Performance has them in 700x26 (Forte) for $19.99 and 700x25 Conti's for $24.99, plus the 20% off coupon good for this weekend. Since I also need a couple of other items I thought I would take advantage. BTW, they claim 127 tpi casings for the Forte at 250 grams.

I'm a newbie so I'll introduce: 53 next month, 5'10", 165 lbs., I'm having comfort issues with my 10 year old Trek 2200 equipped with Armadillo 700x23s, Terry Fly, carbon fork, othewise stock (this bike is carbon tubes with an aluminum rear triangle, ouch..). I'm riding this bike on very rough chip seal roads between Mesquite Nevada and St. George Utah ( a LOT of climbing) and am experiencing lower back pain I don't experience on my Litespeed Tuscany riding on better roads.

I'm also going to raise the old quill stem and if that doesn't work replace it with a high rise, and put my old Terry Liberator or Ti Race saddle on it (more padding). Next would be a Rockshox suspension seatpost, and if all else fails, maybe something drastic like a new (used) bike, maybe a Softride. I did get a new bike for riding down there (my second home), the Litespeed, but its so sweet, I'm keeping it at my main home where it will see more mileage.

As I've read on these forums, the easiest and cheapest fix (other than raising the stem) is larger tires, so I'd like to solicit opinions, mainly, are the Conti's worth $5 more a tire, and are these good prices? Other recommendations?.

Do the Perfomance tires have a kevlar belt or just kevlar bead? If you live in cactus thorn country, you should get something with a kevlar belt, like the Conti Gatorskin. Performance kevlar belt tires will probably be OK, too. The "Made in Japan" Performance tires are made by Panaracer and are good quality.

Do the Perfomance tires have a kevlar belt or just kevlar bead? If you live in cactus thorn country, you should get something with a kevlar belt, like the Conti Gatorskin. Performance kevlar belt tires will probably be OK, too. The "Made in Japan" Performance tires are made by Panaracer and are good quality.

The Forte's have a kevlar belt and are foldable.

Thumper, you won't be disappointed by the Conti Ultra 3Ks. I've also got the 25s and they are great. A much longer lasting style of tire than the Fortes. Nothing wrong with the performance tire (sticky... a great budget race tire) but the Contis are more of a high mileage tire. The 25s will hook you up.

Now I'm curious though, having driven the stretch of i-15 between las vegas and cedar city about a MILLION times, how do you ride from Mesquite to St. George... up by Beaver Dam?

Thumper, you won't be disappointed by the Conti Ultra 3Ks. I've also got the 25s and they are great. A much longer lasting style of tire than the Fortes. Nothing wrong with the performance tire (sticky... a great budget race tire) but the Contis are more of a high mileage tire. The 25s will hook you up.

Now I'm curious though, having driven the stretch of i-15 between las vegas and cedar city about a MILLION times, how do you ride from Mesquite to St. George... up by Beaver Dam?

shawn,

Yes, I go through Beaver Dam. Since this is a new route, as well as a winter training ride, I haven't made it all the way to St. George yet. The road is rough on my Trek and there is a lot of vertical. Now I'm curious, is there another road to Las Vegas out of Mesquite besides the freeway?

BTW, I had already ordered the Forte's, only because they are 700x26s instead of 25 and I can use all the cusion I can get. Maybe next go around I'll go for the Conti's or Michelon Carbons (or whatever else is on sale). It'll be a while though, after June, I'll do all my riding up North until October. The last time I rode during the summer down there I got a mild case of heatstroke. Maybe when I retire I can get acclimated to the extreme heat. I can't get up early enough to get done by 10 A.M., my wife likes the casino's :p

Now I'm curious, is there another road to Las Vegas out of Mesquite besides the freeway?

Not that I know of...

Maybe when I retire I can get acclimated to the extreme heat. I can't get up early enough to get done by 10 A.M., my wife likes the casino's :p

I grew up in LV and still have family there. The only way to get a ride in there in the summer is to leave at 5:00 a.m. The heat can still be oppressive by 9:00 a.m.