Ben Jacques-Maynes' Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Eddy Merckx Premium

	Photos ©: James Huang/Cyclingnews

Aluminium strikes back

By James Huang in Georgia

Jacques-Maynes arguably has more mileage on SRAM’s new road componentry	Jacques-Maynes’ cockpit
Jacques-Maynes’ crankset	Many team bikes in the Tour de Georgia peloton
Mavic’s tried-and-true Cosmic Carbone SL	Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada team mechanics
For Tour de Georgia’s final stage	The Merckx Premium frame’s front end

Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team front man Ben Jacques-Maynes has evolved into one of more versatile riders on the continental US racing scene and his Merckx Premium is apparently up to the challenge. Jacques-Maynes says it "handles my racing needs with attitude to spare. It likes to be cornered aggressively, climbs well, and sprints like a cheetah." In a virtual snub to the current market trend, there isn't a thread of carbon to be found in the frame itself. Easton's Flare Scandium tubing is used throughout and is paired with a high-modulus carbon fiber fork developed by Merckx in conjunction with Easton.

Jacques-Maynes' race machine is dressed up in a nearly-complete SRAM Force group, which he has actually been testing for the company since the early development days. "Everyone is talking about the DoubleTap shifting system, and rightfully so as it is a revolutionary engineering feat. Don't miss the brakes, either. They haul you down from speed with one finger action and I have been surprised by how well they work in all conditions."

For wheels, Jacques-Maynes chooses to use Mavic's deep-section Cosmic Carbone SL clincher wheelset for all but the "craziest climbs" (such as Brasstown Bald Mountain), saying that they're "super aero, light enough to ride big climbs and definitely fast enough in the sprint." Speaking of sprinting, he foregoes a carbon cockpit for an oversized aluminum Easton EA70 bar and stem which he feels are a bit stiffer when he's pouring on the power.

Jacques-Maynes' lengthy cyclocross heritage shows through a bit in his pedal choice: the Crank Brothers Eggbeater 4ti. "First, they're very light, at 84g each. They're also very durable, as I've come to find out during the cyclocross season, and the shortened spindle gives me a better biomechanical position while also increasing cornering clearance."

The lack of carbon fiber in Jacques-Maynes' race equipment diet clearly doesn't slow him down much, if at all. He had mentioned at an earlier event that he was putting out "only 1400 watts" during some early-season sprint training, and chances are he was laying down substantially more than that down at the Tour de Georgia as he turned in one of the more consistent performances of the race with three 6th place finishes.

Photos

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews

• Ben Jacques-Maynes’ Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Merckx Premium bike resting in the Georgia sun after a hard week of racing.
• Jacques-Maynes arguably has more mileage on SRAM’s new road componentry than anyone else in the world having served as the prototype tester during the development process.
• Jacques-Maynes’ crankset was shod with Truvativ logos on the carbon crankset, but production version will sport the SRAM Force logo.
• Mavic’s tried-and-true Cosmic Carbone SL clincher wheels are used for “all but the craziest climbs” and also give the SRAM Force dual pivot brake calipers a predictable aluminum braking surface.
• For Tour de Georgia’s final stage Jacques-Maynes used an 11-23 Ultegra 10spd cassette.
• Jacques-Maynes’ cockpit is decidedly normal looking, with an oversized Easton aluminum bar and stem and a pair of SRAM Force carbon fiber levers.
• Many team bikes in the Tour de Georgia peloton were seen wearing green finishing tape on the handlebars as a tribute to compatriot Saul Raisin, who is currently recovering from serious head injuries sustained at Circuit de la Sarthe.
• Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada team mechanics provided Jacques-Maynes with just a bit of insurance against dropping his chain during the Tour de Georgia.
• The Merckx Premium frame’s front end features a vertically flared down tube and top tube, which is becoming an increasingly popular way of increasing front end strength.

Full specification

Frame: Merckx Premium with Easton Flare Scandium tubing
Fork: Merckx High-Modulus carbon fiber
Colour: Team Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling

Critical measurements

Rider's height: 185cm/ 6ft 1in
Rider's weight: 73kg/ 160lbs
C of BB to C of seat tube: 515mm
C of BB to T of seat tube: 553mm
C of BB to T of seat: 793mm
Top tube length: 570mm (effective C-C)
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars: 572mm
C of front wheel to top of bars: 592mm

Cranks: Prototype Truvativ HMC, 175mm, 39/53
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace
Sprockets: Shimano Ultegra CS-6600, 11-23
Pedals: Crank Brothers Egg Beater 4ti
Front derailleur: SRAM Force
Rear derailleur: SRAM Force

Brakes: SRAM Force
Levers: SRAM Force

Wheels: Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL clincher
Tyres: Michelin Pro2 Race, 700x23

Bar: Easton EA70, 44cm (c-c)
Stem: Easton EA70, 120mm (c-c)
Headset: FSA Integrated

Seat post: Easton EC90 Zero
Saddle: Fi'zi:k Aliante

Bottle cages: Specialized Rib Cage
Cycle computer: Custom Cateye Micro Wireless

Total bike weight: 7.89kg/ 17.4lbs