Mike's Bike Blog

With the change in daylight savings welcomes back the Driveway Race Series. I've raced at the Driveway 2 times before and had less than spectacular performances. This year I wanted to give it more of a shot and hopefully string a few more appearances than 1 per year.

For this first Driveway of 2010 I signed up for the 4/5 race, I didn't think I was ready to jump into the 3/4 race. I wanted to get at least 1 good showing in the 4/5 race and mainly get a handle of crit racing before throwing my spokes into that realm.

The race started like my previous 2, right from the start I lost my positioning and was finding myself at the emptiness and the silence with the silence of not having anybody behind me breathing down my neck. This time I was having difficulty getting clipped in, serves me right as I switched out my cleats that morning. Once I got clipped in I easily caught back on and moved into the middle of the pack. I used a tip I picked up from David Wenger in the Skills Clinic, I won't divulge it here, you'll have to sign up for the monthly clinic to get this gem. This was my first time doing the Grand Prix course so the first lap I made notes of what lines to follow through the turns and what to expect. Early on lap 2 or 3 I believe there was of course a crash. Not sure exactly what happened but a couple guys got tied up and went down a few bikes in front of me. I was able to safely maneuver around them and not lose contact with the main group. After that I caught onto Charles Bippert's (A.K.A Chuck) (Team Brain & Spine) wheel and followed him around most of the race. He and I have an ongoing bet, loser buys the other a coke. I figured my best bet was to follow his wheel till the end and hopefully out sprint him for the Coke.

This went on for a few laps, I'd lose his wheel and then catch back on or at least keep him within my sights, it's good practice for me because he seemed to have a knack for moving up through the field. Then I saw Andy Webb (Hotel San Jose) moving up in the pack. I jumped onto his wheel to see where he was going in such a hurry, it wasn't for the cookie prime as it was the previous lap. As we came through the finish the officials rang the bell and yelled something out, but it was as we passed them so I couldn't quite make it out. I thought I heard 3 to go, which didn't jive with the directions Andrew Willis gave us at the start. It never really materialized into a break, we were mainly up front just pulling everyone around. With the wind and the speeds we were going I didn't think we could get away anyway. It did give my family a good show as when I passed them I was in second place. On the backside of the course we got fully engulfed by everyone. I still had a good position, but that changed quickly. As we were approaching the hill I asked Andy if this was the last lap and when he confirmed it was and just like that my good positioning was done. On the approach to the hill I got boxed in and had to go way wide to try and make up ground. Of course on the next turn that leaves me to get pinched off which happened and I was left to watch the winning sprint. At this point there wasn't much reason to try to sprint for a few positions and risk something stupid, until Charles goes whipping by me. I tried to counter attack but he beat me by a bike length. In the end I averaged 26.1 mph. I felt good the entire time, I think it's time to give the 3/4 a go.

The night wasn't over for the Weiland's either. Jack had brought his road bike and he signed up for the Kid Fun Race. There were quite a few competitors in his field. From the gun he ran into the same problem as I did of getting clipped in. Plus he had to get around the littler ones rolling with training wheels. It took him 1/2 the lap before he really got going.



He can't wait for the next one. He hasn't been on his road bike much this winter, this was the first time in around 3 months so he was a little iffy on the shifting. It sounds like it was just what was needed to kick start his motivation again to get on the road bike. He's already talking about doing the next one. I suspect at some point this year he'll make the jump to the actual Junior race.



Here's some great pictures Dave McLaughlin and Michael Harris took:
Andy and me coming up the hill with me sitting in 3rd

Here's where the race for me was lost, when the Brain & Spin rider pulled everyone up to me I got swallowed up, should have attacked at this moment.

Action photo of Jack