Originally Posted by
Velo Dog
This is a little off topic, but from your apparent concern about having a flat, could we infer you're riding without patch kit, pump or spare tube? I know some people do, but at least here in the land of big thorns and broken beer bottles, flats are an expected part of every ride. One year back when I was obsessive about keeping records, I averaged a flat every 30 miles over a 1200-mile stretch in June and July (it's great practice, though--I can change a tube and inflate with a frame-fit pump in three minutes).
Good for you for sweeping off the path, but don't be one of those guys who isn't self-sufficient on the road. Carry what you need and know how to use it.
I carry two inner tubes, CO2, mini pump and patch kit, and will still try to avoid flats at all costs. Nothing the OP posted implies that he is not prepared for a flat. Even the fact that he was 8-10 miles from his car. The rest of us don't ride around looking for objects to flatten our tires