Chris Baskind - Latest Comments

Re: Hard luck with Bontrager Hard Case tires

Chris Baskind — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:02:17 -0000

If you have a 23mm tire that's not popping on every ride, I'll certainly look to see if it comes in a city width. :-)

Re: Hard luck with Bontrager Hard Case tires

Jeffrey Davis — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:24:22 -0000

I run Michelin Krylions on my Ridley X-bow (which does triple duty as road machine, CX machine, and around-towner). They're effin' bullet proof on our poorly maintained roads and poor excuses for bike lanes here in Nashville, TN....but they're 700x23's, so I don't know if they'll work for what you want.

Re: Hard luck with Bontrager Hard Case tires

Chris Baskind — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:19:47 -0000

So maybe I'm not the only one. I don't think I've *ever* had a flat with the Hard Case tires. But they weren't cheap, as you noted, and should have lasted longer. I'm not hating on Bontrager, and would try a touring tire, if one were available. Pretty much anything would have longer life than these.

Re: Hard luck with Bontrager Hard Case tires

Chris Baskind — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:16:55 -0000

I've seen yours. The Continental Contacts that came on my Surly seem quite good so far. I also used Continentals on my tri bike a few years back with good results.

Re: Hard luck with Bontrager Hard Case tires

scott rust — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:59:47 -0000

I've been rocking the Continental Gatorskin tires for the past 6 months and am loving 'em! No flats, no tread issues, and have put about 1000 miles on them.

Re: Hard luck with Bontrager Hard Case tires

Lloyd Lemons — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:36:29 -0000

I've had similar tread separations on the Hard Case tires. My wife's bike still has them rolling, but I won't be buying any more. Puncture resistant? Yes. Long lasting? No. And normally expensive.

Re: Day 18: 30 Days of Biking

Chris Baskind — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:52:53 -0000

If I were doing it again, I would have used a different bike as the basis. Something strong: Needn't be new, but a steel touring frame or a rugged hybrid (solid fork) would be idea.

It could be a Trek, like my SOHO. There are a bunch of 520s out there. Look for something with at least 36 spoke wheels that will hang fenders on a 32mm or wider tires. Derailleur bikes are still best bang for the buck, and are easier to fuss with on this project.

Backend is Xtracycle's Free Radical. It's a bolt-on, and there are kits for 26 inches and 700c. Requires a tandem chain. Canti and V-brakes work well. If you have disks, you'll be replacing your existing rotor with a monster 220mm unit sold by Xtracycle.

And that's how it works. If i were starting from scratch, I'd find some bombproof steel bike-boom MTB with cantis and a rigid fork. Put the fattest 26 inchers on there you can find. Load it up.

The SOHO has too much frame flex for handling a loaded Free Radical. It also comes stock with 32 spoke wheels. I began breaking spokes this spring, and recently replaced the wheels altogether.

Have fun! This bike changed my life.

Re: Day 18: 30 Days of Biking

paulsummerfield — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:28:47 -0000

dude, where can i get a bike like this???

Re: I bike, therefore I beer

Chris Baskind — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:15:06 -0000

That's definitely a socially sized container. I'm going to pick up one of the brewery's more modest liter bottles for my personal use.

But I'll be happy to get that gallon refilled. Just let me know when you'll be in the area, and I'll send you a list of their seasonal offerings. I've quaffed a fair amount of good beer in my time. That local brewery is as good as anything I've tasted anywhere. And their IPA is superior.

Re: I bike, therefore I beer

BitterEnd — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 01:34:43 -0000

Are you sure you can deal with that by yourself? If not, I might know someone who can probably help you :-).

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

Chris Baskind — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:09:10 -0000

Hey, David. Yeah, I don't want anyone to confuse this with a "screw social media" post, but I think it's made my thinking lazier. Too easy to react, without fleshing out ideas. It will probably be healthier for me to read and write in longer form, so let me know what you do. :-)

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

CleanTechnica — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:06:14 -0000

This resonates so much with me, Chris. Maybe it'll inspire me to do the same. :)

Re: Five reasons blogs still have a future

Chris Baskind — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:37:59 -0000

There's no shortage of people who need hope. :-)

While I was primarily writing for Valeria's business audience, I think your site helps make my point. It's tough to develop a theme in 140 characters. Our staccato online conversations don't contribute much to deep thinking and the examination of nuanced ideas.

You're also selling, in a way. Nothing wrong with that: Freely you've received, and freely you give. But the process is similar. Here's a proposition; here's its development; here's how you can appropriate it.

Here's Donna's site, "Random thoughts from a morning run."

http://anotherbattlewon.blo...

Re: Five reasons blogs still have a future

Donna — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:22:40 -0000

So what is the future for bloggers like me who don't necessarily have a product, just a message of hope?

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

Chris Baskind — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 03:37:03 -0000

The fandom is mutual. ;)

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

Mrs Green @myzerowaste.com — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:56:11 -0000

Well you know I'll always remain one of your top knicker-throwing fans from across the pond :D

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

Chris Baskind — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:14:31 -0000

Thanks, Bob. We'll see what happens here. I'm working on another project, but it will be nice to have only one blog site to look after. :-)

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

Bob Holmes — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:09:21 -0000

A good clean blog! Sharp. I love it Chris

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

Chris Baskind — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:52:46 -0000

Feel free to add a web addy, Ryan. :-)

Re: A reboot to the seat of the pants

Ryan — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:52:00 -0000

Woo-hoo! Welcome back!

I recently relaunched my personal site after years of neglect as well. It feels good.

Re: So blue in Belmont-DeVillers

Anonymoose — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:17:56 -0000

Further down the same street in an unmarked property you also have the Blue Dot, one of Pensacola's better little burger joints. Get there before noon or you won't get anything though. When they run out, they are done for the day.

-andrew

Re: So blue in Belmont-DeVillers

Chris Baskind — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:25:14 -0000

Haven't stopped and eaten yet, but it smells great riding by every time. It's a cool neighborhood. There needs to be some small office space up there.

Re: So blue in Belmont-DeVillers

Shawn Brown — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:34:27 -0000

Nice photo. I haven't been to 5 Sisters Cafe yet. I need to check it out one of these days. Have you been?

Re: Day 16: 30 Days of Biking

Alex — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:59:00 -0000

You didn't tell me you put that photo on the internet!!!!!

Re: Day 26: 30 Days of Biking

Fox — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:30:00 -0000

Actually, the Wal-Mart near me does have a bike rack. Granted, it's a Wal-Mart in a college town and just got revamped, so maybe that's why.