You Can’t Become What You Don’t See - by Carrie Seipp of Orion Women's Racing

Orion Racing Mission

Orion Racing is a group of women who race bikes with the mission to support the growth and development of Minnesota elite women’s cycling through mentorship and community.

One Racer’s Perspective

As one of the founding members of Orion Racing, I feel a strong connection to our mission. I sit here, at the end of our second season, smiling as I reflect on what it feels like to be a part of this team and this community. It was a great year for many reasons. I do not think I personally won a bike race this year, but I was part of many of Orion Racing’s successes. Yes, we won some races. More importantly, we were a positive influence in the cycling community.

Photo Credit: Chris Rivera

The cycling community is very important to me. I leaned on so many members of this community and my teammates for the last year and a half. I was recovering from a bad crash, and while this post is not about that crash or that recovery, I could probably write a book on the support I have received. Instead, I want to share how being a part of Orion allows to me provide a little bit of support in return!

Remember that April evening that we all shared inside Lakes & Legends Brewery? Remember the wonderful prizes from over 25 cycling related or supportive businesses? Remember Anne Hed, co-founder and CEO of HED Cycling and retired professional triathlete, describe her path thus far? Remember Olympic Silver Medalist and World Champion Kelly Catlin share her experiences as an elite athlete and full time student. Remember how we celebrated women in sport through the lens of cycling?

Photo Credit: Carrie Seipp

We met our goal of creating a platform to discuss current disparities between men’s and women’s cycling.  We all acted together as a positive force to move towards parity for all genders.  I met so many incredible folks and had so many wonderful conversations, laughs, and smiles that night. As a community, we raised $1,365 and donated it to the North Star Grand Prix. Our goal was to equalize the disparity between a men’s and a women’s stage prize list and we more than met that goal. The donations were incorporated into the race prize list as a 2-place prime in each of the 3 Criteriums. The best part is that the prizes were presented by members of the Little Bellas program - a program for which I mentor!

Little Bellas is wonderful. Little Bellas is a mountain bike organization whose goal is to help young women realize their potential through cycling. They aim to create a community that will empower girls through the sport, emphasize the importance of goal-setting, promote healthy life styles and recognize the positive effects of strong female bonds.

Photo Credit: Little Bellas 

One of my individual goals this season was to spend more time riding bikes on dirt. I love being on a bike and I feel the most like my true self when I am riding. I thoroughly enjoy the process of training for a cycling goal. But, part of enjoying that process for me is playing on a bike. This summer, I spent plenty of time on dirt this year focusing on others.

Mentoring with Little Bellas was an incredible experience! We had an enthusiastic, brave group of girls and a dedicated mentoring staff. I loved having the opportunity to see the girls grow in confidence and strength on the bike. The intersection of the Pedal4Parity event, completing with Orion in North Star Grand Prix, and the Little Bellas was the stuff of dreams.

You can’t become what you don’t see.

Why is this all important?

I was one of the soccer playing girls who watched the US National team win the World Cup in1991!  Minnesota has long hosted the North Star Grand Prix bicycle stage race. The racers include Olympic athletes, World Champions, as well as my teammates! Girls need strong women role models. We can’t become what we don’t see. I want to see more racers in the women’s fields. I want to see more girls on bikes at the local trails. I want to see more girls in the junior fields. Let me be the person girls look up to on a bike, if only because I am racing with their heros.

To be able to compete with this talented field of athletes in the North Star Grand Prix has been a focus of mine since 2013. Before then, I didn’t think I could make it to that level. In 2013, I saw racers who I could beat in different cycling disciplines and said to myself, “I can do that.” I was 38 years old and inspired by these strong athletes. Being a part of Orion racing has been inspiring to me. Supporting and growing the sport is so important. Thank you to my teammates and this community for lifting me up when I need it. Thank you also for allowing me to share what I can.