Although we may never fully accept her until she gives up the triathlon lark, Rachel truly made her mark on cycling in the 2012 season, entering five events and taking first in each. Not only can she boast a 100% win record, between training she still found time to support the Orwell men's Rás team, get a top five placing at the Irish half distance Triathlon Championships, and bake delicious brownies for her fellow riders!

Age: 32

Years with Orwell: 2

What made you choose Orwell Wheelers?
In 2010 a friend of mine talked me into doing Rás na mBan, describing it as 'a few kilometres around Kerry'. It was the end of the triathlon season so I decided to give it a lash. I was meant to ride as a guest of Bray Wheelers but their team had disbanded between the Leinster and Ireland Teams

The organisers told me to go and talk to Eddie and Declan who were sitting in the hotel bar and ask if I could be on the Orwell Team, so I did. After Eddie had made certain that I didn't have 'those stupid triathlon bars' sticking out the front of my bike, they welcomed me with open arms! The team were so supportive and helpful and encouraging! So after surviving three of the toughest days imaginable on a bike, I joined the club!

How did you get into cycling?
Through triathlon first, but it was after doing Rás na mBan that I really fell in love with the sport!

What bikes do you own?
A battered old LaPierre which got me round Ras na mBan. I remember on the last day thinking that either the bike would fall apart, or I would. Neither of us did!

Black Beauty, my Dolan TT bike which I brought to Ras na mBan but wasn't allowed use... The only chance I stood of a decent stage!

And a Trek Madone 4.5 from the good people at Joe Daly's Cycles!

This year in the women's titles, you racked up Club Champ at 10m TT, 25m TT and Hill Climb TT, and Leinster and National Champ at HC. What's been the highlight?
This was my first year to do a HC, so I wasn't too sure how I'd do. There were never any indicators out on training rides that I was any good on hills!

My time in the club HC was a complete surprise to me. I'd thought around 17.30 would have been a good performance, so to do 16.05 was a total shock [Rachel set a new women's course record - ed.]. As the Leinster HC was on a much shorter hill, I wasn't too sure how I'd go on that one. That was a whole new world of pain that I didn't know existed, but it paid off! And the National was, again, very tough, but that win was a brilliant way to end the season.

But really, just getting out on the bike is a highlight for me! Whether it's a Sunday spin with good company and a good coffee stop, or out racing, I just love being on the bike!

What's been the lowest point?
That B&B on stage 7 of the Rás! But generally, no matter how bad a day it is there will have been one thing that made getting out on the bike worthwhile, like an incredible view, or a nice cup of hot chocolate to warm you up when you get home!

Speaking of the Rás, how was supporting the lads this year as they raced their way around the country?
The Rás was an incredible experience. I'm so grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with such inspirational guys. The days were crazy, I literally didn't stop from 6am to 11pm, but I loved every minute of it. It's like living in a bubble for the week. Nothing else exists! It was only when I got back home that I got a chance to have a look at the forum page and FB, and it was great to see all the support for the team. The club really pulled together and got behind the lads and it means a lot when they're out there putting themselves on the line day after day.

Each day threw up a different challenge for me in terms of logistics. Different situations would arise that had to be dealt with, but a typical day would involve breakfast and then preparing the lads for the stage ahead. We'd get the van packed up and I'd drive on to the next hotel. After allocating rooms, I'd put the guys' bags into their respective rooms, then drive to the stage finish with their finish line bags if it was a long transfer. If not, I'd just head to the finish line and send them back in the direction of the hotel.

I'd have food and drinks ready for the guys at the finish line and when they were all in we'd head back to the hotel. Once we were all back safely in the hotel (thankfully that was everyday - we had no casualties to contend with), I'd begin massage for the evening. I'd usually get two, hopefully three done before dinner, and then the remaining two or three done after dinner. It was high-octane, non-stop action!! I didn't get to see any of the race during the day, so it was great to hear all the stories in the evening of what had transpired for each of them during that day's stage.

The team were amazing and we had the most beautiful weather all week which really helped to keep everybody's spirits high. There were highs and lows and plenty of laughs! I was lucky to be a part of it! It was a really positive working environment and it was fantastic to see the achievements of those five men day after day, and I'm looking forward to seeing what each of them can accomplish in the years ahead!

What's your favourite training route?
My favourite training route is anything that involves an ascent of Sally Gap and a coffee stop!

Do you listen to music on rides?
I never listen to music when I'm out on rides. On the turbo I'll listen to anything with a fast beat to help keep the legs turning. For relaxation: Elbow, James Vincent McMorrow, and Bombay Bicycle Club.

How do you relax after a hard training spin?
After a hard training spin it's feet up, literally, on the back of the couch, until I feel human again! It can take quite a while, depending on the day! Then it's replenishment, lots of food and drink and sugar!

Any goals for the 2013 season? Will you be defending your TT and HC titles?
I don't know if I'll be able to defend all my titles next year as I plan on putting my sole focus on triathlon for 2013. I don't feel I have achieved all I can in triathlon, and when I have, I'll move on! Hopefully I can defend one or two titles! I didn't do any road races last year so I'd like to do a few next year, if I can fit them in.

Any advice for riders starting in the sport?
My advice is: get amongst it!! Whatever it is you want to do, just go and do it. Whether it's to ride to Enniskerry and back, or to complete Rás na mBan. People generally feel they're not ready or not good enough, but the only way you'll ever be ready is to go out and do it and see where you stand.

My goal for the Rás in 2010 was to finish it. I did that. Going back to do it again, I now have a bench mark for where I stood when I first tried it, and I'll aim to improve on that. There's such a wealth of experience in our club that people are more than willing to share. Listen and take on board what they have to say. And then, get out there!

Can you pick a favourite between cycling or triathlons?
That's a really mean question!! At the risk of becoming a pariah, if I'm honest, right now I have to say triathlon!! If I had to pick a favourite in triathlon, it would be cycling... trying to claw back a modicum of respect here! I just love the challenge of multi-sport... There's nothing like getting on the bike after a tough swim, and there's nothing like heading out on a run after a tough spin. I love it!! (shovel shovel dig dig!!) But if I was ever to leave triathlon, it would be for cycling!!