Hallo Jamie,
JS> Speaking of aesthetics, I like a smooth or a very fine tread... Call me old JS> fashioned, but I also like gum colored side walls. Herein lies my problem. JS> My favorite tire in the past has been Avocet. I forget the model, maybe it JS> is called a Fasgrip 20. Anyway, it is pretty light, it fulfills the other JS> criteria and it comes in 25 and 28. And the best news is that I can sell JS> them for about $25... The only problem is that they changed the side walls JS> to black.
for both aesthetics and riding quality i recommend the Veloflex "Pave" clinchers. They are
available in a traditional color scheme, black/gum,
and the thread is a very traditional looking sewup-like design.
They offer an extremely smooth, almost sewup-like ride, and are used in
racing for their low rolling resistance. They last, too.
Don't know about their price in US. The retail in Europe is around 25
Eur, so they might fit your price range.
http://www.veloflex.it/
servus from Munich, Germany,
Martin Appel