Thanks kindly for the very helpful input, folks. I'm pleasantly surprised at the values on Nashbar and Performance. Makes me think I've been overly eBay-biased. Currently considering
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...l#ReviewHeader and
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_202472.
The more I consider the tires, the less I feel like I know. In addition to the grocery store, this bike will take me to my favorite fishing hole, as well as a rail trail. I've attached a picture of the fishing trail. As for the rail trail, I assume you know what gravel looks like. Like anyone building a go-anywhere bike, I want the best traction off road and speed on road. I don't really want a combination tread as per Mr. Sheldon Brown, "The usual design is to have a smooth ridge down the center of the tread, with knobs on the sides... In practice, combination-tread tires don't work all that well. They do OK in dirt, but they're pretty lousy on pavement...
If you mostly ride on pavement, but also do a fair amount of dirt, a combination tire on the front may be a good choice for you, with a road tire on the back."
Only thing is these sort of combination treads or even tiny-knob mountain treads seem rare in 1.5". Would a tread as light as the above link have any advantage over a slick on packed dirt or grass?
Thanks again.
