This is where Chase (doesn't) sleep.

A friend pointed out to me that I'm on the Dope-Free Pro list on
raceclean.org, check it out here. A pleasant surprise, I guess, I wanted to
promote a drug free image without yelling, and raceclean.org seems to be
positive outlet. Check it out and support the cause.

it doesn't smell bad, a little sweet really, and other non-parents can't discern it at all. but i smell it on everything.

There's a new Kodak Gallery in the sidebar. Look at the baby, look at the baby...

It's been a long week, and all sense of time has been thrown out the window.

It's hard to stay up so much, and Chase is definitely a nocturnal beast, he
sleeps very soundly all day and then is up, bright eyed, all night, craving
contact and attention. Goldi and I have been handling it pretty well, I
guess, we each get 3-4 hours depending on nursing needs, and then nap as
much as we can during the day.

We have had lots of help and great visitors, they've all been well behaved
and don't overstay their welcome, something I've been dreading. They're
split about 50/50, half come to help us (usually our friends with kids) and
half come to see the baby. Either way, we get to put him down for a bit and
handle a few things (like bills) or catch a NASA nap.

I've been learning to do many things around the house one- or even
no-handed, a precarious balancing act to say the least. Lots of squatting
and holding the back very straight, in order to not wake the barely asleep
baby. You get pretty used to holding him though, and I've been pretty
confident that he's tougher then the puddle of play-doh he resembles. And
yes, he does have the Jacques-Maynes calves.

Mama and Chase enjoying each other's company.

We've arrived home safe and sound, Chase loved the car ride. We've
ensconced ourselves in the Descanso Villa All-Inclusive Grandma Resort,
where Grannies come to help with the baby. Also, being so close to the
school, I'm sure we're going to have an influx of Chiropractors which I
think is going to be great for me, as my neck is killing me after sleeping
on a chair for three days.

A big thanks to everyone who wrote and called to express their best wishes,
thoughts and congratulations. Pictures are posted in the top right under
"Current Kodak Gallery" and I'll have a few posted to the journal as the
week progresses.

Introducing Chase Orion Jacques-Maynes! He was born sept. 16 at 7:18 pm
weighing 8 lbs. 9 ozs. He's healthy, happy, has ten very big toes and
sleeps like a baby. Now I must sleep, this whole ordeal was very draining
on all three of us, and as soon as we all get home I'm on double duty:
taking care of Chase AND Goldi.

And we're having a baby. Chase is coming...

------
Ben Jacques-Maynes
mailto:[email protected]

i did this interview a few weeks back, check out the full feature here. You can also pick up a hard copy this week to get the attached cyclocross how-to piece.

Can you explain the black LiveWrong bracelet you have been wearing?

It's half fun and half serious.There are 85 million people wearing yellow LiveStrong bands. It seemed time to go a little punk rock, a little counterculture, and do something different.A ton of the people I've seen with the yellow bracelets on don't know who Lance is and have no idea they're "in support" of cancer research.

What do you think is the greatest result of Lance winning the Tour de France seven times in a row for American cycling?

In cycling circles you keep on hearing about the "Lance Effect": how he has grown the sport and made it accessible to more riders and basically made my job a lot easier. I think this was the case maybe in '99, '00 and '01 when it was a novelty for an American to kick ass in European racing, and a lot of cycling fans had extra money to do anything with: from buying an expensive bicycle to starting a small D3 Professional team. Now, the novelty has worn off and there was no question about if Lance would win number seven, but by how much would he win and in what ways would he humiliate the competition. Lance is so far removed from the normal bike racer now, he is in the rock-star arena in terms of exposure, media coverage, endorsements, etc. It will be a long time, I think, before another cyclist reaches Lance's level of athletic ability and media exposure.

How long have you been racing?

I started racing when I was 12 years old, and entered a few mountain bike races to whet my appetite. I was a top-level junior through the mid-'90s and also raced downhill and single-speed. When I went to college in Santa Cruz, I started racing cyclocross at all the Surf City events, and I was mesmerized by the purity and technical detail of the racing. Cyclocross turned me into a national level racer, inspired me to travel more, work harder, and ultimately achieve more. Unfortunately, you can't race 'cross year round, so I had to do something in the off season, and I first split my time as a Category 1 roadie and a pro mountain biker. The road thing started going better for me, and I went pro on the road in 2002.

Who is currently sponsoring you?

I race for the Kodak EasyShare Gallery/Sierra Nevada Professional Cycling Team. Try writing that on an entry form! Through the team, I use Serotta bicycles, Mavic wheels and components, Adidas shoes, Specialized helmets and optics, 1st Endurance nutritional products and Cranks Brothers pedals.

How has racing for Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada been?

This year has been a confirmation of last year. I'm riding consistently and have been a stage-race threat all year. We also have a great group of fast men for the finish, and I have been able to consistently help them get into the finale of a race in good position. It's enjoyable to work hard for someone, to sacrifice your own chances in a race, and to see them carry through and place well.

What direction do you see the cycling industry heading toward in the near future?

I am hoping that there's a drive back toward the grassroots element that got me into the scene to begin with. Racing is good and all, but only a small portion of the total cyclists in America race, and with Lance retired there isn't the same rallying point as in the last few years. I think the public needs to discover what's truly fun about cycling: It's not about how fast you are or your gadgetry. It's about getting out and riding, feeling the wind, checking out the view from the top of the mountain, riding with good friends.

The mountain bike industry has sort of caught on with heavier, longer travel bikes that are just a blast to ride. The road "comfort" sector and now the "freeroad" concept are new and innovative ideas that enable riders to have top level components and materials in designs that truly fit their bodies and ideal riding situation.


What is your twin brother, racer Andy Jacques Maynes, up to these days?

Andy is retired from pro racing and is working for Specialized designing their road bikes. He just introduced his first product line, the TriCross, and is already working on next year's product. He still races actually, but not as his only means of income. He does some big races with the Webcor team, and whatever local road and mountain races he can fit in. He's planning on going big for the 'cross season. He rode great last year for traveling to Asia [for work] as much as he did.

You are having a baby in the next few weeks. How do you see this changing your life as a competitive cyclist?

I think having a baby changes anyone's professional life: your time management, goals and dreams, stress levels, priorities, etc. I'm expecting a big change. I'm not sure exactly how things are going to be different, but for now my priorities at the professional level are the same. I think I'm fortunate to have the freedom in my schedule to rearrange things as needed in order to get my riding done and still be there for my son. I'm excited to watch him grow, learn and live and I'm okay giving up some bike racing to make sure I'm there for it all.

How much 'cross racing do you think you will participate in this year?

I will not have as hectic a schedule as I have had in years past. I'm expecting to have zero sleep for the entire month of October, so anything early will be a bit of an unexpected surprise. I am still planning on doing the National Championships in Rhode Island this December, and I hope I can go good for a few races leading up to that as well. I'll probably end up trying to do a standard road training schedule and fit in some 'cross to break up the monotony.

How long before you get the baby his first bike?

I'll be getting him a bike, but I actually don't care if he pursues it. All I ask is that he puts an effort into life, actually live, and he'll be okay. I don't care if he rides, swims, studies, works or whatever as long as he enjoys himself and doesn't shortchange himself by not trying. I want him to live up to his potential for a happy life.

Damn it.

Ouch.

the streets of San Fran have not gotten any shallower,
maybe a little rougher, and they still hurt you when
you pedal up them. the SFGP is so unique in the
cycling world that there's just no camparison to any
other event for ferocity or frequency of steep climbs.
also unique is the way the race plays out: this is
only the 5th running of the event, and it has been
different every time. Well, there is one constant:
small groups, ones and twos, of the best cyclists in
the country and abroad slogging around the short laps
in a slow-motion pursuit, hoping the guys in front
runs out of energy before they do.

Ouch.

And Filmore st. i had a 29 tooth climbing gear on and
there was still no way i was making it up that hill
once i cracked. i have not snaked up that hill for a
long time but i had to this year just to make it.

So to the race details:i went with the move over the
top of filmore the first time, with two of my
teammates and we had 3 out of 18 or so, good
representation but it was all our good guys so we
didn't want to burn up early. also, after two laps
the pack was still only a few seconds behind, they
never gave up which was weird. a few groups bridged
up, making it like 40 guys, and we knew the winning
move would be coming out of this group.

Glen looked smooth on the hills, dom was running
solid, while i was starting to hurt and from lap 4 or
so i was riding on a little more courage then i would
have liked. Andy was also up there for a while but he
had his hurt face on over the top of every hill, and
he ended up dropping back after 5 laps to help Dionne
bridge up. good teamwork, Andy.

I was cramping lap 6 up Filmore (did i mention i hate
that hill?) and so refocused on doing teamwork for
Glen, who seemed to be our guy for the day. Mike
Creed was riding solo off the front, so i helped get
the time gap down a bit, then Glen went in a group to
bridge the final distance and i was on defense after
that. defense meant covering attacks the entire way
up to the hill and i was on "de-fence" about making it
over the climb with the group. i made it last wheel
lap 7, but i knew that was it and and just cruised in
with a few dejected racers who missed the decisive
split, and then pulled off when i saw my wife on north
beach.

Ouch.

getting ready for San Fran, i'm pretty distracted by my wife's contractions and my own personal need to be there for her, so the prep hasn't been ideal but i have to say i've never been so relaxed about the race. i'm usually a nervous wreak by this point, a little tired from so many hard workouts on steep hills, and otherwise keyed up to do a good race and feeling pressure to perform in front of a home crowd. i'm still feeling pressure, but i just have not had the energy to focus on the event as in years past; it feels like the race has snuck up on me and so i just need to go out there and get the job done.