more new sTuFF!

On Tuesday our helmets and glasses came in, so cool! They are uvex. There are super comfortable and light, I'm definatly liking them! I took a picture of them, but for some reason it is not letting me insert pictures today. I am very thankful to have a new helmet! much needed. So I've been able to ride outside the past days, feeling way better! I even got to do the Exxon Mobile ride last night. Did not feel amazing, but what was I to expect... Todays ride was wayyyyyyyy windy..almost blew off my bike a few times. Kind of fun though. And so I am excited for this weekend! First race of the season! Only Austin, Parker, Gordon, and I are going. Austin and I both need points. So if I can pull off a win in the crit and roadrace, I will be able to upgrade to a 3 for VOS.

Today's Training: Hour and a half, nice and easy...

Quote: "When one of your dreams come true, you begin to look at the others more carefully."

Random Rachel: When I was moving from California to St. Louis, we were towing the car behind the Truck with the cats in it. The windows were slightly cracked. We stopped at a rest stop and I went to check on the cats, and my first little kitty was gone, (she had jumped out the window!)and he had no idea where she was.... I miss Cactus.....

getting there...

Today, I got some work in! like 3 hours... hope to get some more in here in a bit.. I can't wait for a paycheck, it has been forever! Then Nathan stopped by on his ride, and we ate some grub. Then I got on the trainer for a little over an hour, and I felt pretty good! YAY! I think I am feeling normal. Yesterday I got in like 40 minutes on the trainer and it kind of made me not feel so go. But I am glad it is better today! And I am excited for tonight, My friend Irena is making dinner at her house for a few of our friends. It should be a good time!

Today's Training: trainer hour

Quote: "Life's a B****, then you die." -My Mother

Random Rachel: I love putting peanut butter on oreos, then dipping it in milk....mmmmm.. (not too oftem though, that would be a lot of bluber)

:(

I have to be missing the gym and ride today... Still don't feel well enough to ride. Hopefully Monday! I'm missing my buddies. I have got to see Nathan though hes come by a few time to keep me company and stuff. So I'm just trying to rehydrate my body and eat a decent amount with out being sick. So pretty much just watching T.V. with the family and hanging out.

Today's Training: drink accelerade

Quote: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

Random Rachel: I love kids!

yuck....

soo.. im sick. After wednesday's trainer workout, i felt super sick, which isn't unussual for the type of work out we did(high cadance). So I thought it would just go away.. nope... that night i got sick multiple times. It carried over to yesterday aswell. I was blacking out because I had nothing left in my body. I even busted my lip one time i blacked out, when falling head first into the bathtub! Kind of funny now that I am feeling a little better. But I am finding bruises and bumps on my body from the times i was blacking out after getting sick. My neck is really sore too! BUt I am feeling better today, I actually slept the whole night last night. and last night i was able to eat a few saltine crackers and some chicken broth. So I think I have a bad case of the flu... hope i will be comepletly better here in the next day or two! Well I am going to lay down, notfeeling so well.

a working woman....

haha ya... so today I started my computer work for compliance depot. Gordon and I were doing training today from 9-1 then we ate lunch with nathan. Then I thought I had soccer lessons today, but Im stupid and it was the wrong day, I do it Thursday, and that is tomorrow! So now we are about to do atrainer workout at my house! it should be fun!

Today's Training: suprise trainer workout....

Quote: Ron Burgundy: [to dog] You're so wise. You're like a miniature Buddha, covered in hair.

Random Rachel: just say my name kind of fast and slur it (Rachel Byus)... ya my parents hate me.. haha.. but im not, dont worry!

more pictures...

we had a rave...

1...2...3...4....5....crash( my mom thought he was going to come through the ceiling downstairs)

proof that nathan was there....

testing the waters..... and yes he really got in!

texting gordon and parker.. where are you???

haha..

wow....

will has the ultimate core

Austin never stops working out.

haha.. thats will....

who is that back there??

So yesterday we rode a couple hours in the windy weather. Then since will and corey were in town I had everyone over at my house for dinner and hot tub. Then today was my day off and the boys built up their bikes and we hung around nathans.

Today's Training: day off

Quote: "Shut up, quit whinning, and put your big girl panties on."

Random Rachel: My middle name is Christine.

its saturday the 19th!

Well today started out getting up ssssssssooooooo early. to go to the gym, after the gym and seeing the win chill we decided to do the trainers inside. So we all came to my house and watched a movie while riding. Me and my mom went shopping after for a bit. Now I'm about to make a big salad for dinner. Then I'm spending tonight with a few friends, for one of their birthdays. So, I am excited, have not hung out with them in a while. Hopefully I will get pictures.

Today's Training: 1.5 on the trainer (w/ Mr. woodcock)

Quote: Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.
King Whitney Jr.

Random Rachel: I would love to go skydiving! If you ever go, take me!

can we get some heat?

So today I woke up and ate breakfast, like always. Then went for a two hour ride at 10. Came home, showered, made lunch and took off to meet with Doug, Im going to start doing some computer work for Compliance Depot to make some money! yay! money! im broke! Not sure what else I will do today, so we will see. hope everyone has a great weekend. see u on the rides this weekend(on my new bike!)

Today's Training: 2 hours(bbbbrrrrrrrrrrr)

Quote: "I'm fascinated by the sprinters. They suffer so much during the race just to ge to the finish, they hang on for dear life in the climbs, but then in the final kilometers they are transformed and do amazing things. It's not their force per se that impresses me, but rather the renaissance they experience. Seeing them suffer throughout the race only to be reborn in the final is something for fascination." — Miguel Indurain

Random Rachel:i love shopping! i may even be a shop-a-holic......

Art Day

Art Day

I don't really have much to say, so I decided since I took pictures of lots of my work yesterday, I would put some of them up to show. But today it is freezing out side, I had planned on leaving about 1030 to ride, but the temp said 24 degrees and it feels like 18, so im going to wait, hopefully it will warm up a few degrees! So last night I went out to eat with my mom and a couple of her friends, that was fun. And I yesterday I had short efforts to do on the bike. but my legs are sore today! Today I do soccer lessons at 4, so whoohooo i get some gas money! Im running low!

Training Today: 3 hours with 3 10 minute efforts(I'm going to sleep well tonight!)

Quote: "If you are going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

Random Rachel: I am a certified personal trainer(though being at the gym watching so called trainers train their clients, it doesn't mean as much as it used to, it seems like anyone can be a personal trainer, so sad.)

happy birthday nathan..

Today Nathan turned 29, what an old man... haha. So today was my day off, just kind of rested. Cleaned my old car so we can sell it( 2000 Eclipse, if anyone wants it!). My mama made tacos for dinner, so that was delicious like always. But I am excited to ride tomorrow, so I get to really ride my new bike! yay. Not much to say, did not do much today.

Today's Training: DAY OFF!

Quote: "Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to."

Random Rachel: My last goal of my soccer career I don't remember. I went up for a header, and on the way down smashed my face into the other girls head, broke my nose, got a concussion, don't remember anything, and got rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. But at least I scored, so I was told.

Wwooohhooooo!!!

Well to start out the day I had a bagel and cream cheese with some grape before I headed out for the ride. Ride was good, a little chilly. After the ride me and Nathan ate some lunch then got started on my bike. Pretty exciting! We ate Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish while working. I learn to change a tire today! I also did some of the cables, changed the cassette, wrapped the bars, and did some other little things to help Nathan out. So it's FINISHED! I'm loving it! Oh ya, and last night was fun! We went out to eat then we went to the Motocross race, very exciting.

Today's Training: About 50 miles (blue bonnet ride)

Quote: "Whada ya spect, I still have my baby teef." Rachel Byus (I really said this when I was 4, I was playing football with my brother, and dropped the ball, and my brother yelled at me, and I responded with this great comeback)

Random Rachel: I was a toe head as a kid.

uuuhhhhh...

I'm tired. Early morning to the gym at 7, got on our bikes about 8:40. Headed to the shop to meet up with everyone else. I thought I did pretty well today, I did get dropped up hilltop(but almost at the top) and then I kept the pack in site the whole time. So that was good. Finished up. Got home and ate my left over pasta I had last night at dinner with some veggies, had a glass of chocolate milk, and took a nap. Now I'm writing in my blog before I head to the Motocross races! Yay...I'm excited. It should be fun, I will let you know!

Today's Training: gym then 60 miles(mad duck ride)

Quote: "Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad." Norm Papernick (haha, that is so me.. don't know if I've gone mad or am just happy..haha)

Random Rachel: I love those little round candies called cherry sours, I bought some at the gas station today.. mmmmmmmmm...

well well well

Most exciting news of the day, some of the bikes arrived! yay. and I believe Shannon's is all built up for her to ride tomorrow. so she can be the model. Hopefully I will do mine tomorrow. I'm going to make this short because I need to be asleep, I have to get up early tomorrow for the gym. So today I hung a few new things up in my room, then rode, then cleaned my bike, then went to dinner and now I'm home. zzzzzzzzz.....

Training Today: 30 miles

Quote: No one travelling on a business trip would be missed if he failed to arrive.
Thorstein Veblen

Random Rachel: I don't like seafood. (smells too bad to taste)

something I forgot...

I forgot to post this picture the other day! this is the amazing cake I baked!

pretty busy

so today I was pretty busy, I cleaned my room all morning(much needed), made lunch, then I rode for almost 3 hours in the wind(crazy wind today), came home ate a snack and took a shower, and went to give soccer lessons. Now I am home. I think I may go see a movie tonight. I'm excited for my new red bike..hehe

Training today: 42 miles in the wind!

Quote: "Boredom comes from a boring mind." Metalica

Random Rachel: I have two dogs, Foster( black lab/ Rhodesian ridge back) and Gabbee(poodle/ shihtzu)

mm....

Well, I got 12 hours of sleep last night, that was nice! Got on the bike about 11 and did my deed. The weather was pretty nice out today, a little chilly, but I am not complaining. Then I just hung out with my mom most the day. I hear our new bikes should be here soon, so I'm excited! Oh, and I watched Cash Cab for like 3 episodes today. I love that show!

Today's Training: 45 miles, including efforts( ride today+ gym last night = sore legs!)

Quote: "Sometimes solutions arn't so simple, somtimes good-bye's the only way." Linkin Park

Random Rachel: When I was in 6th grade I set the District record for triple jump( track and field event) at like 32 feet(i can't remember the exact distance...).

im just going to stop blogging...

well today i read shannons blogs, made me realize how lame mine are...she just knows how to put things into works waaaaaaayyy better than i do...and plus its like i talk about nathans birhtday night, she has pictures and good sayings... i talk about how cool the trailor looks, she has amazing pictures of it and has the definition of pimp...i'd go on but im just embarresing myself... so i dont know how i can keep up... but I will try....
Well today is cold and windy! i do not like it! I couldn't even handle riding outside, so I finished my ride inside on the trainer! Then I went to the store with my mom to get groceries for our amazing dinner tonight! its a secret recipe so i cant tell u what we bought, but its a pasta dish.. mmmmm... my favorite. So i cant wait to get back from the gym tonight.... dinner will be waiting..

Training Today: about 2 hours and the gym
Yesterdays Training: Exxon Mobile group ride( just spun for about a hour)

Quote: "Let no man pull you low enough to hate him." Martin Luther King Jr. ( good quote)

Random Rachel: I hate when people scrape their teeth along their fork. That is a horrible noise.

well today...

I got up a little late for the ride, yet made it on time. I was pretty tired this morning. I even ate my cereal laying back in the recliner .. yum. We did the blue bonnet ride, I can't hang the whole ride so i take a couple of short cuts to catch back on so i can get some intesity efforts in. But my legs have definatly been super tired and sore! After the ride i showered and took a nap. Then went to look at the new trailor with nathan. Lee has done an awesome job! it looks amazing! and the painting looks great too! ( im pretty sure shannon, will(feel better!) and phillip painted the inside)
Oh, ya.. and last night was fun! we ate dinner and hung out. We suprised nathan with a cake... yet me and shannnon managed to set his fire detector off when lighting the candles! ha.. it was great! well im off to bed now..

Today's Training: 45 miles

Quote: "The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." Allan K. Chalmers ( i agree :) )

Random Rachel: I was a gymnast when I was younger, and I can still do the splits.

sues my hero...

well today was pretty busy, worked out and then rode the mad duck ride at 9. I had a good day at the gym, felt strong, and finished all my front squats with the upped weight(which i could not do last time).... on the ride today i told sue she was my hero.... for those of you who don't know sue, she is on the club team and does a lot of the same rides as we do.sssoooo... long story short, she stay with the lead group, and ussually does .. and ive looked up to her since I've met her, but after todayi look up to her even more..today she told me she is 49! (hope u dont mind me telling) but u should be damn proud!so today i realised what i want to be when i grow up... sue!
.... and tonight we are all going over and eating pasta and salad at nathans, so that should be fun! and shhhhh, but we are kind of making it a birthday party for nathan because his birthday is next week! we all came together to get him something.. (hope he doesnt read this b4 tonight) i also slaved over the oven all day(after the ride) to make a beautiful cake...i will be sure to take pictures of my beatiful cake so everyone can see!

Todays Training: 50 miles, and gym
Yesterdays Training: about 45 miles( 2.5 hours with efforts)

Quote:“Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese” Billie Burke (sue proves that)

Random Rachel: When I was 9 I won 2nd at the BMX World Cup!

First Blog

Well, I've just been trying to figure all this blogging stuff out. I am definitely going to need Shannon to give me a run-down, because I am LOST!

I guess I tell tell a little about my riding back ground.... After deciding to stop playing college soccer, I decided to call Nathan so I could learn more about riding. In the past I had rode mountain bikes off and on and had a roadbike that bearly had been ridden. I also raced BMX from the age of 4-10. So I started training with Nathan In January of 07. When the summer came around Nathan asked me to go to Colorado to train with his team. I was so excited, I never thought I'd get a chance like that so soon! So that was when the real training started. The month we were in colorado was very hard for me. I'd never been out of Texas to ride so the hills and mountains just destroyed me. But I got much stronger! It was an awesome experience and I loved it. I am so thankful I got to go. After Colorado we went to Pennsylvania, they raced at nationals( I did my first TT at Nationals) and I trained. After we got back I won my first race at the Denton crits! I was very excited, and what made it even better was that Shannon won also! So long story short, I've just been training to the best of my ability and I hope this season will show my improvement! I can't wait to race.

Well, so I went to California for Christmas, I stayed in Fresno for about 5 days and L.A. for 3. While I was there I went shopping and just hung out with family and old friends. I did not get to ride much because I came up with a cold the second day I arrived-bummer! Kind of ruined my trip a bit. While I was in L.A. the last couple days I did get to ride, and it was in amazing weather and along a beautiful bike path along the beach(the picture above). Nathan also called up a friend to take me riding, he showed me some hills and other parts of town, very nice! After coming back from Cali I spent the New Years holidays in St. Louis with my best friend, Lauren, who recently got engaged. We spent some time doing wedding stuff, and the rest of the time just hanging out. But over all I had a great holiday thanks to GREAT friends and family. I'm glad to be back and riding with the gang, I definitely missed them!

So at the end of every blog I think I will include what training I did that day, a quote that describes my mood or something going on that day, and one random fact about myself.

Today's training: 55 miles (pretty chilly and windy outside!)

Quote: “Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.” (Sometimes it is hard riding with such great athletes, and sometimes I can't keep up and I get discouraged, but I know it will come with time if I train hard, so I try to be as patient as I can.)

Random Rachel Fact: Ive lived in 10 different houses/apartments throughout my life and 4 different states, and 6 different cities

test post

test.