Rachel Parker is a multi-disciplinary cyclist hailing from the Bay Area with roots in New York. She grew up swimming competitively, commuting via bicycle, and in recent years shifted her passion into adventure cycling. She started racing bikes in 2021 after a coastal bike tour when she realized her strength in 100m butterfly could translate directly from the pool to the road.

 

First introduced to criterium racing as a spectator, she loved the explosive power and strategy the sport showcased. She pushed past her fears of crashing while taking corners at top speeds, and asserted herself as a dominant rider in the peloton. She found an intuitive flow in the sport, but also felt a dissonance in the demographics of each race she attended.

 

Her first season started with progressing in local criterium races throughout Northern California, to moving up in the racing categories at regional and national level crits. After discovering gravel racing, she unlocked even more joy in the challenge of endurance, learned patience and better bike handling skills, and found solace in the wildness of off-roading. Rachel has a relentless appetite to win, and a strong focus on developing her racecraft to set herself up for a long and successful career of adventure racing. She believes strongly in the power of diaphragmatic breathing, positive affirmations, and most importantly, teamwork. Rachel is proud to be an athlete with Team Onyx.