Maybury....where it all started.  Back in 2004 there was no Diesel and A-Train.  It was just Brian and Aryn.  Two co-workers, one fast and one super slow.  Back then the trail was only 4.5 miles long and Brian had to wait at the top of every climb for Aryn.  It would take them almost an hour to get around the trail.  Aryn was sporting a 189 pound frame with flat pedals, t-shirt, board shorts, cotton white socks and aquafina bottles.  Pan and zoom to the typical 'new guy.'  Brian had all the bells a whistles.  A cool bike, clipless shoes and peals, Camelbak, Smith Optic glasses, Fox breathable clothing....he looked the part and could back it up on the trail.

Fast forward to 2012.  The 'super slow guy' is 20 pounds lighter and riding the rear wheel of the fast guy....constantly pushing the pace from behind.  He got himself all the bike bling and hence looks the part.  The 'fast guy' now laughs at what they considered fast back in 2004.  Both riders have turned into racers and every year seem to push further and further to that edge of 'how fast can one really get through this trail?'

Maybury is now 2 miles longer.  But the race is 3 miles longer than the normal trail.  Some extra single track was added along with some extra hill climbs and false flats along the pavement to wear the legs down.  A-Train prefers the 2 lap time trials as he doesn't consider himself a sprinter, that's Diesel's job.  As always though Aryn was to go off first.  The 'slow guy' has been in the Expert Class for 4 year now and is always excited about racing at the place where it all started.  At 9:09:30 it was go time and Aryn went off from the line by himself which is normal in a Time Trail format.  One racer every 30 seconds.  His first lap was clean.  He was loving how his hardtail just drove up the climbs wasting little effort even in the larger gears.  Tire pressure was right on as the rubber never broke free as he continuously pushed the pace.  As he came around he saw just over 41 minutes on his computer.  He needed to be a little quicker on lap two. He got a little jolt of extra energy hearing his three kids cheer for him as he went around to start lap two.

On lap two the pace was definitely faster as he heard a bike closing in on him.  It was Don of Cross Country Cycle.  A-Train had no choice but to let him by but wasn't about to be dropped so he hugged his rear wheel as long as he could.  He wasn't in A-Train's class but he was a good rabbit to have out in front to push the pace.  As Aryn crossed the line at 1:21:55 he was very happy with the negative split and his overall time.  About 20 seconds longer than last years time but the course was about 20 seconds longer per lap.

But to his dismay, his time was only good enough for 4th place.  Another top 3 podium had eluded him.  Looking across the entire Expert Category he had posted a great time but there seemed to be a few 'really fast' guys who showed up today.  He walked away happy with his race effort but of course a little bummed as this would be the first time he went home empty handed from Maybury.

Shortly after finishing, A-Train raced over to see Diesel at the starting line.  He promptly warned him about the sharp left on the first climb as it was the only sketchy turn on the course.  Other than that he should be good to go full throttle.  So at 10:30 and some change Diesel went chugging away into the woods.  Many of his loyal fans showed up to cheer him on as they knew they would be in for a treat.

Diesel's pit crew helping in the paddock..

One lap time trials are pretty uneventful as they are over very quick.  Being a home course for Diesel he was able to pass cleanly and without issue when he needed to.  He came through the finish chute strong but said after his legs felt the last single track climb so he knew he had given his all.  He raved about how ideal the conditions were and took full advantage of the Racing Ralph's ability to hug corners but to also motor up the hills due to the low rolling resistance center knobs.

But when we say TT's are over quick we mean 39:12 quick!  For the second MMBA CPS race in a row Diesel won his class and also set the fastest time of the day in the entire Sport Category.  This finish was years in the making, dating back to 2007.  Back then Aryn and Brian both raced Sport and were at the top of their respected classes.  It rained the entire race and conditions were horrible.  Diesel was in his prime though, arguably as fast as he is now but lost to a one time racer Eric L who used to race Expert but showed up that day in Sport to see where his fitness was leading into some fall races.  Since then Brian has had some rough years on and off the bike but with 2012 being The Year of the Diesel we knew his chance of standing atop of that box was very high.

Wining Pontiac earlier this year was a big win.  Ruby was big as well but neither of those meant as much to him as his home course Maybury.

So a big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Brian "The Diesel" McCabe for 'The Win' he has been chasing for years.

Brian Time Trialing through Maybury at speed.

With two more battles coming up at Stony and Addison in the next 4 weeks, A-Train said he is glad to step aside and out of the lime light just to watch and see what The Diesel will do.