@lostarchitect

Thanks for the many helpful suggestions. I'll try the bigger tires the next time I need one. That may give me a bit more cushion, which I really enjoyed when I briefly had a mountain bike here. It was really smooth (with front suspension) for all the road grooves, rough patches, etc., but it weighed a ton. I haven't tried the Panaracers, so I can try that too.

I lightly sanded before gluing (always do), though recently I backed off a little because I think I overdid it on some tubes I had.... one had about 6 patches on it (yeah, I know, not cost effective... it was sort of an archeological accretion...) and before I wisely gave up on it, I think I had scrubbed it a bit thin and created a kind of micro-leakage.

I don't really have a fave LBS. I live in Windsor Terrace. I tried BB&Board because they had a good price on tubes. A few times I've headed to Steve at Bicycle Station because I've always found him a straight shooter and a nice guy. I think that's the general consensus. Sometimes I've over in that neighborhood on the way to a bridge....

I haven't heard of Red Lantern but will check it out. Once in a while I've stopped at 9th Street Bicycles (I think that's what it's called) in Park Slope (near the YMCA), and while the people are friendly (never had any work done there), their prices are high. But I guess that's what happens when you get a hot corner in Park Slope. I haven't stopped in at 718 Cyclery (has a rep for being a good place if you want a custom bike built) or the (relatively?) new Bicycle Habitat... I'd really like to find a place that has fair prices on stuff like ball bearings, cables, etc.