melly Kage set out for adventure with film photographer Wendy Dyk and their friends Clare and Chelsea for some off roading in Vancouver, BC. Read Melly’s short story and drink in Wendy’s beautiful analogue photography documenting Camp Last Resort.

MORE FROM THE PODCAST

woman riding motorcycle and woman wearing covid19 mask

Motorcycle Women vs Covid19

In this episode of the Motowitch Chronicles Motorcycle Podcast Kojii interviews Motorcycle women who have been helping through the Covid19 crisis.

Jacqui Furneaux female motorcycle adventure rider and author speaking to host, Kojii Helnwein on motorcycle podcast Motowitch Chronicles Episode 8

Jacqui Furneaux motorcycle traveller and author

Jacqui Furneaux is a world traveller, motorcycle rider, Royal Enfield devotee, public speaker and Author. In this episode she chats with Kojii about her travels, her book, life on the road and more…

Alexi Fisk founder of Danger Dames female motorcycle club in Seoul South Korea on Honda motorcycle

Danger Dames – South Korea’s female bikers

Alexi Fisk, Founder of Danger Dames Seoul, South Korea’s only female Motorcycle Club chats with your host, Kojii Helnwein about motorcycles, a clash of cultures, sexism and accidentally starting a feminist movement in the South Korean motorcycle community.

Bella Litinetski

Bella Litinetski

Moto-journalist/blogger, Automotive Designer, Track racer and Suzuki rider

Bella is an automotive, product and graphic designer, as well as a motorcycle blogger and reporter, based in the Bologna area, Italy. Originally from Israel, she has moved to Italy with her husband in 2011 in order to persue her dream of living a life immersed in motorcycle culture.

As part of her journalistic activity, she has been an active contributor at various blogs and magazines in Italy, Israel and the US. Since 2015 she has been a test rider and columnist for such online publications as MissBiker, helping to pave the way for the growth and spread of women’s motorcycling in Italy. As of 2018 she has had collaborations with Italy’s InMoto, as well as Israel’s Moto-Doogri magazine. Topics covered range from racetrack motorcycle reviews to travel and, of course, design and engineering. Bella currently produces articles in English, Italian and Hebrew, and speaks Russian fluently.

2017 has seen her racing debut at the Italian Hill Climb Championship, where she has earned 3rd rank in the 600cc Stock and Open Crono-Climber divisions. She remains an active trackday and road rider, while always exploring new ways of experiencing motorcycling on the flat track, in the snow, and off road.

As a natural evolution of her journalistic experience, and a growing interest in photography and videography, Bella has been able to establish her voice in the motorcycle community while sharing her life’s journey and passion on social media.

Stay up to date with Bella’s latest adventures:

Instagram: @thebella.lit
YouTube: /The Bella Lit

CONTRIBUTE TO MOTOWITCH BLOG or PODCAST

Would you like to become a contributor to the Motowitch Magazine or Podcast. Have a story to share or a special event/cause you'd like to talk about? Send us a message here, pitch us your idea and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

10 + 11 =

Contact

Mail

hello@motowitch.com

Address

P.O. Box 58, Clonmel,
Co. Tipperary, Ireland

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest articles, episodes, discounts and event details from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share This

Share this awesomeness with your friends!