Doing an organized MTB ride last Saturday, I was on a long downhill when a rock cut through my sidewall. Got that fixed but with the inch-long cut couldn't air the tire up too much without bulging the tube out... so I got another flat going through a dry stream crossing a little too hard. That one was two holes in the tube which I didn't realize until I had the tube back in and was trying to pump it up!

Snarl. One of these years I'm going to make that ride without any issues.

The other thing I noticed was that by the end of the ride, I was hating my eggbeaters. I'm thinking about going back to platform pedals on the MTB, just so I can shift my feet around and avoid that pain.

I always carry a dollar bill in my seatbag. They make a great boot if you happen to cut a sidewall or tread. Saved my butt a few times. Mine were roadie related but like you say, I only pumped it to a low psi in order to get back.

https://www.parktool.com/products/det...t=17&item=TB-2

Flats suck worse than a strong headwind. I do the $1 bill thing too.

Snake bytes are the worst cause they always seem to happen to me after I've used my spare tube and end up with the punctures being just two far apart for the big patch and too close together for the small ones to work.

Hey, thanks Shimagnolo! I never knew something like that existed!

And you other guys have "field expedient" repair methods, too. That's great!

Where were you on Saturday when all those other riders were going by and none of them suggested it?

Oh well. Now I know.